Matthew Perry revealed just last year the poignant explanation behind his decision not to watch Friends, despite it making him world famous. The actor, who died at 54 on Saturday, revealed in a November 2022 interview that he couldn’t watch his breakthrough role as Chandler Bing. Perry explained he could see the progression of his addiction season by season. This made it hard for him to watch his performance.

“I didn’t watch the show and haven’t watched the show because I could go drinking…opiates…drinking…cocaine. Like I could tell season by season by how I looked,” Perry revealed on Q with Tom Power last November. And I don’t think anybody else can, but I certainly could,” Perry added. “That’s why I don’t want to watch it because that’s what I see, that’s what I noticed when I watch it.”

However, Perry admitted to considering breaking down at watching the series. He loved that Friends touched so many lives over the years. “But I think I’m going to start to watch it because, first of all, it was an incredible ride,” Perry explained. “But it’s been an incredible thing to watch it touch the hearts of different generations. It’s become this important, significant thing and I, you know, I would watch that again. It was really funny and all the people were nice. And I’ve been too worried about this.”

Fans and Co-Stars Alike Are In Shock Over Matthew Perry’s Passing

The sudden and devastating news of the Emmy-nominated actor’s untimely death has left fans in a state of shock. Perry, who was 54 years old, was found dead at his residence in Los Angeles on Saturday, October 28, 2023.

Morgan Fairchild, who played the on-screen mother of Perry on Friends, honored the late actor. The veteran actress shared a photo on Twitter with Perry, as well as Kathleen Turner, who portrayed the on-screen “Dad,” from the beloved comedy show. “I’m heartbroken about the untimely death of my ‘son,’ Matthew Perry,” Fairchild wrote alongside the image. “The loss of such a brilliant young actor is a shock.”

Maggie Wheeler, known for her role as Janice, Chandler’s girlfriend, also took to social media to share a heartfelt tribute in honor of Perry. “What a loss. The world will miss you, Matthew Perry,” Wheeler captioned an image of her with Perry from the show.

In 2021, Perry reunited with his Friends cast for a retrospective special on HBO Max. He also authored a memoir called Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing last year, candidly recounting his journey to stardom and battle with addiction.