Kristin Davis Opens Up About Her Memorable, and Heartbreaking, Date with the Late Matthew Perry

Kristin Davis recently shared a story about a date with the late Matthew Perry that left a lasting impression on her. On Monday’s episode of her “Are You a Charlotte?” podcast, the “And Just Like That…” star recalled being set up with Perry at a small dinner party in the late ’90s by an attorney friend.

Perry, who became famous for playing Chandler Bing on “Friends” from 1994 to 2004, had a bright and cheerful energy that Davis found unforgettable.

“So I go to this dinner party, I bring my little flowers,” Davis told guest Brian Van Holt. “You know, it’s a bunch of Hollywood people. I don’t even know who all was there other than this lawyer and Matthew.”

The timing of the date, she explained, fell between her role on “Melrose Place” (1995-1996) and before “Sex and the City” (1998-2004). While the evening did not lead to a romantic relationship, Davis described Perry as “lovely” and recalled how happy he seemed with his career at the time.

“He sits next to me, and he’s talking about how thrilled he is, how happy they are on the set at ‘Friends,’” she said. “I was like, ‘Wow, he’s so happy.’”

For Davis, who had experienced a tense and competitive environment while filming “Melrose Place,” Perry’s positive energy was striking. “I had been around ‘Melrose,’ and it wasn’t the happiest place in a way,” she said. “It was stressy. There were 15 series regulars. Everyone had the feeling they might get cut. It was kind of competitive and stressy. So I was like, ‘Wow, that’s amazing, you’re so happy.’”

The date became heartbreaking in hindsight because of what happened to Perry later in life. The actor struggled with addiction and died on October 28, 2023, at the age of 54. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, Perry was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his home in Pacific Palisades, and his death was caused by the “acute effects of ketamine”, with other contributing factors including buprenorphine, drowning, and coronary artery disease.

Perry had been undergoing ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for anxiety, but officials confirmed the therapy could not have caused his death.

In his honor, the Matthew Perry Foundation was created to support people struggling with addiction.

In May 2024, the Los Angeles Police Department launched an investigation into how Matthew Perry obtained the high dose of ketamine that led to his death. By August 15, 2024, five people, including Perry’s personal assistant, two doctors, and two drug dealers (one being TV director Erik Fleming), were charged with distributing the ketamine that caused his death and the death of another person.

Looking back on that dinner date, Davis’s memories capture both the warmth and the tragedy surrounding Perry’s life. “He was so happy, and so kind,” she said. That brief encounter left a strong mark on her, especially knowing now the challenges Perry faced later in life. For Davis, it’s a reminder of how a joyful moment can exist even in the shadow of future sorrow.

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