Phoebe Kudrow has revealed that she is rewatching Friends following the death of Matthew Perry.
The actor, who played Phoebe Buffay on Friends, has previously said that she didn’t want to rewatch the beloved 1990s sitcom because she was worried she might not like her own work.
But now, following the death of her co-star, who died on October 28, 2023 at the age of 54, Kudrow has explained how she has been revisiting the series.
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter ahead of the release of her new Apple TV+ series Time Bandits, Kudrow said: “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 OK.”
She spoke about watching his character, Chandler Bing, who was known for his dry sense of humour and quick wit, which some have said mirrored Perry’s own personality: “And it’s just celebrating how hilarious he was — and that is what I want to remember [about him].”
“Matthew, obviously, is just uniquely hilarious. No one ever knew that cadence or comedic rhythm before him,” she added.
Speaking about rewatching the show, she praised the work of her other co-stars, saying: “I’m laughing out loud, and everyone is hilarious. I’m blown away by Courteney Cox. I’m blown away by Jen[nifer Aniston].”
She continued: “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,” she explained. “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?”
Elsewhere in the interview, she recalled the joy she experienced while making the iconic TV show: “You’re just laughing all day long, basically, in between the scenes, because these are funny people.”
“And especially someone like Matthew, whose goal was: How many laughs can I get in real life every day? So we were always laughing so hard, tears were flying out of our faces,” she shared.
Perry was found unconscious at his home in Los Angeles in late October. It has since been revealed that he died from the acute effects of ketamine, with contributing factors including drowning.
A criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death was launched by the LAPD in May and is reportedly “nearing its conclusion”. Police have said that “multiple people” should be charged in connection with the actor’s death.