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Jennifer Aniston was visibly emotional in a past interview when discussing her dear friend and 'Friends' co-star, Matthew Perry, long before his tragic passing on October 28th.
In a 2004 conversation with ABC'sDiane Sawyer,Aniston revealed a side of Perry that 'Friends' fans might not have been fully aware of.
When asked what Perry didn't know about himself, Aniston tearfully responded, "That he's all right. He's struggled," referencing Perry's battle with addiction.
With tears in her eyes, she continued, "We didn't know, we weren't equipped to deal with it. Nobody had ever dealt with that, and at the idea of even losing him... he's having a road, but he's all right."
Jennifer Aniston kept a close eye on her friend
Aniston and Perry, along with fellow cast members Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, and Courteney Cox, formed the iconic ensemble of 'Friends.'
Perry, during his promotion of the 2022 memoir "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing," expressed his gratitude to Aniston for her unwavering support.
He recalled, "She was the one that reached out the most. You know, I'm really grateful to her for that."
Perry also remembered that it was Aniston who initially confronted him during the filming of 'Friends' about his addiction, which was a significant turning point.
He shared, "Imagine how scary a moment that was."
In other interviews, Perry continued to praise Aniston, calling her "wonderful," "terrific," and "the greatest."
Perry's long battle with addiction is visible on 'Friends'
Matthew Perry's battle with addiction during the show's production is well-documented, with the actor openly discussing his struggles in his memoir.
Perry, found deceased in his Los Angeles jacuzzi, candidly shared his three-decade-long battle with addiction, involving numerous rehab visits and near-death experiences.
He detailed how his addiction issues escalated under the pressure of fame as he soared to international stardom playing the witty and sarcastic Chandler Bing in 'Friends.'
In his memoir, Perry disclosed that fans of the show could detect his struggles by observing his weight and facial hair changes throughout the series.
"When I'm carrying weight, it's alcohol; when I'm skinny, it's pills; when I have a goatee, it's a lot of pills," he explained.
By June 2022, he described himself as "pretty healthy" and expressed a strong desire to help others facing addiction.
Following Perry's tragic passing, the surviving cast members of 'Friends' released a statement expressing their profound grief.
They emphasized that they were more than just colleagues, they were a family, and requested time to process this immense loss, offering their thoughts and love to Perry's family, friends, and admirers around the world.