Friends Cast Members Mourn the Heartbreaking Loss of Matthew Perry
The beloved cast of 'Friends' pays tribute to the 'unfathomable loss' of Matthew Perry, mourning the passing of their dear friend and co-star Their heartfelt messages reflect the enduring bond they shared, showcasing the true meaning of friendship
The cast of "Friends" is mourning the death of their former co-star Matthew Perry. In a statement given to People on Monday, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, and Matt LeBlanc expressed their deep devastation over the loss. They emphasized that they were not merely colleagues, but a close-knit family.
The statement further expressed, "Although there is a multitude of things to address, we are presently pausing to mourn and cope with this incomprehensible tragedy. We will, in due time, provide additional updates as we find ourselves capable of doing so. At this moment, our hearts and affection go out to Mattys family, his companions, and all those who cherished him worldwide."
Perry passed away on Saturday at the age of 54 in his Los Angeles residence.
CNN has reached out to representatives for the actors.
Matthew Perry is best known for his role as Chandler Bing on "Friends."
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Perry, shown in this photo taken around 1985, became fascinated with acting when he relocated to Los Angeles as a teenager. He was born to an actor father and a journalist mother in Williamstown, Massachusetts.
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Perry and Christina Applegate were cast in the 1988 made for TV teen movie "Dance 'til Dawn."
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Actress Martha Plimpton and Perry are seen at the Limelight nightclub in New York City circa 1988.
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Perry guest stars in an episode of "Growing Pains" in 1989. His character was injured in the episode, which was about the dangers of drunk driving.
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Perry co-starred in "Friends" with Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox and Jennifer Aniston. The first season aired in 1994.
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Perry is seen in the 1995 "Friends" episode "The One with the Evil Orthodontist."
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The cast of "Friends" drink milkshakes in an iconic promo photo.
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Perry and Cox appear on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" in 1996.
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Perry co-stars with Salma Hayek in the 1997 romantic comedy film "Fools Rush In."
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The cast of "Friends" pose for a promo shot in 1999.
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The sixth season of "Friends" aired in 1999.
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Perry and Cox are seen in the 2000 "Friends" episode "The One With Rachel's Assistant."
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Michael Clarke Duncan tackles Perry in a scene from the 2000 film "The Whole Nine Yards."
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Perry and Cox pose for a photo during the 2001 "Friends" episode "The One With Monica And Chandler's Wedding."
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Perry portrayed Joe Quincy on "The West Wing" in 2003, seen here alongside Amy Stewart, Richard Schiff and Milo O'Shea.
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Perry and British actress Kelly Reilly perform a scene from the West End play "Sexual Perversity in Chicago" at The Comedy Theatre in London in 2003.
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Perry participated in the 2003 Merv Griffin Beverly Hills Country Club Celebrity Tennis Classic. During his childhood, Perry dedicated himself to tennis and achieved recognition as a highly ranked player in Canada. He resided with his mother following his parents' separation.
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Perry prepares to make a statement as fellow "Friends" cast memberLeBlanc hands over the award they won for favorite television comedy series at the 2004 People's Choice Awards.
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Perry's foray into directing began with a 2004 episode of "Scrubs," marking his directorial debut. In this image, Perry can be seen engaged in conversation with director of photography John Inwood, while actors Zach Braff and John C. McGinley observe.
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Perry co-stars with Amanda Peet and Bruce Willis in the 2004 sequel "The Whole Ten Yards."
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Perry participates in a Screen Actors Guild rally in solidarity with the striking Writers Guild of America in Los Angeles in 2007.
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Perry speaks onstage at the Primetime Emmy Awards in 2012. He was nominated four times for the prestigious TV acting award.
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Perry throws out the ceremonial first pitch at a Los Angeles Dodgers game in 2012.
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In 2013, Perry appeared before a House Subcommittee at the Capitol to advocate for the funding of drug courts. Being candid about his personal battle with addiction, Perry served as an ambassador for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. (Image credit: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc./Getty Images)
Perry and Lindsay Sloane are seen behind the scenes on a 2014 episode of the CBS series "The Odd Couple."
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Perry plays Ted Kennedy in the 2017 TV series "The Kennedys After Camelot."
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The cast of "Friends" appeared on "The Late Late Show with James Corden" in 2021.
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Copies of Perry's memoir, "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing," are displayed at a bookstore in 2022.
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Perry enters the stage for a conversation with editor Matt Brennan during the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books in Los Angeles in 2023.
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Matthew Perry's life in pictures
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Perry, aged 54, portrayed the character of Chandler Bing, known for his charm and sarcasm, on the NBC sitcom "Friends" from 1994 to 2004. This show was immensely popular during its time and continues to appeal to younger viewers through streaming services. Perry's portrayal earned him an Emmy nomination in 2002 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. Additionally, he received a nomination in 2021 as an executive producer for the "Friends: The Reunion" special, which aired on what was formerly called HBO Max.
CNN announced on Sunday that the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office currently has Perry's body, and an autopsy is awaiting completion, as stated in the online records of the agency. The Los Angeles Fire Department, in a statement provided to CNN on Monday, disclosed that Perry was discovered unconscious in a separate jacuzzi.
According to the LACFD, a bystander had managed to bring the man's head above the water and bring him to the edge. Upon the arrival of the firefighters, they removed him from the water. When questioned about the incident at Perrys address, they stated, "A quick medical assessment sadly confirmed that the man had already passed away before any first responders arrived."
The LACFD mentioned that the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner are currently investigating the circumstances. However, a law enforcement source informed CNN that foul play is not currently suspected.
On Sunday, Marta Kauffman and David Crane, co-creators of "Friends," along with executive producer Kevin Bright, expressed their shock and profound sadness over the passing of their beloved friend Matthew in a statement to CNN.
"We will forever cherish the joy, the brilliance, and the sheer intelligence that he brought to every moment - not just in his work, but also in life. He was consistently the funniest person in any room," the statement read. "Moreover, he possessed the kindest heart, always giving and selfless...This is truly a heartbreaking moment for all of us - The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken."
Friends forever
The chemistry between the cast of "Friends" stretched far beyond their on-screen dynamic. The actors have remained close since the show ended in 2004.
During the emotional HBO Max special "Friends: The Reunion" in 2021, Perry expressed that whenever he crossed paths with his castmates, the night would inevitably come to a close as they spent the entire time together.
Furthermore, Perry's fellow castmates have shown their support and assistance in his journey to overcome addiction. In his memoir, he revealed that a pivotal moment occurred when Aniston visited his trailer, leading him to understand that his struggle with alcoholism was not as hidden as he had believed.
Perry revealed that Aniston had confronted him about his drinking, which he found devastating. Their strong bond extended to their professional relationships too.
The cast used a groundbreaking negotiation strategy in 1996 by sticking together to secure new contracts with their studio. As a result, by the end of the show's run, each main cast member was earning $1 million per episode. In a 2021 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Perry described the cast as a close-knit and affectionate group.
"When we see each other, its a very heartwarming thing," he added.
CNNs Dan Heching and Lisa Respers France contributed to this report.
