The world has been plunged into sadness following the tragic passing of Matthew Perry, renowned for his iconic portrayal of Chandler Bing on the beloved US sitcom “Friends.” Perry, aged 54, breathed his last on Saturday, leaving his co-stars and legions of fans in mourning.
In a heartfelt joint statement, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, and David Schwimmer, who shared the screen with Perry as his close-knit group of friends, expressed their profound grief. They underlined that their bond transcended being mere castmates; they were a family.
The poignant statement read, “We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just castmates. We are a family. There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.”
The “Friends” cast also conveyed their intent to share more about their cherished memories with Perry and his lasting impact in the future. Currently, their thoughts and love are with Perry’s family, friends, and countless fans worldwide.
The show’s co-creators, Marta Kauffman and David Crane, along with executive producer Kevin Bright, released a collective statement echoing their shock and profound sorrow at Perry’s untimely departure. They celebrated the joy, light, and immense talent he brought to every moment, both on and off the screen. Perry was described as the funniest person in the room, and his generous and selfless heart was highly praised. The statement poignantly concluded, “This truly is The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken.”
Perry, who garnered an Emmy nomination for his portrayal on “Friends,” skyrocketed to fame alongside Aniston, LeBlanc, Kudrow, Schwimmer, and Cox, his on-screen wife, Monica Geller. After the show’s enormously successful ten-year run, which transformed it into a pop culture phenomenon, the cast reunited on screen for the first time in 2021.
While his character, Chandler Bing, brought laughter to millions, Perry candidly shared his battles with drug and alcohol addiction during his time on the show. Despite his personal struggles, Perry’s talent shone through, and his portrayal left an indelible mark on television history.
Tributes and condolences have poured in from fellow “Friends” supporting cast members and prominent figures, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sarah, Duchess of York. Hank Azaria, who played a love interest of Lisa Kudrow’s character, hailed Perry as a brother and praised his comedic genius. Maggie Wheeler, famous for her role as Chandler’s on-and-off girlfriend Janice Hosenstein, expressed how the world would dearly miss Perry.
Elliott Gould, who portrayed Perry’s on-screen father, and Brooke Shields, who had a guest role as Joey Tribbiani’s stalker, joined the countless others in honoring the late actor. Perry’s co-stars from various other projects, including Kathleen Turner and Morgan Fairchild, also paid heartfelt tributes to his memory.
Currently, the circumstances surrounding Perry’s passing are under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department and the LA County Medical Examiner. The results of toxicology tests are eagerly awaited following an inconclusive post-mortem examination.
More news from Brooke
