Three decades ago, it was hard to foresee that a group of rising stars—Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer—would become Hollywood icons through the beloved sitcom F.R.I.
E.N.D.
S. While fans from the ’90s cherished the series, it’s the newer generations that have helped sustain its legacy. However, 2023 brought sorrow as Matthew Perry, famed for his portrayal of Chandler, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 54.
As the sitcom celebrated its 30th anniversary, co-creators David Crane and Marta Kauffman, alongside executive producer Kevin Bright, reflected on the bittersweet milestone, grappling with the loss of their cherished friend and colleague. In a conversation with Today, Kevin said, “He’d been fighting the good fight for so long, and it really did feel like, from the reunion, that he had finally found some peace. He made us laugh every day.
” Marta added, “It’s a huge loss, and it does make the 30th a little fraught.” In a 2023 interview, F.R.
I.E.N.
D.S. creator Marta Kauffman reflected on her last conversation with Matthew Perry, which took place just two weeks before his passing.
She described their exchange as uplifting, noting that he seemed happy and full of energy, showing no signs of distress or concern. While there has never been a discussion about rebooting F.R.
I.E.N.
D.S., the cast did come together for a special reunion on HBO Max in 2021.
In a recent discussion, the show’s creators, .