Friends co-creator says Matthew Perry was ‘in a good place’ and ‘sober’ the last time they spoke

The entertainment industry has been grieving since last weekend when it was reported that Matthew Perry passed away at the age of 54. The beloved actor was best known for his role as Chandler Bing in Friends, which he played for all 10 seasons of the NBC sitcom. Perry brought so much joy to TV lovers’ lives throughout his career, and his memoir which was published in 2022 inspired fans across the globe.

Perry was very outspoken about his struggles with addiction over the years, and his willingness to be vulnerable and open up about the darkest parts of his life, especially in his book, was his way of trying to help others who might be facing the same issues. In 2021, the last time the Friends cast came together onscreen for the reunion show, fans were concerned about the way he spoke, which sounded like slurring. The actor later cleared that up, explaining he had emergency teeth surgery just before filming.

It goes without saying that Perry’s sobriety journey was difficult, which makes it all the more heartbreaking that he passed at such a young age after beating his addiction battle. In a new interview on Today, Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman revealed she had spoken to the actor just two weeks ago, and shed light on their conversation.

As reported by Entertainment Weekly, Kauffman shared: “He seemed better than I’d seen in a while. I was so thrilled to see that. He was emotionally in a good place.” You can watch the interview with Kauffman and David Crane below:

Kauffman also made note that Perry was “sober” when she spoke to him, adding: “He looked good. He quit smoking.” She called his death “so unfair,” which is how his fans and loved ones are feeling as well.

Perry was found unresponsive in his Los Angeles home on Saturday, Oct. 28, and his cause of death is still pending. The original report from TMZ claimed he drowned in his jacuzzi, but an update to that story added that sources said he was found in his home after playing pickleball that morning. His Friends co-stars have shared statements and social media posts paying tribute to the actor, as have his worldwide fans.

It’s easy to see how many people Perry touched in his life. Last Sunday, Oct. 29, Friends fans gathered around the iconic New York apartment which was used for exterior shots of Monica and Rachel’s place, braving the rain to build shrines of personal notes and bouquets of flowers for the late actor.

Perry’s legacy will live on through Friends rewatches and reads of his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, which is back to number one on Amazon’s Best Sellers list after his passing.