The death of Matthew Perry left his Friends costars reeling. And now Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer have broken their silence.
Find out what the Friends cast said about their late friend and co-star. And keep reading to learn how the Friends creators and executive producers also paid tribute to Matthew.
Friends Cast Breaks Silence On Matthew Perry’s Death
In the wake of Matthew Perry’s sudden death, the cast of Friends at first remained silent. But now Perry’s co-stars have spoken out about Matthew’s passing at age 54. Perry played Chandler Bing for 10 seasons on Friends.
And in their statement via People, the Friends cast admitted they felt “utterly devastated.” David Schwimmer (Ross Geller), Jennifer Aniston (Rachel Green), Courteney Cox (Monica Geller), Matthew Perry (Chandler Bing), Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe Buffay), and Matt LeBlanc (Joey Tribbiani) shared that they felt like “more than just cast mates” on Friends.
“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew,” reflected the cast. And beyond co-stars, the group felt like “a family. There is so much to say,” the statement added. “But right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.”
And the cast promised, “In time we will say more, as and when we are able. For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.” And Aniston, Cox, Kudrow, LeBlanc and Schwimmer all signed the statement.
Friends Creators ‘Saddened’ At Matthew Perry’s Death
However, Friends co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane joined executive producer Kevin Bright in expressing their own heartbreak. And they shared, “We are shocked and deeply, deeply saddened by our beloved friend Matthew’s passing.”
Admitting that “it still seems impossible,” the group added that they felt “blessed to have had him as part of our lives. He was a brilliant talent.” And they honored Perry’s performance on Friends.
“It’s a cliche to say that an actor makes a role their own,” noted the Friends creators. “But in Matthew’s case, there are no truer words. From the day we first heard him embody the role of Chandler Bing, there was no one else for us.”
And the statement also honored “the joy, the light, the blinding intelligence he brought to every moment — not just to his work, but in life as well. He was always the funniest person in the room. More than that, he was the sweetest, with a giving and selfless heart. We send all of our love to his family and friends. This truly is The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken.”
Those responding to an emergency call found Perry dead at his home in Los Angeles. Law enforcement sources revealed that they did not find any drugs or signs of foul play. And the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the completion of the autopsy. However, a pending toxicology report means that the cause of death depends on “additional investigation.”
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