AceShowbiz - Lisa Kudrow, who famously portrayed Phoebe Buffay on the hit sitcom Friends, revealed that she only truly understood the show's impact after the tragic death of her co-star Matthew Perry in 2023. The actress expressed how revisiting the series brought a new appreciation for its success and the remarkable talent of her colleagues.

Lisa, 62, explained that during the show’s original run and in the years following its conclusion nearly a decade ago, she often focused on her own perceived flaws and what she thought she could have done better in her performance. However, after [strong]Matthew Perry’s[/strong] passing, she watched the series again and saw the show through a different lens. She said, "Before, I only saw what I did wrong or could have done better. But for the first time, I truly appreciated just how great it was."

She praised her fellow cast members, highlighting Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox as "amazing," along with David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc for the laughs they delivered. But it was [strong]Matthew Perry[/strong], she said, who stood out as exceptional, describing him as "beyond us all." This reflection came amidst the ongoing fallout from Perry’s death, which occurred at his home in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, in October 2023.

The loss of [strong]Matthew Perry[/strong] has deeply affected [strong]Lisa Kudrow[/strong], who became close friends with him during their decade-long work together on Friends from 1994 to 2004. In an interview with The Times, she called Perry "a genius" and spoke candidly about his struggles with addiction, which she only fully understood after reading his memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Terrible Big Thing, for which she wrote the foreword.

The memoir revealed how deeply [strong]Matthew Perry[/strong] battled with alcohol, opioids, cocaine, and ketamine, issues that predated his fame but worsened over time. This knowledge made rewatching the show painful for [strong]Lisa Kudrow[/strong], as she reconciled the joyous sitcom with the harsh realities of Perry’s life off-screen.

Despite the sadness, she acknowledged the lasting legacy of Friends, stating, "Because there was a genius at work. And whatever any of us do in the future, we will never experience something like that again." She also reflected on the unique chemistry and brilliance that the cast and crew brought to the series, which remains beloved by millions worldwide.

The emotional impact of Perry’s death has been compounded by legal developments involving Jasveen Sangha, a Los Angeles woman sentenced to 15 years in prison earlier this month for supplying the ketamine that contributed to Perry’s fatal overdose. Sangha, known in court as the "Ketamine Queen," was part of a larger investigation that uncovered a drug-selling operation at her residence, including methamphetamine, cocaine, and Xanax.

Sangha was the fifth defendant to plead guilty in connection with the case, which also involved doctors Salvador Plasencia and Mark Chavez, Perry’s assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, and acquaintance Erik Fleming. Prosecutors described the scene at Sangha’s home during a March 19, 2024 raid as a "drug-selling emporium."

Following the sentencing, Perry’s stepmother, Debbie Perry, urged the court to impose the harshest possible penalty on Sangha, emphasizing the need to protect other families from similar tragedies. She said, "Please give this heartless woman the maximum prison sentence so she won't be able to hurt other families like ours."

Through this difficult period, [strong]Lisa Kudrow[/strong] has found a renewed respect for the impact of Friends and the extraordinary talent of her late co-star, whose legacy continues to resonate with fans and colleagues alike. Her reflections underscore the bittersweet nature of remembering a beloved show while mourning the loss of one of its brightest stars.