Friends Creators Recall Their ‘Chipper’ Conversation with Matthew Perry 2 Weeks Before His Death

Friends creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane reflect on the last conversation they had with Matthew Perry.

In the preview of Wednesday’s episode Today show, the creators of the hit TV show told host Hoda Kotb about the positive final exchange they had with the late actor just two weeks before the news of his death.

“It was great,” Kauffman, 67, recalled. “He was happy and upbeat. He didn’t seem burdened by anything. He was in a really good place, which is why this seems so unfair.”

Friends Fans around the world mourn Matthew Perry in New York: ‘Loss of a dear friend’ (Exclusive)

Matthew Perry.

Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic

Perry, who was best known for his role as Chandler Bing, is on Saturday Friends, was found dead in his home in Los Angeles after an apparent drowning. He was 54 years old.

The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed to PEOPLE that emergency responders arrived at the residence at 4:07 p.m. Saturday.

“The adult male patient was deceased prior to the arrival of first responders,” an LAFD spokesperson told PEOPLE. “The patient was found by a bystander who positioned the victim in a position where the head was out of the water” in a free-standing jacuzzi. “Firefighters pulled the victim from the jacuzzi and a quick medical evaluation determined him to be dead.”

Remembering the life and career of Matthew Perry in photographs

Matthew Perry (left) and Kevin Bright, Marta Kauffman and David Crane.

Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank

In a joint statement shared with PEOPLE, Kauffman, Crane and executive producer Kevin Bright reacted to the news of his death and acknowledged that his death “still seems impossible” to process.

“We are shocked and deeply, deeply saddened by the death of our beloved friend Matthew. It still seems impossible. All we can say is that we feel blessed to have had him as a part of our lives. He was a brilliant talent. It’s a cliche They say an actor makes himself role, but in Matthew’s case there is no truer word. From the day we first heard him play Chandler Bing, there was no one else for us,” they said.

“We will always cherish the joy, the light, the dazzling intelligence he brought to every moment – not only in his work, but in life. He was always the funniest person in the room. More than that, he was the sweetest, with a giving and selfless heart. We send all my love to his family and friends.”

Playing off the show’s iconic episode title format, the trio concluded, “This is indeed ‘The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken’.”

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The cast of “Friends”.

NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Two days after Perry’s sudden death, his co-stars from the hit television series — Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer — also spoke out in a joint statement shared with PEOPLE.

“We are all so completely devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than co-stars. We are family,” their statement read. “There is so much to say, but right now we will take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.”

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“Over time, we will say more, as and when we can,” the statement reads. “For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends and everyone who loved him around the world.”

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