The cast of Friends has expressed their profound grief following the sudden death of their co-star Matthew Perry at the age of 54. In a joint statement released to People magazine, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer said they were 'so utterly devastated' by the loss. 'We were more than just cast mates. We are a family,' the statement read, adding that they would share more in time as they grieve.
Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing on the iconic sitcom, was found unresponsive in his hot tub at his Los Angeles home on Saturday. Emergency services performed a water rescue protocol, but he was declared dead at the scene. No foul play is suspected, and no drugs were found, though an investigation is ongoing.
Tributes have poured in from around the world, with Whoopi Goldberg breaking down on The View as she remembered Perry's openness about his struggles with addiction. Warner Bros. Television, which produced Friends, called Perry 'an incredibly gifted actor' whose 'comedic genius was felt around the world.'
Perry had been candid about his battles with substance abuse, detailing his near-death experiences in his memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. Lisa Kudrow, in a forward to the book, noted that Perry had 'survived impossible odds.' He had previously suffered a colon explosion and coma in 2018, given only a 2% chance of survival.
Perry was seen in good spirits the day before his death, meeting a woman at the Hotel Bel-Air. His sudden passing has left fans and colleagues in shock, with the Friends cast reportedly 'reeling' and feeling as though they have 'lost a brother.'
