“Friends” creators spoke to Matthew Perry 2 weeks before his death: 'He was in a really good place'
The creators of Friends were there for Matthew Perry until the end.
In a preview clip from a Today show interview set to air in full Wednesday, Marta Kauffman and David Crane revealed that they spoke to Perry, who played Chandler Bing on all 10 seasons of their hit NBC sitcom, just two weeks before his unexpected death at 54.
The last time they talked "was great," Kauffman said. "He was happy and chipper. He didn't seem weighed down by anything."
She added that the actor "was in a really good place, which is why this seems so unfair."
John Lamparski/Getty; David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Marta Kaufman, David Crane, and Matthew Perry
Perry was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his home in Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon, and pronounced dead at the scene. The official cause of death is pending a coroner's investigation, though authorities have said there is no indication of foul play.
Best known for his role as the sarcastic yet sweet Chandler on Friends, Perry struggled for years with drug and alcohol addiction, chronicling it all in his 2022 memoir Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing.
Over the years, Perry remained closely associated with Friends, joining Instagram along with his castmates and referencing the show when he did. The cast also participated in a 2021 reunion special on Max.
Perry's costars — Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, and Courteney Cox — released a collective statement Monday expressing their sorrow over his death.
"We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew," they said. "We were more than just cast mates. We are a family. There is so much to say, but right now we're going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss."
They added, "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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