Friends co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane said Matthew Perry “was sober” and “in a really good place” before his untimely death at 54.
The pair gave an emotional interview on US morning show TODAY in which they discussed Perry’s impact and their last conversations with him.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Tributes flow for Friends star Matthew Perry.
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Kauffman revealed that she had talked to Perry just two weeks before his October 28 death.
“It was great,” she said of their conversation.
“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.”
She added that she was in “utter shock” after learning of his death.
“My first impulse was to text him, honestly,” she said.
“And then deep sadness, so much sadness.
“It’s hard to grasp.
“You know, one minute he’s here and happy, and then poof.”
Kauffman added that Perry was “really doing good in the world.”
She said that people around the world who didn’t even know Perry felt like they’d lost a friend.
Crane was asked if he thought the actor had any idea he had such a profound impact on everyday people.
“I mean, given the response to the show in the last 30 years, I’m sure he did,” he responded.
“But at the same time, I wonder, even knowing that, how much he was able to internalise it and find comfort in it.”
Addiction battle
Perry wrote in his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, that he had spent more than $US7 million attempting to get sober and been through rehab at least 15 times.
Host Hoda Kotb asked how aware those closest to Perry were of his battle with addiction.
“Very, very aware,” Kauffman said.
She said he often discussed the issue with close friends.
After the Friends reunion, which aired in 2021, Perry went into treatment again, and he was open about that, Kauffman said.
Although Crane and Kauffman were concerned after the Friends reunion, they said that, in recent weeks, Perry had been more carefree than ever.
“He seemed better than I had seen in a while,” Kauffman said.
“I was so thrilled to see that.
“He was emotionally in a good place.
“He looked good.
“He quit smoking.”
She added that he was also sober.
“He learned things throughout this (his addiction), and what he learned more than anything is that he wants to help other addicts.
“And it gave him purpose.”
Friends in mourning
On Tuesday, Perry’s Friends co-stars released a joint statement, saying they were “devastated” by his death.
In the moving tribute, obtained by People, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer said they were “utterly devastated by Perry’s passing”.
“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew,” the statement read.
“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.
“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.”
The message was signed by Aniston, Cox, Kudrow, LeBlanc and Schwimmer.
– with AP/Deutsche Presse Agentur
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