Jennifer Aniston Says ‘We’d Been Mourning’ Matthew Perry Long Before His Death Due to Addiction: ‘A Part of Me Thinks This Is Better’ Because ‘He’s Out of That Pain’

Jennifer Aniston admitted in a new Vanity Fair cover story that the cast of “Friends” had been “mourning” Matthew Perry long before his death at 54 years old in October 2023. Perry, who starred as Chandler Bing on NBC’s “Friends” opposite Aniston as Rachel Green, died from the “acute effects” of ketamine. He had long been outspoken about battling substance abuse in Hollywood as “Friends” turned him and the cast into global stars.

“We did everything we could when we could,” Aniston told Vanity Fair about trying to help Perry during his long struggle with addiction both during “Friends’” run and after.