Jennifer Aniston Mourned Matthew Perry Long Before His Death

Jennifer Aniston says her grief over Matthew Perry began years before his passing. She explained in a new interview that watching his battle with addiction felt like mourning him while he was still alive.

The Friends actress told Vanity Fair that she and her co-stars tried everything to help him. His addiction struggles, however, persisted. “There’s a part of me that thinks this is better,” she said, noting relief that he is now free from pain.

A Lasting Bond

Aniston and Perry stayed close long after Friends ended. She has spoken about him often since his death. Last October, she shared a heartfelt tribute on the one-year anniversary of his passing.

Perry died on October 28, 2023, at age 54, after being found unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home. The coroner said he died from the acute effects of ketamine.

Legal Fallout

Authorities have charged five people in connection with Perry’s death. Dr. Salvador Plasencia pleaded guilty last month in federal court to four counts of distributing ketamine in Los Angeles.

Aniston’s words reflect the pain of losing a friend to addiction — a loss that began long before the final goodbye.