Morgan Fairchild Reveals Regrets in Friendship With the Late Matthew Perry

Lauren Novak October 28, 3:59 pm

Morgan Fairchild Matthew Perry — Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images; Everett Collection

It has been one year since the world lost a dear friend. Star Matthew Perry, best known for playing Chandler Bing on Friends, died at the age of 54. His death was from “acute effects of ketamine” with “drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine [used to treat opioid use disorder]” contributing to his passing. Many of his former friends and costars have spoken out about this tremendous loss, including the ways they wish they could have helped him.

Morgan Fairchild, who played Perry’s character’s mother on Friends, opened up about her regrets. She admitted, “Just that I’m so sorry, and I wish he had reached out for help more. When I was on set with him — and I was occasionally when he was going through some of the problems — I tried to be there for him. But it’s very hard when you’re not around that much, and I was in and out of the show. And so when it’s in the depth of their problem, it’s difficult. But I would have been there for him.”

FRIENDS, Matthew Perry, Morgan Fairchild, (Season 1), 1994-2004

Warner Bros./Everett Collection

She added, “I think everyone thought he was coming out on the other side of the problems and so I think it was probably a real shock to everyone — at least it was to me.” Fairchild explained that she was delighted to work with Perry on Friends because she had first met him when he was young, as she worked with his father, actor John Bennett Perry, in Flamingo Road and Falcon Crest.

FRIENDS, from left: Matthew Perry, Morgan Fairchild, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, 'The One With Mrs. Bing', (Season 1, ep. 111, aired Jan. 5, 1995), 1994-2004

Warner Brothers/Everett Collection

Fairchild continued, “Just the sweetness, the kindness, the effervescence, the way he lit up a room and was so funny and kind and generous to everyone, that’s the way I remember him. It’s very sad to see what’s happened when it looked like he was doing so much better. So, I think the loss of such a talent, such a lovely person that I remember as this really promising young actor, very funny, very sweet, it’s just very sad.”

She concluded that she would always remember those moments and said that he was always funny, on and off the set, even when they had to do double or even triple takes.