Matthew Perry and Courteney Cox’s chemistry as Chandler Bing and Monica Geller on Friends was so strong that many fans wondered if the actors had an offscreen romantic connection.
Despite falling in love and getting married on the NBC sitcom, Perry and Cox’s real-world relationship was always platonic.
In fact, Perry and Cox gave fans several glimpses at their friendship by reuniting on camera multiple times after Friends ended in 2004.
Cox gushed over Perry in January 2014 after he made a cameo on her TBS show Cougar Town. “It was so great to work with him. He’s so sweet,” she said of her longtime friend during an appearance on CONAN. “When I worked with him on Friends, he literally gave me my personality for 10 years.”
The pair remained close until Perry’s death in October 2023. (Perry died from an apparent drowning at age 54.)
Scroll through for a look at Perry and Cox’s friendship over the years:
Where It All Began
The pair met as costars on Friends, which premiered in September 1994.
The One With Monica and Chandler’s Wedding
Cox and Perry tied the knot as Monica and Chandler during the May 2001 season 7 finale of Friends. In his November 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, Perry revealed that he wasn’t in a good place while filming the episode.
“I married Monica and got driven back to the treatment center — at the height of my highest point in Friends, the highest point in my career, the iconic moment on the iconic show — in a pickup truck helmed by a sober technician,” he wrote.
Onscreen Together Again
In February 2013, the Just Before I Go actress guest starred on Perry’s NBC series Go On. “She is fantastic, obviously. And my desire to show off in front of her is back in full swing,” the Massachusetts native wrote via Twitter at the time. Cox, for her part, tweeted a picture of her and her pal on set.
‘Cougar Town’ Appearance
Perry returned the favor and appeared on Cox’s comedy in January 2014.
Visiting Each Other
During an April 2015 conversation with Buzzfeed, Perry said that he and the rest of the Friends cast make an effort to stay in touch.
“We try to get together when we can. Courteney is a great host, and she has a nice place in Malibu, and we try to go out there as often as possible. But the six of us haven’t been in a room together for a number of years,” he said at the time.
Cox also spoke to the outlet for the article, praising her longtime friend’s work in Go On.
“I loved that Matthew found a way to make his character relatable by showing vulnerability in the personal struggles he was facing,” she said, adding that his “ability to show very raw emotion” is the reason that “everyone loves him so much.”
Lunch Date
Cox shared a selfie of her and Perry via Instagram in November 2019. “Guess who I had lunch with today … I KNOW!! Could I BE any happier?” she captioned the post, referencing both of their Friends catchphrases.
‘Friends’ Forever
The pair reunited onscreen again for the Friends reunion in May 2021. During the special event, Cox said she thought Monica and Chandler would still be together in the present. “And you are making me laugh every day,” she told Perry of his sarcastic character.
Birthday Greetings
Cox wished the Fools Rush In actor a happy birthday via her Instagram Story in August 2021. “Happy birthday to one of the funniest people I KNOW,” she wrote alongside a selfie with her former costar.
Turning the Corner
Cox opened up about the pressure Perry put on himself while portraying Chandler Bing during a February 2022 interview with The Times of London. “That was a lot of pressure he put on himself. That’s a lot to think [about] how much he relied on that for his own self-worth,” she said. “He’s just struggled for a while. I think he’s doing great now.”
‘So Grateful’ for the Memories
Two weeks after Perry’s death in October 2023, Cox paid tribute to her late Friends costar and fun scene partner. “I am so grateful for every moment I had with you Matty and I miss you every day,” Cox wrote via Instagram in November 2023. “When you work with someone as closely as I did with Matthew, there are thousands of moments I wish I could share. For now, here’s one of my favorites.”
The actress shared a scene from back in 1998 when Ross (Schwimmer) is getting married in London. Ahead of his nuptials, Ross storms into Chandler’s room (Perry) and once he leaves, viewers learn that Monica (Cox) was hidden under the covers.
“Do you think he knew I was here?” Monica said in the original clip. Cox then shared the unedited scene, which featured her character saying, “OK, your turn!” The star quickly told the crew, “We’re kidding. He told me to say it … he did!” as she held back a laugh and Perry smiled at her in the bed.
In her tribute, Cox gave a “little backstory” to her followers while explaining the fun shoot. “Chandler and Monica were supposed to have a one-night fling in London. But because of the audience’s reaction, it became the beginning of their love story,” she shared. “In this scene, before we started rolling, he whispered a funny line for me to say. He often did things like that. He was funny and he was kind. 🤍🕊️.”
Still Visiting
“You know, he’s just so funny. He has genuinely a huge heart, obviously struggled,” Cox said of Perry in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning while discussing the 20th anniversary of the Friends finale. “I’m so thankful I got to work so closely with him for so many years. He visits me a lot, if we believe in that.”
The actress explained that she believes late family and friends reappear to guide her through life. “You know, I talk to my mom, my dad, Matthew — I feel like there are a lotta people that, I think, guide us,” Cox shared. “I do sense Matthew’s around for sure.”