Why The Friends Cast Didn’t Reunite For The Emmys’ Matthew Perry Tribute

Emmys producers Jesse Collins and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay explain why the cast of Friends didn’t reunite for the awards show’s Matthew Perry tribute.
The cast of Friends didn’t reunite for the Emmys’ Matthew Perry tribute, and two producers of the awards show now explain why. First airing in 1994, the hit sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman will go on to become one of the most popular shows of a generation, following a group of friends as they go about their daily lives in New York City. Perry played Chandler Bing on the series, but the actor tragically passed away on October 28 last year at the age of 54.
After the 2024 Emmy Awards’ touching tribute to Perry on January 15, producers Jesse Collins and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay explain in an interview with THR why the core Friends cast, including Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, and Courteney Cox , didn’t reunite for the emotional moment. According to the producers, the actors are all still in mourning. Read the comments from Collins and Rouzan-Clay below:

Rouzan-Clay: It’s still very fresh for them.

Collins: We had talked about it early on — but I can imagine, from their side, they’re mourning someone who was still very close to them. I can’t speak for them, but we all have to respect that they are their own family. It was probably just a little too soon.
What The Friends Cast Have Said About Matthew Perry’s Passing

Perry’s death came as a shock last October, with the actor passing away due to an accidental ketamine overdose. The internet was quick to honor the star, and the main cast of Friends released a brief joint statement several days later. It wasn’t until mid-November that Aniston, Schwimmer, Kudrow, LeBlanc, and Cox shared longer messages on social media.
LeBlanc was first to share a post on Instagram, writing of Perry that it was “an honor to share the stage with you and call you my friend,” and that he will “never forget you.” Cox was next to take to social media, sharing a behind-the-scenes look at a scene she shared with Perry and praising his generosity as a costar, which included suggested jokes for other actors between takes. “He was funny and he was kind,” Cox writes as the conclusion to her tribute.
In her post, Aniston celebrates the strong bond that the six stars had together, which continued through to the emotional Friends finale and beyond. She praises Perry’s wit and ends her post by saying: “You always made my day”. Schwimmer’s post also hones in on Perry’s comedic talents, highlighting his impeccable timing and unique phrasing of specific lines. Kudrow, in her own touching post, recalls Perry helping the Friends cast bond at the start of the show over a poker game, thanking him for “the best 10 years a person gets to have.”