of friend The cast is mourning one of their own.
Two days after Matthew Perry's sudden death, castmates from the hit TV series Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer speak out in a joint statement exclusively obtained by PEOPLE. .
“We are all devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We were family,” their statement read. “There is so much I want to say, but right now I am trying to take time to grieve and process this immeasurable loss.”
“We will have more to share in due course and as soon as possible,” the statement continued. “At this time, our thoughts and love are with Matty's family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.”
The message is then signed by Aniston, Cox, Kudrow, LeBlanc, and Schwimmer.
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Perry played for 10 years. friendWingman-turned-lead Chandler Bing's flawless comedic performance earned him an Emmy nomination in 2002.
Series co-creators Marta Kaufman and David Crane, along with executive producer Kevin Bright, released a joint statement on Sunday.
“We are shocked and deeply saddened by the passing of our beloved friend Matthew,” they wrote. “It still doesn't seem possible. All we can say is that we feel blessed to have him as a part of his life. He was an incredible talent.”
Looking back on Perry's breakthrough performance, they said: From the day we first heard him embody the role of Chandler Bing, there was no one else better suited for us. ”
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Kaufman, Crane and Bright's statement continues: “We will always cherish the joy, light, and dazzling intelligence he brought to every moment, not just in his work but in life. He was always the funniest person in the room.” More than that, he had the kindest, most devoted and selfless heart.”
The statement also included condolences to others who are grieving for Mr. Perry and a kind reference to Mr. Perry. friend Title tradition. “We send all our love to his family and friends. This is exactly where our hearts break.”
Among them friend A favorite to pay tribute was Maggie Wheeler, who played Chandler's recurring TV girlfriend, Janice.
“What a loss. The world will miss Matthew Perry,” she wrote on Instagram. “The joy you brought to so many in your all-too-short life will always live on. I feel so blessed for all the creative moments we shared.”
Morgan Fairchild, who played Chandler's mother in the series, also expressed her sadness over Chandler's death.
“I am heartbroken by the untimely passing of my 'son' Matthew Perry,” she wrote on Saturday, hours after news of Perry's death broke. “We are devastated by the loss of such a wonderful young actor. We send our love and condolences to his friends and family, especially his father, John Bennett Perry, with whom we worked on the film.” flamingo road & falcon crest. #RIPMMatthew”
In Perry's 2004 book Friends…until the end, he recalled: When that's over I'll be 34, which is a really important year in someone's life.”
“So doing it all in public was… difficult,” Perry continued. “At first there's going to be a wave of, 'I'm famous, this is exactly what I've wanted my whole life.' But then you go through a phase of withdrawal and you're like, 'I wish everyone would just quit.' become. stare to me. '''
“And in the end, hopefully, you can overcome all of that. You find things in your life that keep you grounded, like family and good friends.”
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Fast forward to 2021. friend Cast reunites for PEOPLE cover story supporting unscripted special Friends: Reunionwhich premiered on HBO Max that May.
“I feel like I can pick up right where I left off. No time has passed,” Kudrow told PEOPLE at the time. “No matter what happens, we are connected.”
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A year later, when Perry appeared solo in a PEOPLE cover story to promote her memoir Friends, lovers, and the big scary thing, The star detailed the situation. friend The cast supported him as he battled substance abuse.
“They were understanding and patient,” he said. “It's like a penguin. In nature, when a penguin gets sick or badly injured, other penguins surround it and support it, and it walks around until it can walk on its own. And that's kind of what the cast did for me.”
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Perry was found dead in his home near Los Angeles on Saturday. He was 54 years old.
According to TMZ, which first reported the death, law enforcement officials said no drugs were found at the scene. There was also no sign of foul play.
A Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson told PEOPLE on Saturday that officers responded to a call to Perry's address regarding the death of a man in his 50s, but did not confirm the identity of the deceased.
The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office confirmed to the People that an autopsy has been completed and results are pending on the toxicology report. However, online records currently list the actor's cause of death as “deferred” pending “further investigation.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
