Lisa Kudrow Reveals Rare Friends Cast Reunion Before Matthew Perry’s Tragic Passing
Lisa Kudrow, known for her role as the quirky Pheobe Buffay in the iconic sitcom “Friends,” recently shared that the entire cast of the beloved show only met up once in the 17 years following the series finale in 2004. The long-awaited reunion finally happened in 2021 with the premiere of “Friends: The Reunion.”
During an episode of Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s “Dinner’s on Me” podcast, Kudrow mentioned that the six main cast members – Matthew Perry, Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, and Matt LeBlanc – had only gathered for dinner together once before the official reunion.
Despite the long hiatus, Kudrow expressed that when the cast finally reunited after 10 years, it felt like they hadn’t missed a beat. They shared a meal at someone’s house and effortlessly slipped back into their familiar dynamic.
Tragically, Matthew Perry, who portrayed the sarcastic Chandler Bing on the show, passed away at the age of 54 due to complications from ketamine use. Authorities found him unresponsive in his Los Angeles home’s hot tub, with a toxicology report later confirming the cause of death as “the acute effects of ketamine.”
In the wake of Perry’s untimely death, five individuals, including two medical doctors and his assistant, were arrested for their involvement in supplying him with drugs. The Department of Justice revealed that they had been taking advantage of Perry by selling him the substances.
Following the devastating news, Aniston, Cox, Kudrow, LeBlanc, and Schwimmer released a joint statement expressing their profound grief over Perry’s passing. They emphasized the deep bond they shared as a cast, referring to themselves as a family. They promised to share more in the future but requested privacy as they mourned the loss of their beloved friend and colleague.
