Even after his tragic passing, Matthew Perry’s kindness continues to shine in ways that prove he'll always be there for his friends.
His dear friend and Friends co-star Lisa Kudrow recently shared a deeply moving story during her appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, revealing that the late actor left behind a special memento for her.
Kudrow, who played the quirky and lovable Phoebe Buffay on the iconic sitcom, recounted how Perry gifted her the beloved "Cookie Time" jar from the Friends set as their time on the show came to an emotional close.
Eagle-eyed fans of the hit sitcom would know that the instantly recognizable prop was often seen in Monica's apartment in a number of episodes throughout the show's 10 seasons.
The jar is actually a vintage item, but its presence on the show has led to a surge in popularity for similar cookie jars, and fans can now easily find replicas and inspired designs online.
It wasn’t just the gesture itself that moved her, but a hidden treasure she had only recently discovered.
“Matthew gave that to me at the end of our last episode. And I had recently found the note that he had in it for me,” she told host Drew Barrymore, her voice tinged with emotion. “I hadn’t looked inside of it, but yeah, he did.
"He had a note in there and I forgot about it.”
Perry - who often voiced just how much the show and the cast meant to him - will forever be remembered as the quick-witted Chandler Bing.
The actor tragically passed away in October 2023 at the age of 54. His untimely death - caused by the “acute effects of ketamine”, per an autopsy report - devastated fans and loved ones alike. An investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death led to five individuals being charged in connection with his overdose.
Kudrow’s connection to Perry goes beyond their shared time on screen. Reflecting on his loss, she revealed in a June 2024 interview with The Hollywood Reporter that his passing gave her the strength to rewatch Friends for the first time since filming wrapped nearly two decades ago.
“Honestly, I wasn’t able to watch it because it’s too embarrassing to watch yourself,” she admitted. “But if I make it about Matthew, then that’s OK. And it’s just celebrating how hilarious he was—and that is what I want to remember [about him].”
Like millions of devoted fans around the world, Kudrow found herself laughing out loud at the show’s timeless humor and admiring the comedic talents of her castmates.
“Everyone is hilarious,” she shared. “I’m blown away by Courteney Cox. I’m blown away by Jen. Matthew, obviously, is just uniquely hilarious. No one ever knew that cadence or comedic rhythm before him. Matt LeBlanc is hilarious. And David Schwimmer, too.
"Sometimes I even laugh at what I’ve done.”
This is not the first time Kudrow has opened up about Perry gifting her the prop.
During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Kudrow recalled the moment Perry handed her the set piece, and the history behind it.
Kudrow explained: “We’re shooting a scene, years before we were finished, and my line was, ‘Oh! I better get going,’ like, ‘Oh! I’m late, I better get going.’” She mistakenly gestured to the cookie jar, thinking it was a clock.
“As the words were coming out, I went, ‘Oh, good, there’s a clock,’” Kudrow said, laughing. “I gestured to that, and said, ‘Oh! Look at the time. I gotta get going.’”
Perry, ever quick-witted, couldn’t resist pointing it out. “During shooting, Matthew said, ‘Did you look at the cookie jar and say look at the time?’” Kudrow recalled.
After the show wrapped, Perry made sure Kudrow had the cookie jar as a keepsake. Touched by the gesture, Kudrow quipped: “I think the first thing I asked was, ‘This was so nice—did you get permission?’ I mean, my car used to get searched every night when I left.”
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