Actor Jennifer Aniston says she texted her Friends co-star Matthew Perry on the morning of his death and he was "not struggling" with addiction at the time.
Perry died at the age of 54 on October 28 at his Pacific Palisades home in Los Angeles.
The actor, who had detailed his life-long struggle with alcohol and drug addiction in his 2022 memoir, was found unresponsive in his hot tub and was believed to have drowned.
In her first interview following the loss of her Friends co-star, Aniston told Variety she hopes Perry is remembered “as he said he’d love to be remembered” — a man who lived well and helped others.
“He was happy. He was healthy. He had quit smoking. He was getting in shape. He was happy — that’s all I know,” she said, through tears. Next to her, Aniston’s “The Morning Show” co-star Reese Witherspoon held her hand as she wiped her tears. “I was literally texting with him that morning, funny Matty. He was not in pain. He wasn’t struggling. He was happy.”
She continued, “I want people to know he was really healthy, and getting healthy. He was on a pursuit. He worked so hard. He really was dealt a tough one. I miss him dearly. We all do. Boy, he made us laugh really hard.”
His co-stars from Friends Courtney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer and Lisa Kudrow paid respects to him after his passing. Additionally, a foundation was founded in his name to help others struggling with addiction.
“It’s so beautiful,” Aniston said of the outpouring of love. “I hope he can know that he was loved in a way he never thought he was.”