Reactions from Friends Cast on the Devastating Loss of Matthew Perry
The beloved Friends stars share their heartfelt grief over the tragic passing of Matthew Perry, reflecting on the irreplaceable loss of their cherished co-star Their eternal bond remains unbreakable in the face of this unimaginable tragedy
The cast of the show "Friends" is currently in a period of grieving and reflecting on the passing of their former colleague, Matthew Perry. In a statement released on Monday, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, and Matt LeBlanc expressed their profound devastation over the loss of Matthew, emphasizing that their bond extends far beyond mere co-stars - they are a tight-knit family.
"We are truly devastated by this incomprehensible loss," expressed the joint statement issued by their respective representatives. "While there is much to be said, it is important for us to take a moment to mourn and come to terms with our grief. As time allows, we will share more about our beloved Matty. Currently, our utmost thoughts and deepest affection are with his family, friends, and all those who held him dear throughout the globe."
The renowned actor, Perry, passed away on Saturday at the age of 54 within his Los Angeles residence.
Matthew Perry is best known for his role as Chandler Bing on "Friends."
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Perry, shown here around 1985, became interested in acting when he relocated to Los Angeles as a teenager. He was born in Williamstown, Massachusetts, to a father who was an actor and a mother who worked as a journalist.
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. He devoted himself to tennis from a young age and emerged as a prominent tennis player in Canada. Following his parents' separation, he resided with his mother.
Perry gets ready to deliver a statement while being presented with the award for favorite television comedy series at the 2004 People's Choice Awards by his fellow "Friends" cast member, LeBlanc.
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In 2004, Perry had his first opportunity to direct on the set of "Scrubs." In this image, he can be seen conversing with director of photography John Inwood while actors Zach Braff and John C. McGinley observe.
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 to advocate for the funding of drug courts at the Capitol. As someone who openly shared his personal battle with addiction, Perry served as an ambassador for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.
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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, gained fame for his portrayal of Chandler Bing on the NBC sitcom "Friends" spanning from 1994 to 2004. Known for his charm and sarcasm, Chandler was a part of a close-knit group of friends living in New York City. The show enjoyed immense popularity during its time and continues to attract a young audience through streaming platforms.
Perry was nominated for an Emmy in 2002 for his outstanding performance as a lead actor in a comedy series. Additionally, he received a nomination in 2021 for his executive producing work on the "Friends: The Reunion" special, which aired on the previous HBO Max platform.
According to a statement from the Los Angeles Fire Department reported to CNN on Monday, Perry was discovered unconscious in a standalone jacuzzi.
When questioned about the incident at Perrys address, they reported that a bystander had raised the man's head above the water and brought him to the edge, after which the firefighters took him out of the water upon their arrival. Unfortunately, a prompt medical evaluation determined that the man had already passed away before the arrival of the first responders. The Los Angeles County Fire Department stated that the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner are investigating the situation, but no suspicious activity is currently suspected, according to a law enforcement source briefed by CNN.
The medical examiners office informed CNN on Sunday that while an autopsy has been carried out, they are still waiting for the results of the toxicology reports to determine Perry's cause of death. It may take several weeks for these reports to be completed. Furthermore, Marta Kauffman and David Crane, the co-creators of "Friends," along with executive producer Kevin Bright, expressed their shock and profound sadness at the passing of their cherished friend Matthew in a statement to CNN on Sunday.
"We will forever treasure the delight, the radiance, and the brilliant intellect he brought to every moment - not only in his work, but also in life. He consistently proved to be the most amusing individual in any gathering," the statement expressed. "Furthermore, he possessed the kindest personality, with a generous and selfless heart... This genuinely is The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken."
Friends forever
The bond between the cast of "Friends" extended well beyond their on-screen relationship. Since the show concluded in 2004, the actors have maintained a close connection.
During the 2021 HBO Max special "Friends: The Reunion," Perry shared a heartfelt moment, revealing that whenever they would cross paths, their time together would continue until the end of the night.
Perrys fellow actors have been a source of support for him during his struggles with addiction. In his memoir, he shared a story about how Aniston's visit to his trailer made him realize that his battle with alcoholism was more visible than he had believed. "I know you're drinking," she told him. Perry described this confrontation as "devastating."
Their strong bond as a group transcended into their professional transactions too.
In 1996, the cast devised a groundbreaking negotiation strategy to secure fresh agreements with their studio: staying united. By the conclusion of the show's tenure, every main cast member was earning a remarkable $1 million per episode.
"Its a very loving, tight knit group," Perry said during a 2021 interview with Entertainment Tonight.
"When we see each other, its a very heartwarming thing," he added.
CNNs Taylor Romine, Josh Campbell, Cheri Mossburg, Dan Heching and Lisa Respers France contributed to this report.
