Jennifer Aniston Urges Fans to Cherish Matthew Perry’s Legacy Following His Passing

At the 2024 Critics’ Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California, Jennifer Aniston, star of The Morning Show, spoke openly about the recent loss of her friend and fellow Friends costar, Matthew Perry. In a conversation with Entertainment Tonight, she shared her desire for Perry's fans to actively "celebrate him."

 

Matthew Perry, who battled addiction throughout his life, passed away on October 28 at the age of 54. The autopsy report, obtained by PEOPLE in December, revealed that his death was caused by acute effects of ketamine, with drowning, coronary artery disease, and buprenorphine effects listed as contributing factors, all ruled accidental.

 

In response to Perry's passing, members of the Hollywood community, including all five Friends costars, expressed their condolences on social media. Perry's family also established the Matthew Perry Foundation to support those struggling with substance abuse, a cause the late actor had been passionate about.

 

Back in November, Jennifer Aniston encouraged her followers to contribute to the Matthew Perry Foundation on Giving Tuesday, emphasizing that Perry "would have been grateful for the love 🥰." In a December interview with Variety, she shared her thoughts on how Perry should be remembered, highlighting his happiness and his ability to make people laugh.

 

“He was happy,” Aniston said. “I miss him dearly. We all do. Boy, he made us laugh really hard.” She expressed gratitude for the beautiful tributes that poured in, hoping Perry could realize the depth of love he received.

 

Breaking her silence on November 15, Aniston shared one of her last text messages from Perry and reminisced about how he brought joy through laughter. In an Instagram tribute alongside a photo from the sitcom's 2004 finale, she reflected on the profound impact of losing Perry and the enduring bond they shared as part of the "chosen family" of Friends.

 

“We were always the 6 of us,” Aniston stated. “This was a chosen family that forever changed the course of who we were and what our path was going to be. For Matty, he KNEW he loved to make people laugh. His life literally depended on it. And boy did he succeed in doing just that. He made all of us laugh. And laugh hard.”

 

Aniston revealed she had been revisiting text message exchanges with Perry, finding solace in the shared laughter and tears. In honoring Matthew Perry's legacy, Jennifer Aniston encourages fans to celebrate the joy and laughter he brought into their lives.