'He was happy and chipper': Friends creators recall their last conversation with Matthew Perry

The creators of the iconic TV show "Friends," Marta Kauffman and David Crane, have shared their last conversation with the late actor Matthew Perry.

During a preview of an episode on the Today Show, the creators spoke with host Hoda Kotb about the positive and upbeat exchange they had with Perry just two weeks before his untimely passing. Marta Kauffman, 67, fondly recalled the conversation, saying, "It was great. He was happy and chipper. He didn’t seem weighed down by anything. He was in a really good place, which is why this seems so unfair."

On a tragic note, Perry was discovered dead in his Los Angeles home at the age of 54, with authorities reporting an apparent drowning incident. The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed that first responders arrived at the residence but found him deceased. He was discovered in a freestanding jacuzzi, and firefighters conducted a quick medical assessment, revealing his tragic fate.


In a joint statement shared with PEOPLE, Kauffman, Crane and executive producer Kevin Bright, reacted to the news of his passing and confessed his death "still seems impossible" to process.

"We are shocked and deeply, deeply saddened by our beloved friend Matthew’s passing. It still seems impossible. All we can say is that we feel blessed to have had him as part of our lives. He was a brilliant talent. It’s a cliche to say that an actor makes a role their own, but in Matthew’s case, there are no truer words. From the day we first heard him embody the role of Chandler Bing, there was no one else for us," they said.

"He was the sweetest, with a giving and selfless heart. We send all of our love to his family and friends."

The remaining cast members of "Friends," including Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer, also shared their grief in a joint statement, underscoring their close bond as a "family" and their collective sense of devastation. They expressed their intent to share more in the future but asked for understanding during this difficult time.