Friends actor Adam Goldberg recently shared his thoughts on Matthew Perry’s deeply personal memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, following Perry’s untimely passing.
Goldberg, who made a memorable appearance as Eddie in three episodes of the beloved sitcom back in 1996, reflected on his co-star’s struggles during an interview with The Independent. He recalled how, after Chandler Bing—a character brought to life by Perry—fell out with Joey (Matt LeBlanc), Eddie temporarily stepped in as a roommate.
“It was alarming to read about what he went through,” Goldberg remarked. “So many in this industry fight battles with addiction and mental health. It’s surprising since I didn’t see Perry as one of those people, but it makes sense how someone in that environment could fall into such struggles. I often wondered what he was up to afterward.”
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Perry was found deceased in a jacuzzi at his Pacific Palisades residence on October 28 at the age of 54. An autopsy later determined that he died due to acute ketamine effects—a treatment he wrote about in his memoir while discussing its use for managing depression.
“Ketamine felt like a giant exhale,” he described, explaining the unusual therapy process that involved sitting with headphones, a blindfold, and an IV. He even mentioned feeling as though he was dying during the experience, saying, “I would continually sign up for this s*** because it was something different, and anything different is good.”
In the wake of his death, five individuals have been charged related to Perry’s passing, including his assistant Kenneth Iwamasa and a woman labeled as the “Ketamine Queen of Los Angeles.”
When it comes to his experiences on Friends, Goldberg admitted he doesn’t intentionally rewatch his episodes. “It’s always by accident if I happen to see it on; it’s like a glimpse into the past,” he noted. “Back then, I watched everything I was in to improve, but now, after 30 years, it’s tough to revisit. Sometimes I think, ‘Wow, I did great there,’ and other times it’s just cringeworthy.”