Friends cast remembers co-star Matthew Perry

October 30, 2023 10:13 PM

The cast of Friends released a joint statement paying tribute to its late co-star and friend, Matthew Perry.

Perry, known for his beloved character Chandler Bing on the NBC hit series, died at age 54 in an apparent drowning in a hot tub over the weekend.

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“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family,” the crew said in a statement Monday night.

The Friends co-stars, which include Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer, said in the statement that they were taking “a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.”

“In time we will say more, as and when we are able,” they said. “For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.”

SCHWIMMER KUDROW PERRY ARQUETTE ANISTON LEBLANC — FILE – This Sept. 22, 2002 file photo shows “Friends,” castmembers, from left, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, Courteney Cox Arquette, Jennifer Aniston and Matt LeBlanc after the show won outstanding comedy series at the 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. Castmembers of the popular show have announced that five fans will get a chance to watch the reunion taping live. The sweepstakes offer is being presented by The All In Challenge and all proceeds will go to No Kid Hungry, Meals on Wheels and America’s Food Fund, which benefits Feeding America and World Central Kitchen. The minimum bid is $10. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)

The show’s Instagram account posted the following message: “We are devastated to learn of Matthew Perry’s passing. He was a true gift to us all. Our heart goes out to his family, loved ones, and all of his fans.”

The actor opened up last year when he was promoting his memoir about his struggles with addiction, having had 15 stints in rehab and 14 surgeries due to complications from his various addictions.

Perry said he had started sobriety in 2021. No drugs were reportedly found at the time of Perry’s death. Some reports suggest he suffered a cardiac arrest. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s office performed an autopsy on Sunday, with details forthcoming.

The cast had reunited in a 2021 special for Friends: The Reunion on HBO MAX’s streaming service.

Perry shared the cast’s special bond that had stayed on for years after the show.

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“The best way I can describe it is after the show was over, at a party or any other social gathering, if one of us bumped into each other, that was it, that was the end of the night. We just sat with the person all night long. And that was it. You apologized to the people that you were with, but they had to understand you had met somebody special to you, and you were going to talk to that person for the rest of the night,” he said in 2021.

Perry starred in the hit series for 10 seasons and was 24 years old when he began playing Chandler.