Friends creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane are looking back on the final conversation they had with Matthew Perry before his sudden death.
The beloved star of the popular 90s sitcom's death was announced this past weekend, leaving costars, friends, and admirers shocked and in mourning.
Perry was found unresponsive in the hot tub in his Los Angeles home on Saturday (October 28) at around 4PM, before he was declared dead. The actor's official cause of death has been deferred.
According to TMZ, Initial preliminary toxicology test results disclosed that there was no meth or fentanyl in Perry's system. This debunks speculations of a potential overdose from these substances.
However, the comprehensive toxicology report is still underway, and its results will provide insights into whether the late Friends star had a lethal level of prescription drugs in his bloodstream.
Perry shot to fame after landing a role as Chandler Bing in the hugely successful 90s sitcom Friends, starring alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, and Lisa Kudrow.
The treasured series ran for 10 seasons on NBC from 1994 to 2004 and skyrocketed to become one of the most watched and beloved TV shows of all time.
The main cast of Friends broke their silence by sharing a joint statement with People magazine, honoring the memory of their precious costar. They expressed that they are "so utterly devastated by the loss of [Perry]," adding: "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," they continued. "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."
In the wake of the tragedy, the TV series' creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane, have since reflected on their positive final exchange with the actor just two weeks before the news of his passing.
Speaking on the Today Show with host Hoda Kotb, Kauffman, 67, recalled: "It was great. 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."
"I was just in utter shock," she said about the announcement of his death. "My first instinct was to text him, honestly. And then deep sadness. So much sadness. It’s hard to grasp. One minute he’s here and happy and then poof. He was also really doing good in the world."
Watch the Friends creators talk about Perry below:The 17 Again actor heartbreakingly opened up about his difficult battle with substance addiction in his deeply personal memoir Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing - which was released just last year.
He gave readers a harrowing account of his experiences, sharing that his Vicodin addiction reportedly stemmed from a 1997 jet skiing accident, during which he became dependent on the opioid analgesic.
In an interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer last October, Perry revealed that - at his worst - he was taking "55 Vicodin a day", as well as a cocktail of "Methadone, Xanax, a full quart of vodka". He later admitted in another interview that he spent "$9 million or something trying to get sober".
In addition to this, Perry spoke about how he believed people would respond if he died, stating: "I say in the book that if I did die, it would shock people, but it wouldn't surprise anybody. And that's a very scary thing to be living with."
Speaking about this specific remark, the Today Show interviewer asked Crane, 66, how that statement "landed" with him, and how he felt when he heard the devastating news.
"I would say that's probably true, given the journey he'd been on, and we were all aware of it. There was always a part that was kind of bracing for something like this," Crane said. "It is still hard to believe because he was such an alive person, that it's hard to believe he's not here."
Crane also believes that the late actor would understand the impact he had on so many people, "but at the same time I wonder… how much he was able to internalize it and find comfort in it".
Furthermore, Kauffman shared that after speaking to Perry two weeks ago, she was "thrilled" because "he seemed better than I had seen in a while," adding: "He was emotionally in a good place. He looked good. He quit smoking."
"Yes, he was sober. He learned things throughout this and what he learned more than anything is that he wants to help other addicts, and it gave him purpose," she added.
The co-creator emotionally said that she "lost a friend in multiple ways" and expressed that it's "amazing" that there is so much outpouring of love from supporters "who lost a friend of theirs, too".
"And I hope wherever he is, he feels it," she concluded.
