Matthew Perry Was in a ‘Really Good Place’ Prior to Death, ‘Friends’ Co-Creator Says

“Friends” co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane recalled their last conversations with series star Matthew Perry, who died on Oct. 28 at the age of 54, during an appearance on “Today”

 

Wednesday morning.

 

Kauffman spoke to Perry just two weeks ago, saying: “It was great. He was happy and chipper. He didn’t seem weighed down by anything. He was in a really good place, which is why this seems so unfair.”

 

 

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 17: Matthew Perry attends the GQ Men of the Year Party 2022 at The West Hollywood EDITION on November 17, 2022 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for GQ)

Perry was found dead in the hot tub of his Los Angeles home, as the L.A. Times reported. No foul play was suspected. When she heard the news, Kauffman was in “utter shock.”

“My first impulse was to text him, honestly,” she said, adding: “It’s hard to grasp: one minute he’s here and he’s happy, and then poof. And doing good in the world, really doing good in the world.”

“Today” host Hoda Kotb pointed out that though Perry’s death was shocking, it may not have been surprising to some given his history with drugs and alcohol abuse.

Hình ảnh Ghim câu chuyện

“I would say that’s probably true given the journey he’d been on, and we were all aware of it. There was a part that was kind of bracing for something like this,” Crane said. “It is still hard to believe, because he was such an alive person that it’s hard to believe he’s not here.”

However, Kauffman said that Perry was sober at the time of his death. “He seemed better than I had seen in a while. I was so thrilled to see that,” Kauffman said. “He was emotionally in a good place. He looked good. He quit smoking … He was sober.”

In one of his last interviews, Perry discussed how he wanted to be remembered not just for “Friends,” but for helping others struggling with drug and alcohol abuse. “When I die, I don’t want ‘Friends’ to be the first thing that’s mentioned,” Perry said. “I want that to be the first thing that’s mentioned. And I’m gonna live the rest of my life proving that.”

Crane said that definitely rings true. “As important as the show was and continues to be, I think that absolutely became his purpose, his reason for being,” he said.

Related articles

Costars and Friends of Matthew Perry Remember Him as a ‘Lovely Man’ as Tributes Continue to Pour In for Star

Costars and friends of Matthew Perry remember the beloved actor as a ‘lovely man’ as heartfelt tributes continue to pour in following his passing. Matthew Perry, the…

Why TV Show ‘Friends’ is Extremely Popular Among Generation Z

The TV show Friends has transcended generations, a demographic that wasn’t even born when the show first aired in the 1990s. But what is it about this iconic sitcom…

Lisa Kudrow Reveals Emotional ‘Friends’ Reunion Moment Viewers May Have Missed

The “Friends” reunion special was a nostalgic trip down memory lane for fans around the world. Lisa Kudrow Reveals Emotional ‘Friends’ Reunion Moment Viewers.However, amidst the laughter…

HARD TO UNSEE: Friends Fans Claim Their ‘Lives Have Been Ruined’ After Spotting Jennifer Aniston’s VERY Annoying Habit

Friends Fans Claim Their ‘Lives Have Been Ruined’ After Spotting Jennifer Aniston’s VERY Annoying Habit, the beloved actress who portrayed Rachel Green.Now, some Friends enthusiasts claim this tiny detail…

The painful cast injury that ‘Friends’ kept secret for decades

The painful cast injury that ‘Friends’ kept secret for decades In a harrowing incident that was kept hush-hush for decades, a 1996 episode of “Friends” took a…

Friends: Matt LeBlanc ‘was uncomfortable with Rachel Green and Joey romance’

Friends: Matt LeBlanc ‘was uncomfortable with Rachel Green and Joey romance’ FRIENDS fans have heard a lot about the show over the years as its legacy grows…