Lisa Kudrow has revealed that she is currently rewatching Friends to celebrate former castmate Matthew Perry.
The late actor, who played the beloved Chandler Bing in the sitcom, died in October at the age of 54.
There is an ongoing investigation into his death, and an autopsy has revealed he had been killed by ‘acute effects of ketamine’.
Speaking in a new interview, Kudrow opened up about her heartbreaking loss, and how she is keeping his memory alive through the comedy – which also starred Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer.
‘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 okay,’ she said. ‘And it’s just celebrating how hilarious he was — and that is what I want to remember [about him].’
When asked for her thoughts on rewatching in the present day, the Phoebe Buffay actress continued to the Hollywood Reporter: ‘I’m laughing out loud, and 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.
‘So yeah, I mean, that’s my own little way of celebrating [the anniversaries], just watching it. But it’s embarrassing. At home, if anyone walks in the room and I’m watching Friends, that’s a horrible look, I think, don’t you?’
Kudrow still has fond memories of filming the sitcom decades later, explaining that the cast would laugh together ‘all day long’, with ‘tears flying out of our faces’.
She said that a lot of this was due to Perry and his goal of keeping everyone around him in giggles.
Shedding light on how she wants him to be remembered in the wake of his death, she added: ‘I think the world is remembering him the way he wanted to be remembered. I think that’s happening [already].’
News of Perry’s death was made public on October 8, with the Friends cast releasing a joint statement two days later, before offering up their own tributes on social media.
‘We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family,’ it read.
‘There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.
‘In time we will say more, as and when we are able. For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.’
In a separate message of condolence, Kudrow thanked her close friend for ‘the best 10 years’, posting a throwback polaroid from their time together.
‘Shot the pilot, Friends Like Us, got picked up then immediately, we were at the NBC Upfronts,’ she began. ‘Then… You suggested we play poker AND made it so much fun while we initially bonded. Thank you for that.
‘Thank you for making me laugh so hard at something you said, that my muscles ached, and tears poured down my face EVERY DAY.
‘Thank you for your open heart in a six way relationship that required compromise. And a lot of “talking.” Thank you for showing up at work when you weren’t well and then, being completely brilliant.
‘Thank you for the best 10 years a person gets to have. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for all I learned about GRACE and LOVE through knowing you.
‘Thank you for the time I got to have with you, Matthew.’
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