Following the tragic and untimely death of Matthew Perry in 2023, his Friends co-star Lisa Kudrow has revealed the moment she found a note from the late star.
Iconic US sitcom Friends starred Perry as Chandler Bing and Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay - alongside co-stars Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston and Matt LeBlanc - propelling all to worldwide fame.
The beloved show came off the air two decades ago but the impact remains, with the cast taking part in a reunion in 2021 - just two years before Perry passed away aged just 54 years old.
The actor, who had been open about his struggles with drug addiction throughout his life, died in his hottub as a result of the 'acute effects of ketamine', with 'drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine' being listed as contributing factors.
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Five people were charged in connection with his death, including Perry's assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, and Jasveen Sangha - dubbed the 'Ketamine Queen' - who is alleged to have supplied the drugs.
Kudrow previously revealed that when Friends came to an end in 2004, Perry gifted her a cookie jar which had been used as part of the decor in Monica and Chandler's apartment on the show, bearing the slogan 'It's Cookie Time'.
The actress revealed to Jimmy Kimmel in 2020: "Do you see that 'cookie time'? That was in Monica and Rachel’s apartment. That was the wrap gift [Matthew Perry] gave me.”
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She continued: "We were laughing hysterically, and crying, because it was the end."
But the gift turned out to be even more special than she'd realised.
In a new interview with Drew Barrymore, Kudrow revealed: "I recently found a note that he had [left] in it for me. I hadn’t opened it or looked inside of it. But yeah, he did. He had a note in there and I forgot about it.”
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The actress, who stars in the Netflix series No Good Deed, decided not to share what it said exactly, but remarked that 'timing is everything'.
Kudrow reflected on her late friend and their time together on Friends to the Hollywood Reporter in 2024: "Honestly, I wasn’t able to watch it because it’s too embarrassing to watch yourself. But if I make it about Matthew, then that’s OK.
“And it’s just celebrating how hilarious he was – and that is what I want to remember.”
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She praised the entire cast, adding: “Everyone is hilarious. I’m blown away by Courteney Cox. I’m blown away by Jen. Matthew, obviously, is just uniquely hilarious. No one ever knew that cadence or comedic rhythm before him.
“Matt LeBlanc is hilarious. And David Schwimmer, too. Sometimes I even laugh at what I’ve done.”
Topics: Matthew Perry, Friends, Lisa Kudrow, Celebrity
Kya Buller