Jennifer Aniston has opened up in a deeply emotional interview, revealing that the Friends cast had already begun the painful process of mourning Matthew Perry long before his unexpected passing. Perry, who died in October 2023 at the age of 54, had battled addiction for decades — a struggle his co-stars watched unfold in real time during and after the iconic sitcom’s run.

A Heartbreaking Realization Before the End
According to Aniston, the cast, who became more like family over the ten seasons of Friends, had been bracing themselves for the possibility of losing Perry for years. “It’s not that we wanted to imagine the worst,” Aniston explained, “but we loved Matthew so much, and we knew the battle he was fighting was relentless. In our hearts, we were preparing ourselves.”

Her words shed light on the silent grief the cast carried even while Perry was alive. They watched him oscillate between periods of recovery and relapse, never knowing which would come next. “Every time he was doing well, we would breathe a sigh of relief,” she said. “But when he struggled, we all felt that ache in our bones.”

The Weight of Watching a Friend Suffer
Perry’s addiction struggles were no secret. He spoke openly about them in his memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, detailing the way alcohol and prescription drugs took over his life. Aniston recalled the early years of filming, when Perry’s charisma and comedic timing lit up the set — and how starkly that contrasted with the times when his health and spirit were diminished by addiction.

“It’s one of the hardest things in life,” she reflected. “To stand by someone you love, knowing you can’t fight their battle for them. You want to fix it, but you can’t. And so you just love them, as fiercely as you can.”

The Bond That Outlasted the Show
Even after Friends ended in 2004, the cast — Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, and Perry — maintained a unique connection. They were more than co-workers; they were a chosen family forged through years of laughter, late-night conversations, and shared experiences under the blinding spotlight of fame.

Aniston described group text chains that would sometimes go quiet for weeks and then suddenly light up with jokes, check-ins, and memories. “Matthew could always make us laugh,” she said with a bittersweet smile. “Even in his darkest days, he had this instinct to break tension with humor. That was just who he was.”

The Long Goodbye
The emotional toll of watching Perry’s health decline was not a singular moment but a slow, lingering goodbye. Aniston revealed that each cast member dealt with it differently. Some focused on the good memories, while others tried to keep in close touch, hoping their presence might make a difference.

“We were always hoping for a miracle,” she admitted. “We wanted to believe that one day, he’d be free from the weight he was carrying. And there were moments when we thought — maybe this is it, maybe he’s finally made it through. But addiction… it’s a beast.”

The Day Everything Changed
When the news of Perry’s passing broke, it still felt surreal, even after years of bracing for the possibility. Aniston recalled how her phone started buzzing nonstop. “It was like the air had been sucked out of the room,” she said. “No matter how much you think you’re prepared, you’re not.”

She described the overwhelming grief as a mix of deep sadness and gratitude for the years they had together. “We had 10 years of Friends, but we also had decades of friendship. That’s what I hold on to.”

Honoring Matthew’s Legacy
In the days following his death, the cast released a joint statement expressing their devastation and love for Perry. Since then, they have each found their own ways to honor his memory. Aniston shared that she keeps photos of Perry around her home and has rewatched old Friends episodes not just for nostalgia, but to feel close to him again.

“When I see him on screen, I don’t just see Chandler,” she said softly. “I see Matthew — my friend who had the biggest heart, who loved to make people laugh, and who never stopped trying to be better.”

A Call for Compassion
Aniston hopes that Perry’s openness about his addiction will continue to help others struggling with similar challenges. “Matthew wanted to use his story to save lives,” she said. “He didn’t want people to feel ashamed or alone. If sharing his pain could help even one person, it was worth it to him.”

She urged people to look beyond the headlines and see the human being behind them. “Addiction doesn’t define a person,” she emphasized. “It’s something they battle, not who they are. Matthew was so much more than his struggles.”

Keeping the Spirit Alive
Aniston ended the interview with a reflection on the laughter that defined their years together. “That’s what Matthew would want — for us to remember the joy. He gave that to millions of people, and that’s an incredible gift.”

She also revealed that the remaining Friends cast members have been talking more frequently since his death, finding comfort in each other’s presence. “We’ve been leaning on each other a lot,” she said. “It’s the only way to get through something like this.”

In the end, Aniston’s words capture both the tragedy and beauty of their decades-long bond. It is a reminder that grief often begins before a loved one is gone — and that love can endure long after they’ve left.