Matthew Perry's On-Screen Wife Courteney Cox Speaks Out More than 2 Weeks after His Tragic Death

• Matthew Perry's on-screen wife, Courteney Cox, has opened up about the pain of losing him.
• Courteney shared about the special moments she had with Matthew on the set of "Friends."
• Matthew, who struggled with alcoholism and drug abuse, has been celebrated as an amazing and funny actor.

Matthew Perry died aged 54 after an apparent drowning at his home in Los Angeles on October 28, 2023. Matthew starred as Chandler Bing in the sitcom "Friends." He was the TV husband to Courteney Cox, who played Monica Geller.

Matthew's other co-stars on "Friends" are Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, and Matt LeBlanc. The co-stars released a joint statement when Matthew died, saying that they were devastated by his loss as he was family to them.

Now, Courteney has remembered the good times she shared with Matthew. The actress posted a tribute on Instagram on November 14, 2023, noting that she was grateful for every moment she shared with the actor and missed him daily.

Courteney's tribute came with a short clip from "Friends." She shared the scene where Ross Geller, played by David, walks in on Chandler and tells him excitedly that he is getting married that day. When Ross leaves the room, Monica pops up from underneath the sheets and asks Chandler if Ross knew she was there.

The actress explained that this scene was one of her favorite moments with Matthew. She revealed that Monica and Chandler were only supposed to have a fling in London, but when the audience loved them as a couple, their lasting love story was included in the sitcom.

Courteney added that before they started shooting the scene she shared, Matthew whispered something funny she should say. "He often did things like that. He was funny, and he was kind. 🤍🕊️," she concluded.

That moment was scary for Matthew as he wasn't in a position to stop drinking and using drugs.

Fans commented on Courteney's post, noting that they "can't stop crying" because their hearts hurt due to Matthew's demise. Fans added that they "loved the laughter" Matthew gave them and prayed for the actress's peace and comfort.

A guest star on "Friends," Lisa Cash, had previously revealed that Chandler was to cheat on Monica with her character in the sitcom, but Matthew spoke out against that storyline to the writers, and it was axed. Lisa eventually appeared on "Friends" as a flight attendant in the 1999 episode from season 5, "The One in Vegas: Part 1."

Courteney spoke out about how great Matthew was on "Friends." She said the actor, who struggled with alcoholism and drug abuse, found a way to make his character relatable via his challenges. The actor could show raw emotion and connect closely with his audience, making everybody love him.

In his memoir, "Friends, Lovers, and the Terrible Big Thing," Matthew thanked Courteney, whom he called "cripplingly beautiful" in a yellow dress, for making America think that someone as gorgeous as she is could marry a guy like him.

After "Friends," Courteney and Matthew starred together in "Cougar Town." Their reunion was cute and emotional, with the actress saying Matthew was as sweet and funny as ever.

She revealed that Matthew often gave her funny lines when they were on "Friends." Matthew had opened up in the past about his struggle with alcoholism and drug abuse and how his co-stars supported him.

Matthew's Struggle with Alcoholism and Drug Abuse

Matthew struggled with alcoholism and drug abuse while on "Friends." He tried hiding it from his co-stars, but Jennifer approached him and told him they knew he was drinking as they could smell it on him.

That moment was scary for Matthew as he wasn't in a position to stop drinking and using drugs. The cast and creators of "Friends" also approached him about his drinking and tried to help him, but Matthew didn't know how to stop.

However, he was glad the "Friends" cast was there for him as he worked through his challenges. He said of all the co-stars, Jennifer reached out the most, and he was grateful for that. The first director of "Friends," James Burrow, said the ladies' co-stars of Matthew were destroyed when they heard he was dead.

Matthew had a strong bond with his co-stars and the cast. James added that the co-stars and cast were proud of him in the last couple of years as he was going strong in his sobriety journey. James now wants Matthew to be remembered as a wonderful actor, a funny man, and a dear friend to many people.

Matthew will be missed by his co-stars, whom he loved. Lisa said Matthew was the one always trying to keep everyone else happy. The actor described Lisa as the funniest person he has ever worked with and Matt, David, and Courteney as hilarious. The six had a tight relationship that wasn't just about being co-stars; it was about being a family.