Jennifer Aniston Reveals Unseen Struggles of Co-Star Matthew Perry

Unmasking the Persona Behind Chandler Bing

Jennifer Aniston, who achieved fame as Rachel Green in the iconic sitcom ‘Friends,’ has opened up about the internal battles faced by her late co-star, Matthew Perry. She admitted that she was unaware of the “anxiety and self-torture” Perry went through to portray his character, Chandler Bing, until the revelations came out during the ‘Friends: The Reunion’ show.

“The facade of Chandler hid a world of anxiety and self-torture,” said Jennifer Aniston.

The Weight of a Joke

According to Aniston, Perry was extremely hard on himself when it came to landing jokes. If he didn’t elicit the expected laughter from the audience, he’d “go into convulsions.” Perry himself confessed during the reunion, “To me, I felt like I was going to die if they didn’t laugh. It’s not healthy, for sure.”

Lisa Kudrow, who played Phoebe Buffay in the series, expressed her surprise at Perry’s confession during the reunion, saying, “You didn’t tell us that then.”

Unrequited Love and On-Screen Chemistry

In another segment of her Today show interview, Aniston also delved into her own life and past romantic involvement with co-star David Schwimmer, who played Ross Geller on ‘Friends.’

“I think there was something about unrequited love. David and I loved each other then, and we still do,” Aniston remarked.

A Glimpse into Matthew Perry’s Troubled Past

Perry had also been public about his struggles with drug abuse. At the age of 49, he faced a near-death experience due to an opioid overdose that resulted in a burst colon. Doctors had estimated only a 2% chance of survival, but Perry defied the odds and embarked on a journey to recovery.

“I had too much respect for my co-stars to ever come to set wasted,” said Perry.

He later admitted that he couldn’t even watch reruns of ‘Friends’ due to the emotional burden his drug problems added to his life.

Reflecting on Complex Lives and Legacies