Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry.
Getty Images (2)Lisa Kudrow still grieving friends costar Matthew Perrybut she is comforted by one part of his sudden death.
“This is going to sound weird. I’m more relieved that he was happy the day he died,” Kudrow, 61, said during an appearance on Armchair Expert Podcast. on Monday, December 9. “He should die happy. It was a gift for me too.
Perry died at his home in Los Angeles in October 2023. at the age of 54. His official cause of death was later determined as “the acute effects of ketamine”, which is used to treat opiate use.
The conversation about Perry came up during Kudrow’s appearance on the podcast as host Dax Shepard said he knew the late actor “because of sobriety.”
“This is where I start chewing my gum,” Kudrow replied. “This is where I need my nicotine.”
Lisa Kudrow wrote a touching article about Matthew Perry’s memoir a year before the actor’s sudden death. “During those years, I didn’t really try to intervene or confront him because the little I knew about addiction was that his sobriety was out of my hands,” Kudrow, 60, wrote in Perry’s book Friends, Lovers and… )
A recovering addict himself, Shepherd, 49, admitted it’s “hard” to love someone with an addiction. “I’d be grateful to go back and see it before it took its toll,” he said, referring to Kudrow’s ability to access 10 years of footage of Perry on friends.
Matthew Perry and Lisa Kudrow.
Donato Sardella/WireImage for Lollipop Theater NetworkKudrow admitted it was “complicated,” further discussing her relationship with her late co-star.
“I loved that Matthew I first met and the one at the end because God loves him, that’s who you are and I love you,” she said. “I understand and so does he.”
Kudrow broke his silence on Perry’s death weeks after he passed.
“Shoot the pilot, Friends like uswe got caught right away and we were at the NBC Upfronts. Then… You suggested we play poker AND made it so much fun while we initially bonded. Thank you for this,” she captioned an Instagram post from November 2023. “Thank you for making me laugh so hard at something you said that had my muscles aching and tears streaming down my face EVERY DAY.”
Her tribute continued: “Thank you for your open heart in a six-way relationship that required compromise. And a lot of “talking”. Thank you for turning up to work when you weren’t well and then being absolutely brilliant. Thank you for the best 10 years a person could have. Thank you for trusting me.”
Kudrow told fans that Perry has shown her “GRACE and LOVE” throughout their friendship. “Thank you for the time I have with you Matthew,” she finished.
Perry’s death was initially ruled accidental, but the investigation into his sudden death it reopened last January. Five people have since been charged in connection with his death.
Lisa Kudrow has joined her fellow Friends alums in mourning the death of their co-star Matthew Perry. “We shot the pilot, Friends Like Us, we got caught and we were immediately on the NBC Upfronts. Then… You suggested we play poker AND made it so much fun while we initially bonded. Thank you for that,” Kudrow, (…)
Assistant to the actor Kenneth Iwamasa pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death while known to Perry by name Eric Fleming pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution of ketamine resulting in death. Dr. Mark Chavez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine. They have assisting the investigation in exchange for a lower fee.
Dr. Salvador Plasencia and Jasvin Sangha (aka “The Queen of Ketamine”) pleaded not guilty to charges including conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution of ketamine.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction or mental health, contact the National Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at samhsa.gov or 1-800-662-HELP.
