¡®Friends¡¯ Creators Say Matthew Perry Was ¡®In A Really Good Place¡¯ Weeks Before Death

Just weeks before his passing, Matthew Perry had achieved sobriety and had quit smoking. Marta Kauffman and David Crane, the showrunners of "Friends," revealed that he was in a notably positive state.

Kauffman shared that she had a conversation with the late actor merely two weeks before his tragic demise during an interview with Hoda Kotb on Wednesday.

¡°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,¡± Kauffman said on ¡°Today.¡±

The showrunner also disclosed that Perry appeared ¡°better than I had seen him in a while.¡± ¡°He looked good. He quit smoking,¡± Kauffman said. ¡°He was sober.¡±

Both showrunners expressed their shock upon learning the news.

However, when Hoda Kotb inquired further, Crane concurred with Perry's perspective that while his death might be shocking, it wouldn't be entirely surprising.

¡°There was always a part that was bracing for something like this,¡± Crane said. ¡°He was such an alive person that it¡¯s hard to believe he¡¯s not here.¡±

The actor's colleagues and showrunners had been acutely aware of his ongoing battle with addiction well before Perry publicly addressed it in his memoir.

Crane emphasized that, in Perry's case, the entire cast and crew were unwaveringly committed to providing him with support and understanding.

Kauffman also disclosed her concerns regarding Perry, particularly around the time of the "Friends" reunion special in 2021. Before the taping, Perry had to undergo emergency dental surgery, necessitating the use of opioids, a substance he had struggled with in the past.

Kauffman specifically worried about the implications of this prescription and where Perry stood in his battle with addiction at that particular juncture.

Above all else, both stressed that Perry desired to leave a lasting legacy beyond his portrayal of Chandler Bing.

¡°He learned things throughout [his recovery], and what he learned more than anything was that he wanted to help other addicts,¡± Kauffman said.

The cast members of "Friends" released a collective statement this week, expressing they were 'devastated' over Perry's passing.

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¡°We were more than just cast mates. We are a family,¡± a statement from Jennifer Anniston, Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer read. ¡°There is so much to say, but right now, we¡¯re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss. In time, we will say more as and when we are able. For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty¡¯s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.¡±

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