Matthew Perry’s Girlfriend Rome Shadanloo: Their Relationship and Love Triangle Explained

Matthew Perry’s relationship with Rome Shadanloo has attracted renewed attention following her appearance in the Netflix documentary The One About Matthew Perry. Shadanloo, an actress and artist who later worked as a psychologist specializing in trauma and attachment issues, shared details about her relationship with the Friends star and the complicated love triangle that affected their lives.

Perry, who became famous for playing Chandler Bing on the hit sitcom Friends, dated Shadanloo for approximately two and a half years. Their relationship began after they met at a recovery meeting in 2009, when both were dealing with addiction.

Who Is Rome Shadanloo?

Rome Shadanloo was born in Tehran, Iran, and grew up in Los Angeles, California. Before becoming known through her connection to Perry, she pursued acting and appeared in several television and film projects.

Her acting credits include an episode of How I Met Your Mother in 2008, where she played a character named Kate. She also appeared in Entourage and the 2014 horror film A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night.

Beyond entertainment, Shadanloo developed an interest in psychology, focusing on trauma and attachment issues. Her relationship with Perry remained largely private for years, making her recent account particularly notable to fans interested in the actor’s personal life.

How Matthew Perry and Rome Shadanloo Met

Shadanloo said she first encountered Perry at a recovery meeting in 2009. She recalled sensing that he had noticed her before he sent her a Facebook friend request. They accepted the connection and gradually became friends.

Their friendship eventually developed into a romantic relationship. They attended hockey games, supported each other through recovery and spent time together during difficult periods in their lives.

Shadanloo recalled that Perry once offered to accompany her to a chiropractor when she was experiencing neck pain. She described the gesture as deeply romantic, reflecting the affection she felt for him.

However, their relationship was not always easy. Perry struggled with addiction and sometimes disappeared for extended periods. Shadanloo described intimacy as something he both wanted and feared, explaining that she tried to remain patient with him.

Matthew Perry’s Love Triangle With Rome and Laura

The relationship became painful when Shadanloo learned that Perry had also been dating another woman, identified as Laura, on and off for approximately a year.

According to Shadanloo’s account, the revelation left her heartbroken. Surprisingly, Laura eventually contacted her, and the two women developed a friendship. Shadanloo said she immediately liked Laura and recognized that she genuinely wanted the best for Perry.

Perry discussed the situation in his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. He admitted that he had fallen in love with both women while dating them without a formal commitment. Ultimately, he chose Laura, describing his connection with her as feeling like home.

Did Rome and Matthew Perry Remain Friends?

Shadanloo and Perry reportedly did not speak for six years before reconnecting after his serious health crisis in 2018. Perry had suffered a colon rupture that nearly cost him his life.

They subsequently remained friends until his death on October 28, 2023, at age 54. His death was attributed primarily to the acute effects of ketamine, with drowning and coronary artery disease listed as contributing factors.

Today, Shadanloo’s account offers another perspective on Perry’s private struggles, romantic relationships and efforts to maintain sobriety. Her story also highlights the emotional challenges experienced by people close to someone battling addiction.