“It’s still a shock for everyone that he’s gone”

The event should have been a cause for joyful celebration. Instead, the actors of Friends spent the show’s thirtieth anniversary paying tribute to their late co-star Matthew Perry.

He appeared on the series for ten seasons, starting in 1994 and ending in 2004, alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer.

According to an autopsy report conducted in December 2023, Perry died in October 2023 at the age of 54 as a result of the “acute effects” of ketamine and other variables that caused him to lose consciousness and drown in his hot tub, Reuters reported.

The actor has publicly admitted that he had abused drugs for decades, even during the years he played the role of Chandler Bing on the popular television sitcom “Friends.”

Ketamine is a legitimate but unapproved treatment for depression that the actor used through his primary care doctor. According to NPR, it is increasingly being used to treat depression. When Perry’s doctor refused to give him more ketamine, he began looking for even more ketamine.

In a normal situation, according to a source, Aniston would have invited Cox, Kudrow, Schwammer, LeBlanc and, of course, Perry to her home to reminisce about the good old days.

However, the source told Life & Style Magazine: “They all felt it was too soon after Matthew’s death. “It’s still a shock to everyone that he’s not here.”

In the end, however, the actors communicated with each other and there was a group conversation, said the insider.

“They talked about Matthew and shared stories from the set – the best of times, the worst of times and some things they had never told each other before.”

When the first episode of “Friends” aired on September 22, 1994, the cast had no idea how much of a family favorite the sitcom would become. Fans have been advocating for a remake for years, even suggesting a series that would focus on the characters’ children.

“It’s hard to try anything again,” Courteney said. “Anything with ‘re’ in front of it is with this group… I think it’s very special.”

However, fans can take part in a commemorative game show called “Fast Friends,” where they compete in various challenges on a set that is a reproduction of the original structure. Production is scheduled to start in October this year.

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