"Marta Kauffman, the co-creator of 'Friends', proposes two ideal methods to pay tribute to Matthew Perry"
Kauffman suggested two methods to honor Perry, who talked about his lengthy battle with drug addiction in his 2022 memoir and passed away last year due to a Ketamine overdose. The first option is contributing to drug rehabilitation centers.
"Let's tackle this illness," Kauffman remarked during an interview with The Times of London published on Friday.
The second suggestion, Kauffman added, is watching "Friends" and remembering him not as a man who met his end like that but as a man who was endlessly amusing and brought delight to everyone.
Perry portrayed the clever, adored Chandler Bing on the NBC sitcom, which also starred Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, and Matt LeBlanc from 1994 to 2004.
Perry passed away in October 2023 at the age of 54.
His lifeless body was discovered face down in a jacuzzi at his Pacific Palisades residence. According to the Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s Office autopsy report, Perry died due to "acute effects of ketamine" and subsequent drowning.
On Thursday, the US Attorney’s Office announced during a news conference in Los Angeles that five individuals were charged in relation to Perry's death.
Investigators claimed they discovered an unlawful network of drug dealers and providers they suspect of distributing the ketamine, alleging that Perry "relapsed" into addiction last fall.
The defendants, as mentioned in a press release from the US Attorney’s Office, comprise two doctors, Perry's live-in personal assistant, and an individual referred to by authorities as "The Ketamine Queen."
"He was the one I talked to the most," Kauffman told The Times. "About two weeks prior to his death, he and I were video calling, and he appeared to be doing well."
It remains unclear if Kauffman's statements to The Times, which were part of a feature celebrating 30 years of "Friends," were made prior to or following the publication of the indictments last week.
CNN contacted representatives for the "Friends" cast for comment on Thursday.
In November, Aniston honored Perry in a tribute she posted to her Instagram page, just like Kauffman, commending her friend for his ability to make everyone laugh.
"As he himself stated, if he didn't hear the 'laugh' he thought he was going to die," she penned. "His existence was essentially dependent on it. And boy did he manage to achieve that."
CNN's Scott Glover, John Miller, and Lisa Respers France contributed to this report.
"After paying our respects at rehabilitation centers, we can also honor Perry's memory by immersing ourselves in the entertainment he brought to the world, such as his iconic role in 'Friends'. His character, Chandler Bing, always had us laughing."
"Remembering Perry through his entertaining performances, like his hilarious comedic relief in 'Friends', can help celebrate his life and legacy, rather than focusing solely on his tragic end."
