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Jennifer Aniston reflects on Matthew Perry's addiction battles, tragic death

Matthew Perry died at the age of 54 in October 2023 from “acute effects of ketamine”

Published on: Aug 11, 2025, 21:13:26 IST
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Jennifer Aniston, who starred alongside Matthew Perry in Friends from 1994 to 2004, has opened up about watching her former co-star battling his addiction for decades. Reflecting on the actor's tragic demise, Aniston told Vanity Fair that she had been mourning “for a long time” before his death.

Jennifer Aniston talks about Matthew Perry's drug addiction. (Instagram/friends)
Jennifer Aniston talks about Matthew Perry's drug addiction. (Instagram/friends)

Perry died at the age of 54 in October 2023 from “acute effects of ketamine.” He had been battling drug addiction for several years, and it is believed to have started when he filmed Friends, The Daily Beast reported.

Jennifer Aniston reflects on Matthew Perry’s addiction

“We did everything we could when we could,” Aniston, 56, told the magazine. Perry himself chronicled his struggle with addiction in his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. “But it almost felt like we’d been mourning Matthew for a long time because his battle with that disease was a really hard one for him to fight,” Aniston added.

The Horrible Bosses star went on to elaborate on her personal feelings about Perry's death. “As hard as it was for all of us and for the fans, there’s a part of me that thinks this is better. I’m glad he’s out of that pain," she told Vanity Fair. Jennifer Aniston and Matthew Perry featured in the NBC show along with Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer.

At first, Matthew Perry's death was ruled an accident, and an initial investigation into the matter was shut down in January last year. But it was reopened later on, and since then, five people have been charged with his death.

Also read: Doctor pleads guilty to selling Matthew Perry ketamine in weeks before ‘Friends’ star's death

A few months after his demise, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office released a toxicology report that listed drowning, coronary artery disease, as well as buprenorphine effects as the contributing factors.

Earlier, Perry’s assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, pleaded guilty to the conspiracy to distribute ketamine, causing death. Also, the late actor's acquaintance, Erik Fleming, pleaded guilty to conspiracy for distributing ketamine along with the distribution of ketamine resulting in death, US magazine reported.

Also, Dr Mark Chavez pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute ketamine. Meanwhile, Jasveen Sangha, popular as 'Ketamine Queen', and Dr Salvador Plasencia pleaded not guilty in the matter.

FAQs:

When was Jennifer Aniston diagnosed?

She got diagnosed with dyslexia in her early 20s.

What is the net worth of Jennifer Aniston?

According to Celebrity Net Worth, she has total earnings of $320 million.

Does Jennifer Aniston have a child?

No, she does not have any children.

 
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HT US Desk

The Hindustan Times US Desk brings you the latest news and developments from across the United States. The team covers everything from breaking news and politics to sports, business, entertainment and stories that are trending across the country. Our coverage includes the White House, Congress, US elections, immigration and visa updates, H-1B, green cards, Social Security, education, jobs, layoffs, the economy, technology and major policy changes. We also closely follow stories that matter to Indian and South Asian communities in the US. The desk covers major US sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL, along with player news, injuries, schedules, results and major events. Entertainment coverage includes Hollywood, celebrities, television, streaming, music and pop culture. We also report on breaking developments, major incidents, weather, public safety, court cases and other stories making headlines across the country. When a major policy or news development affects people's everyday lives, the team works to explain what happened, what it means and what readers need to know. Alongside breaking news, the US Desk produces explainers and practical stories on topics such as immigration, Social Security, taxes, education, employment and government programmes. The team also works on science, tech, business and AI stories analyzing the impact they may have on people. The team follows developments throughout the day, keeping an eye on official announcements, public records, reliable news sources and what people are talking about across the US.

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