Courteney Cox shares re-creation of iconic 'Friends' Thanksgiving scene with late Matthew Perry

It is one of the most iconic scenes on the show... In the "Friends" Thanksgiving episode, "The One With All the Thanksgivings," Monica Geller—played by Courteney Cox—dances with a turkey on her head to make Matthew Perry's character "Chandler" laugh. Cox recently shared a recreation of the 1998 clip to Instagram on Thursday, writing, "Flashback to 3 years ago... Probably won't do that again. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!"

The 59-year-old actress begins the video by saying, "Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope you're having a great day. I'm feeling so thankful and also, if I get one more [bleep] GIF with a turkey on my head, dancing like a [bleep] fool, I'm just going to snap! So, anyway, since I'm the symbol of Thanksgiving, here you go. Hope it makes you happy." The "Scream" star performs an updated version of the gag while the sitcom's theme song, "I'll Be There for You" by The Rembrandts, plays in the background.

If fans were curious whether it was a real turkey on her head, fear not because the show's producer, David Crane, spilled the story in 2016. "That is absolutely not a real turkey. I think there are so many health issues about actually putting a turkey on someone's head," he told Entertainment Weekly.

Director Kevin S. Bright added, "It's meat it would need to be refrigerated between takes and it's going to be under hot lights—you're going to put that on Courteney Cox's head? I don't really think so." Writer Greg Malins admitted that he had wanted "a real turkey," just because "I wanted Matt to have to put his head into a turkey," but apparently, the prop department was not able to make it work. The episode also had an emotional element on screen because it was the first time Chandler said "I love you" to Monica.

Cox's throwback video comes nearly a month after her costar died at age 54 on October 28 from an apparent drowning. Cox paid tribute to her onscreen husband on November 14 on her Instagram. "I am so grateful for every moment I had with you Matty and I miss you every day," she wrote in the moving post, adding that Perry "was funny and he was kind."

The cast of the show also shared a joint statement addressing their real-life friend's death. "We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family," their statement read, per Good Morning America. "There is so much to say, but right now, we're going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss."

"In time, we will say more, as and when we are able," the statement continued. "For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty's family, his friends and everyone who loved him around the world."

According to US Weekly, Perry struggled with his addiction to Vicodin ever since his 1997 jet ski accident. It eventually turned into alcohol abuse and led to his hospitalization in 2000 for alcohol-induced pancreatitis. In 2022, the late actor candidly discussed his story in his memoir, "Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing," hoping to empower others who are battling addiction.