Lisa Kudrow Reflects on Rewatching “Friends” After Matthew Perry Died: 'He Was Just Beyond Us All'
Lisa Kudrow Reflects on Rewatching “Friends” After Matthew Perry Died: 'He Was Just Beyond Us All'
Gina KalsiFri, April 24, 2026 at 3:14 PM UTC
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Lisa Kudrow with Matthew Perry; Kudrow in 2026Credit: NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty; Lucy North/PA Images via Getty -
Lisa Kudrow reflected on Matthew Perry’s talent and called him a “genius” after rewatching Friends following his death
Perry, who played Chandler Bing in the sitcom, died in 2023 at 54 due to the acute effects of ketamine
Perry once described the Friends cast as supportive, comparing them to penguins helping an injured member of their group
Lisa Kudrow is opening up about how she felt watching Friends after Matthew Perry's death, calling him a “genius.”
The actress, 62, played the bohemian guitar-playing masseuse, Phoebe Buffay, in the iconic sitcom, which is just as popular today as it was when it last aired 22 years ago.
It followed a group of 20-somethings figuring out their careers, love lives and friendships in the heart of New York City.
She was one of six Friends, which included Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green, Courteney Cox as Monica Geller, David Schwimmer as Ross Geller, Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani and Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing.
Perry died in 2023 at 54 due to the acute effects of ketamine, which prompted Kudrow to rewatch the series.
Matthew Perry and Lisa KudrowCredit: Trae Patton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
“Before, I only saw what I did wrong or could have done better,” she told British newspaper The Times. “But for the first time, I truly appreciated just how great it was.”
She added: “I felt I did OK, but Jennifer and Courteney? Amazing. David and Matt? They had me laughing so hard. And then Matthew — he was just beyond us all.”
The mom of one wrote the foreword to Perry’s 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Terrible Big Thing and admitted she hadn’t realized the extent of his addiction.
Perry had been to rehab 15 times over the years and revealed to PEOPLE in 2022 that he was taking 55 Vicodin a day during his Friends reign.
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When asked by The Times reporter whether Perry’s mindset was wrong or if there was something else troubling him, Kudrow replied: “Oh, it was something else,” before going on to describe her late co-star as a “genius at work.”
“And whatever any of us do in the future, we will never experience something like that again,” she said.
An episode of Friends from 2001Credit: NBCU Photo Bank
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Though Perry tried to hide his condition, the dramatic changes in his appearance each year reflected his state of sobriety.
During his interview with PEOPLE, the actor said his cast mates "were understanding, and they were patient.”
"It's like penguins,” he added. “Penguins, in nature, when one is sick, or when one is very injured, the other penguins surround it and prop it up. They walk around it until that penguin can walk on its own. That's kind of what the cast did for me."
Perry’s death still cuts deep for the millions of Friends fans, who still comment on his Instagram posts today, more than two years after his death.
“Hi I just missed you so much today,” one wrote. “Still doesn’t feel real.. 🥀,” another commented. A third said: “Matthew, I hope you can see how much you are missed. We all love you endlessly!”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
