Matthew Perry, the beloved actor known for his portrayal as Chandler Bing on the hit sitcom Friends, passed away on October 28, aged 54. The Los Angeles Police Department is still investigating the cause of his death, and on Monday, they gave some updates.
Perry struggled with both drug and alcohol addiction throughout his life, but in later years, he devoted his time to helping others. In fact, he didn’t want to only be remembered for his acting or role on Friends, but rather how he helped others in their battles with addiction.
Throughout his life, Matthew Perry had several relationships but never married or had children. His most cherished relationships, however, were with his Friends cast mates – one of them being Jennifer Aniston.
Perry’s sudden death has reportedly left Jennifer Aniston wondering what might have been if things had gone differently between them. Both beloved for their roles as Chandler and Rachel Friends, their on-screen chemistry was undeniable, but in reality, they were never romantically involved.
One of Aniston’s close friends told the Daily Mail: “Nobody shed more tears for Matthew during the darkest points of his struggles with addiction than Jennifer.”
The two actors shared a special bond, and this was obvious during the 2021 Friends reunion. At the time, it was unclear whether or not Perry would take part due to his ongoing battle with addiction. Aniston insisted that she wouldn’t do the reunion without him, which he ultimately joined and helped make a success.
Their friendship was rooted in mutual support and genuine care for one another. Aniston believed that Perry had overcome his worst days and was on the path to recovery… But his sudden death just two years later has been a devastating blow to her. Regardless of the cause of death, Aniston had long dreaded this day. In fact, she always aspired to help Matthew in any way she could, a constant commitment.
Perry’s death occurred after playing a game of pickleball, where he was found underwater in a hot tub at his home. The cause of death is still pending, but no illegal drugs were involved.
Aniston and Perry, born only six months apart, shared an immediate camaraderie when they began filming Friends in 1994. Perry wrote in his 2022 memoir ‘Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing’ that he had actually met Aniston three years before the show started and had initially attempted to date her, although she declined. However, their professional lives intertwined when they landed their respective roles on the show, and their working relationship blossomed.
The genuine connection they had on and off the screen was akin to a brother-sister relationship. They partied together and supported each other through good times and bad, yet a romantic relationship never happened. As Perry’s struggles with addiction took center stage, Aniston didn’t want to enable him. She had a direct line to Perry and was always concerned about his well-being, updating their Friends cast on his health issues during the 2010s.
Perry’s demons led him into addiction, which ultimately drove a wedge between their close friendship. Aniston, aware of her friend’s struggles, realized she couldn’t have an alcoholic at her parties and made a conscious decision not to enable his addiction.
Aniston broke down in tears during a 2004 interview with Diane Sawyer. “We didn’t know. We weren’t equipped to deal with it and the idea of losing him,” she said.
Then, in 2022, Perry did an interview with Sawyer while promoting his memoirs.”She was the one that reached out the most,” he said of Aniston. “You know, I’m really grateful to her for that.”
Perry’s untimely death has undoubtedly left Aniston reflecting on what might have been, but her unwavering support throughout his struggles showed just how much love they had for each other.
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