In the world of the iconic TV series "Friends," the Rachel and Chandler duo may not be the first pairing that comes to mind for most fans, but in real life, their counterparts, Jennifer Aniston and Matthew Perry, shared a profound and enduring friendship that transcended the small screen.
The news of Matthew Perry's passing at the age of 54 on October 29 was a devastating blow to millions of "Friends" fans who had grown to love Chandler Bing as a symbol of humor as a remedy for life's trials. While grieving the loss of their beloved actor, they also awaited responses from the series' cast members, which eventually came in the form of a collective statement reflecting their deep sadness.
Among the cast, Jennifer Aniston had the closest bond with Matthew Perry, particularly during his most challenging times while battling alcoholism and other addictions. Perry himself had publicly spoken about how Aniston was the first among the "Friends" to notice his struggles with alcohol.
Following the release of his memoir, Perry shared his experiences in an interview with Diane Sawyer on ABC, recalling a pivotal moment when Aniston confronted him about his drinking. He remarked, "She extended her hand to me the most, you know? I'm very grateful to her for that." In the same interview, Perry candidly admitted to consuming 55 Vicodin pills (opioid analgesic) in a single day.
Jennifer Aniston Breaks Down for Matthew Perry
Another Sawyer interview, conducted in 2004 just before the final episode of "Friends," has resurfaced following Perry's tragic passing. In that conversation, the interviewer asked Aniston to reveal something about her cast members that they might not know about themselves.
When it was Perry's turn, Aniston initially hesitated and then burst into tears. Through her tears, she spoke about Perry's battle with addiction. "He fought. We didn't know it. We weren't equipped to deal with something like that. No one had gone through it. And the mere idea of losing him..." Aniston continued, her deep sorrow evident.
We've gained further insight into the private relationship between Matthew Perry and Jennifer Aniston through Perry's memoir, "Friends, Lovers, and That Terrible" (Contraluz Editorial). In the book, he revealed that although they had previously met at a party, it was during the filming of the initial episodes of "Friends" that he fell head over heels in love with Aniston.
She gently turned down his romantic advances, and their connection evolved from the heartache of rejection into a profound and enduring friendship. Perry shared in his memoir how he would be thankful that he got to look into Aniston's eyes for an extra two seconds each day during their filming.
Even in the face of detoxifications, relapses, multiple stints in rehabilitation clinics, and life-threatening surgeries such as the colectomy he underwent in 2018, Matthew Perry continued to cherish the unwavering support he received from his friend, Jen. "She was by my side during my darkest moments, and I will never forget that," he expressed gratefully.
