Friends star Matthew Perry died of a drug overdose on October, 28th 2023, at 54, and his grave site was unmarked for more than two years. But at the start of the new year, it gets a new update.
Entertainment weekly reports that two years have past since the actors tragic death, but he finally has a plaque bearing his name with a nod to his role to the show. In Friends, he plays Chandler Bing who was very smart and funny, and appeared in most episodes.
According to Entertainment Weekly, the plaque reads his name with his birth and death dates under it. On the last line is a nod to his role on Friends which states, “much loved, Friend.”
On New Year’s Day, numerous flowers surrounded Perry’s mausoleum space, according to Entertainment Weekly.
Perry’s death was reportedly from acute effects of ketamine as he was found unresponsive in his pool. Salvador Plasencia had given Perry ketamine to relax in the weeks leading up to his death, and is now charged with 30 months of federal imprisonment, pleading guilty to four counts of giving the drug out in June. Another doctor, Jasveen Sangha, pled guilty, and two other individuals all accepted lower charges. Five altogether were initially charged in connection with Perry’s death.
Entertainment Weekly reports that at the time of his death, the cast of Friends has this to say: “We were more than just cast mates. We are a family. There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.”
Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show), who played Rachel on Friends, had an interview with Vanity Fair and recalled, “We did everything we could when we could, but it almost felt like we’d been mourning Matthew for a long time because his battle with that disease was a really hard one for him to fight.”
Before Perry’s death, Entertainment Weekly details he became a safe haven for those looking to stop drinking, turning his home into a sober facility. Perry joined his costars one more time at their old set, laughing and crying, before the sitcom went off air in 2004.