Candid moment on the “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” podcast, comedian Conan O’Brien revealed a surprising source of jealousy involving the late “Friends” star, Matthew Perry. O’Brien, who dated Lisa Kudrow before she joined the iconic sitcom, recalled feeling envious of Perry’s comedic talent and the impact he had on Kudrow.
During the podcast episode, O’Brien shared his feelings from the time Kudrow began her role as Phoebe Buffay on “Friends.” He remembered how Kudrow frequently praised Perry’s humor, saying, “You started doing that show, and you called me up … and you were raving about Matthew, and you were saying, ‘He’s so funny,’ and there was part of me that was jealous.”
O’Brien and Kudrow’s relationship began in 1988, when both were emerging talents in Hollywood. They broke up a year before “Friends” debuted in 1994. Despite his initial jealousy, O’Brien admitted that he later recognized Perry’s exceptional comedic skills, saying, “I was watching him and going, ‘Yep.’”
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Kudrow reassured O’Brien by emphasizing his own humor, calling him “one of the funniest people I know.” However, she acknowledged Perry’s massive success and talent, saying, “[Perry] was such a huge [star].”
Matthew Perry, known for his role as Chandler Bing, tragically passed away in October of the previous year at the age of 54. The official autopsy report revealed high levels of ketamine in his system, which was deemed the primary cause of death.
In a touching tribute on the podcast, Kudrow revealed that she had started binge-watching “Friends” again after Perry’s death. She explained, “I used to not be able to watch it at all … after Matthew died, I could start watching the show again because it wasn’t about me. It had to do with him.” She added, “I have spent, at times since he died, all day long watching the show.”
