Co-stars share their grief over the death of Matthew Perry at 54

Matthew Perry’s Friends co-stars have said they are ‘utterly devastated’ by his death at the age of 54.

Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer and Lisa Kudrow issued a statement expressing their  ‘unfathomable loss’.

It said: ‘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. 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’.

The Friends actor was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home on Saturday, reportedly having drowned.

However, a post-mortem examination was inconclusive and officials are now awaiting the results of toxicology tests.

The actor had struggled with drug and alcohol addictions at the height of his fame, which he candidly detailed in his acclaimed 2022 autobiography, Friends, Lovers And The Big Terrible Thing. 

His death even prompted as tribute from  Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as the pair attended elementary school in Ottawa together.

Trudeau wrote on X: ‘Matthew Perry's passing is shocking and saddening. I'll never forget the schoolyard games we used to play, and I know people around the world are never going to forget the joy he brought them. Thanks for all the laughs, Matthew. You were loved - and you will be missed.’

Other tributes were previously played by other co-stars, such as Maggie Wheeler, who played Janice, the irritating girlfriend of Perry’s character Chandler Bring.

And Friends creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane and excutive producer Kevin Bright  said: ‘We are shocked and deeply, deeply saddened by our beloved friend Matthew’s passing

‘It still seems impossible. All we can say is that we feel blessed to have had him as part of our lives. He was a brilliant talent.’

‘It’s a cliche to say that an actor makes a role their own, 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.

‘We will always cherish 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.’

Published: 31 Oct 2023