The Friends cast got back together to celebrate the 30th year of the TV show, but there was one notable absence after the tragic death of Matthew Perry in 2023, leaving the rest of his co-stars wondering if they got back together all too soon.
Perry was found dead on October 28, 2023 at his home in Los Angeles after appearing to have relapsed into substance abuse habits with the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiners finding notable traces of ketamine as well as traces of buprenorphine in his system.
The 54-year-old, who played the wise-cracking Chandler Bing, was one of the most popular characters on the show and on television through the 1990s, and his death stunned the world as emotional tributes poured in, including at the 30th anniversary on September 22, 2024.
Yet whilst Perry and his co-stars, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc would typically gather on the anniversary to celebrate the pinnacle of their careers, it was cancelled in 2024.
“They all felt it was just too soon after Matthew’s passing,” a source told In Touch. “It’s still a shock to everyone that he’s not here.”
Instead, the now-quintet formed a group chat on social media to talk about their late friend privately as well as other things they never said, alongside posting their own tributes to the public sphere on social media too.
“They talked about Matthew and shared stories from the set,” the source continued. “The best times, the worst times and some things they ‘ve never even told each other.”
Doctor pleads guilty to Perry death role
Seven months after his death, in May 2024, fans received another shock when the Los Angeles Police Department announced they were investigation into just how Perry obtained the high level of ketamine that contributed to his death.
Then on August 15, the LAPD announced they were filing charges against five people connected to the acting sensation: Perry’s personal assistant, two doctors, and two drug dealers, claiming their roles in distribution caused his death.
Dr. Mark Chavez, who eventually had his license revoked, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine on October 2 as part of a plea agreement with the federal prosecution team acting on behalf of Perry.
“He is trying to do everything in his power to right the wrong that happened here,” Chavez’s attorney told press. “He is doing everything in his power to cooperate, to help in this situation, and he’s incredibly remorseful.”
