Earlier this month, Friends star Matthew Perry tragically died aged 54.
Renowned US actor Matthew Perry, celebrated for his portrayal of the quick-witted Chandler Bing in the beloved ’90s TV series Friends, passed away at the age of 54.
Many fans have offered tribute to the much-loved star.
And now, Perry’s ex-costar Lisa Kudrow has shared a heartbreaking tribute.
Keep reading to see more …
Now, we were first introduced to the Friends gang in 1994.
Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Monica, Phoebe, and Joey burst onto our screens in September 1994.
It was an instant hit.
The comedy followed the friends, who live in the same New York apartment block, as they navigated through their mid-twenties.
We got to know the ins and outs of their everyday life…
And in a way, they became our own friends… It’s corny, but it’s true.
The show navigated some serious topics…
Ross and Rachel were not on a break. Period.
There were many iconic moments throughout the show’s ten seasons.
Rachel’s English trifle, Chandler’s nubbin, the time Joey got a Thanksgiving turkey stuck on his head…
The list could go on.
Despite the show coming to an end in 2004, it stands as one of the most-watched shows on Netflix, and its fanbase is as strong as ever.
They all embodied their characters completely.
And none of us can quite see them in anything else.
The gang earned a lot of money during those 10 years…
Allegedly, the cast was each on an eye-watering $1 million salary per episode in the later seasons of the show – a history-breaking figure.
Everyone’s love for the show will be unmatched, and the loss fans feel with Perry’s passing will be immense.
Matthew Perry, who played the lovable Chandler Bing, will always be remembered.
News of Perry’s passing, initially reported by the TMZ stated that he was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his home.
According to a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson, first responders were dispatched to an address in the Pacific Palisades area, responding to a “water emergency” of an unspecified nature They didn’t name Perry.
Born in Massachusetts in 1969, Perry grew up in Ottawa, Canada, where he attended elementary school alongside Justin Trudeau, who would later become the Prime Minister of Canada.
Trudeau expressed his shock and sorrow over Perry’s passing, recalling the fond memories of their schoolyard games and acknowledging the profound joy Perry brought to people worldwide.
Perry relocated to Los Angeles during his teenage years, initially gaining recognition for his role as Chazz Russell in Boys Will Be Boys and subsequently appearing in shows like Growing Pains.
However, it was his role in Friends that catapulted him to international stardom. Perry portrayed the socially awkward Chandler Bing, renowned for his humor and childlike antics with his roommate Joey Tribbiani. He was perfect.
Despite his peak of fame, Perry grappled with addiction to painkillers and alcohol, resulting in multiple stints in rehabilitation clinics.
In 2016, he revealed that he had no memory of three years of filming during Friends due to substance abuse. It broke fans’ hearts.
Perry’s health woes, stemming from his drug use, included a burst colon in 2018, necessitating several surgeries.
In Los Angeles, the news of Perry’s passing has generated shock and disbelief. Entertainment reporter Sean Mandell emphasized Perry’s pivotal role in Friends’ success, highlighting his character’s unique blend of wit and heart.
While Perry appeared in several films, including Fools Rush In, Almost Heroes, and The Whole Nine Yards, he never found a project that rivaled the immense success and fame of Friends.
His later TV work, notably in Aaron Sorkin’s The West Wing, Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip, and his own creation, Mr. Sunshine, earned critical acclaim.
His final significant TV endeavor, a reboot of The Odd Couple, lasted for three seasons.
Perry discovered its cancellation when he arrived on set and found his image painted over with green paint.
Maggie Wheeler, who portrayed Chandler’s ex-girlfriend Janice in Friends, was the first of Perry’s co-stars to publicly honor the actor.
Others, like Morgan Fairchild and Selma Blair, shared heartfelt tributes, expressing their profound sorrow over his untimely passing.
Matthew Perry is survived by his parents, John Bennett Perry and Suzanne Perry, who separated when he was a baby, as well as five half-siblings.
He never married and had no children, and he cited his father’s influence as an actor as a source of inspiration.
John Bennett Perry even made a guest appearance on Friends in 1997 as Mr. Bergin, the father of Rachel’s love interest, Josh.
Perry’s last Instagram post, published just days ago, depicts him relaxing in a rooftop pool, drawing an outpouring of affection from his devoted fans.
The coroner has since updated Perry’s cause of death.
His cause of death has now been listed as “deferred.”
This is to allow the full results of Perry’s toxicology report to come in.
However, his body has now been released to his family to allow them to make funeral preparations.
The police have revealed what was found at the scene.
They have confirmed that there were prescription medications found at the scene.
These included anti-depressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and a medication used for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
However, the coroners are waiting on the toxicology results to confirm whether any of these drugs played a role in Perry’s tragic passing.
The last photos Perry posted before his death have resurfaced.
They showed Perry looking happy and healthy.
A source told People: “He was having fun.”
“He was incredibly happy,” the source adds.
Take a look at Perry’s Instagram right here.
Perry’s pickleball partner Billy Bush has also revealed the warning signs from Perry that he ignored.
Writing: “He played every day and sometimes twice. It regulated his days. I spoke to the woman he played with this morning and every morning. She is in shock, adored Matt…she said he had been fatigued today and over the past week. A little more than usual. He played for one hour then went home.”
You can see Bush’s full Instagram post here.
Perry’s assistant has also offered insight into the actor’s final moments.
Following the game, Perry had sent his assistant out to run errands.
Including picking up a new iPhone and pair of prescription glasses for Perry.
Perry was reportedly in good spirits in the moments leading up to the tragedy.
In the wake of Perry’s death, a heartbreaking past internet clip has gone viral.
Perry spoke out about the legacy he wants to leave behind in an interview last year.
In an interview, Perry sat down with Tom Power at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema in Toronto to reflect on his life.
Power asked the actor how he would ‘like to be remembered’.
“I would like to be remembered as somebody who lived well, loved well, was a seeker and his paramount thing is he wants to help people. That’s what I want.”
Watch the clip right here.
Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Courtney Cox, and Matt LeBlanc have released a joint statement.
“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family,” they said.
“He was a true gift to us all. Our heart goes out to his family, loved ones, and all of his fans.”
You can see the tribute on the official Friends Instagram account.
Another old co-star of Perry’s has also opened up.
Ione Skye, who worked with Perry in the 1988 movie A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon, has revealed the final text Perry sent to her.
It began “Hi! I hope all is well.”
Perry continued: “I was meditating (I meditate now) and ‘In Your Eyes’ started playing. And I instantly thought of you and how beautiful you are.”
Skye responded: “Awe. I love that. Xo.”
“My last exchange a week ago,” she wrote, adding: “Loved this guy.”
Salma Hayek is another past co-star of Perry’s to share a heartbreaking tribute.
“Two days ago, I woke up to the shocking news that Matthew Perry is no longer with us. It’s taken me a couple of days to process this profound sadness,” Hayek wrote.
“There is a special bond that happens when you share dreams with someone, and together you work towards them.”
“I was very moved last year when Matthew shared on his Instagram stories how much he loved ‘Fools Rush In,’ and how he thought that that film we did together was probably his best movie.”
“Throughout the years, he and I found ourselves reminiscing about that meaningful time in our lives with a deep sense of nostalgia and gratitude. My friend, you are gone much too soon, but I will continue to cherish your silliness, your perseverance, and your lovely heart.”
“Farewell, sweet Matthew, we will never forget you.”
Take a look at the post right here …
Hank Azaria has also offered his tribute.
“Matthew was the first friend I made in Los Angeles when I moved there. I was 21, he was 16,” he shared.
“Matthew and I became really good friends and we were really more like brothers for a long time. We drank a lot together, we laughed a lot together, we were there for each other in the early days of our career.”
“I really loved him,” he continued. “A lot of us who were close to him felt like we lost him to drugs and alcohol a long time ago because — as he documented in his autobiography — there was so much suffering.”
“I’m a sober guy for 17 years, and I wanna say that, the night I went into AA, Matthew brought me in,” Azaria went on. “The whole first year I was sober, we went to meetings together. He was so caring and giving. He totally helped me get sober. And I really wish he could’ve found it in himself to stay with the silver life more consistently.”
“Most nights you spent with Matthew you were crying laughing by the end,” he concluded. “As an actor, he was so brilliant. I just wish we could have gotten what the rest of his career would’ve been.”
Watch the emotional video right here …
In the wake of this tragedy, there’s been a major update.
Perry’s death is being investigated by robbery homicide police.
This is in spite of there being no signs of foul play.
It is standard procedure for the LAPD’s Robbery Homicide Division to investigate high-profile cases including famous actors, as per TMZ.
Perry’s preliminary autopsy results have been revealed.
These toxicology tests did not detect the presence of either meth or fentanyl in Perry’s system, per TMZ.
This rules out either of these drugs as a cause of death via overdose.
However, we are still awaiting the results of the comprehensive toxicology report.
This will confirm whether Perry had lethal levels of any of his prescription drugs in his system.
It’s likely these results could take an estimated four to six months to complete.
The mystery woman spotted with Perry on the day of his death has since spoken out.
25-year-old model and entertainment reporter Athenna Crosby opened up on Instagram.
“I wasn’t going to speak about this but what I will say is I had the honor of knowing Matthew personally,” she wrote on her Instagram Stories.
“I am so devastated from his death but felt it was in poor taste to talk about it publicly as the attention should not be on me but rather on him and his legacy and he was an extremely private person and I always respected that in our friendship.”
“But indeed, we were friends and I was one of the last people to speak to him and see him before he passed.
“I want to emphasize that Matthew was in extremely good spirits and talked to me enthusiastically about the things he had coming up in his life,” she went on. “He was so happy and vibrant.”
“Know that man was on a comeback and truly deserved more time on this earth,” she concluded. “Our entertainment industry has truly lost a legend. RIP.”
Megyn Kelly has also offered her view.
“People who chase fame have a hole inside of them that is unfillable,” she said on the most recent episode of “The Megyn Kelly Show.”
“You know the amount of damage that he had done to his body over the years,” Kelly continued.
“I think that you haven’t been taught a certain lesson, you haven’t been given a certain goodness, you need to stop and reevaluate and try to fill that up right then and there without one iota of fame,” Kelly concluded.
“I’m so sad he’s gone,” she concluded, adding: “I feel like he found a way through just the nastiest form of addiction there is.”
Friends director Jim Burrows has shared the text messages shared between the cast in the wake of the tragedy.
“I had texted the girls the day we found out. They were destroyed. It’s a brother dying,” Burrows told Today.
“I had to have a couple of days to just let it soak in. He was part of a family, and he was the first one to not be part of that family anymore.”
A strange rumor about Lisa Kudrow and Matthew Perry was then debunked.
There were many reports following Perry’s passing that Kudrow was adopting his dog.
Perry had had a doodle mix named Alfred with his ex-fiancée, Molly Hurwitz.
However, a source has confirmed to People that Perry didn’t own a dog at the time of his death.
There was then a worrying update from Jennifer Aniston.
“Out of the remaining five, Jen and Courteney [Cox] are reeling the most, and Jen is probably the one who is struggling most acutely,” a source told Page Six.
“It’s a second massive loss in less than a year, with the one-year anniversary of her dad’s death just around the corner. She still hasn’t fully regained her footing from that, and now this has just completely knocked her off her feet.”
“She is trying to regroup and recover but it’s been a completely devastating blow,” the source added.
It was also revealed that there was one Friends storyline that Perry refused to film.
Lisa Cash, who appeared on Friends as an extra in 1999, revealed all.
As per the Independent, Cash explained: “The scene was Monica and Chandler were arguing in Vegas about Monica having lunch with Richard.”
“Initially in our script, Chandler goes up to the hotel room, orders room service and I bring it up as a hotel worker.”
“Chandler ends up cheating on Monica with my character,” she explained.
“We had rehearsed it and everything, and then the day before we were shooting in front of a live audience, I was told that [Perry] went to the writers and said ‘the audience will never forgive him for cheating on Monica’,” she went on.
“He was probably right. That would have changed, possibly, the course of the show.”
Perry’s ex Kayti Edwards has since speculated on his sobriety at the time of his death.
“I know Matthew and I know that he wouldn’t have just drowned,” Edwards told the UK Sun.
“I think he might have taken pills in the week leading up to this.”
“They said there were no prescription painkillers at the scene, which doesn’t surprise me, because he didn’t leave drugs lying around,” Edwards went on.
“He was paranoid and would take them all, so there wasn’t any evidence, and then go out for more when he was ready to.”
Edwards also opened up about the strange Mattman conspiracy theory.
“That Mattman thing was not something he did when he was sober. Mattman would come out when he was not sober and he felt kind of invincible,” Edwards claimed.
“I was around when he was getting high, although I was not getting high with him, and when I would say maybe he should cool it a little bit with the drugs, he would say, ‘No, I’m Mattman.’”
Matt LeBlanc has shared a heartbreaking tribute to his ex-costar.
LeBlanc wrote: “Matthew. It is with a heavy heart I say goodbye. The times we had together are honestly among the favorite times of my life.”
“It was an honor to share the stage with you and to call you my friend. I will always smile when I think of you and I’ll never forget you. Never.”
“Spread your wings and fly brother you’re finally free. Much love.”
Courteney Cox has also opened up.
She wrote: “I am so grateful for every moment I had with you Matty and I miss you every day.”
“When you work with someone as closely as I did with Matthew, there are thousands of moments I wish I could share. For now here’s one of my favorites.”
“To give a little backstory, Chandler and Monica were supposed to have a one night fling in London. But because of the audience’s reaction, it became the beginning of their love story.
In this scene, before we started rolling, he whispered a funny line for me to say.”
“He often did things like that. He was funny and he was kind.”
Jennifer Aniston has offered her words.
“Oh boy this one has cut deep…”
“Having to say goodbye to our Matty has been an insane wave of emotions that I’ve never experienced before. We all experience loss at some point in our lives. Loss of life or loss of love. Being able to really SIT in this grief allows you to feel the moments of joy and gratitude for having loved someone that deep. And we loved him deeply. He was such a part of our DNA. We were always the 6 of us. This was a chosen family that forever changed the course of who we were and what our path was going to be. For Matty, he KNEW he loved to make people laugh. As he said himself, if he didn’t hear the ‘laugh’ he thought he was going to die. His life literally depended on it. And boy did he succeed in doing just that. He made all of us laugh. And laugh hard. In the last couple weeks, I’ve been pouring over our texts to one another. Laughing and crying then laughing again. I’ll keep them forever and ever. I found one text that he sent me out of nowhere one day. It says it all. (See the second slide…)”
“Matty, I love you so much and I know you are now completely at peace and out of any pain. I talk to you every day… sometimes I can almost hear you saying ‘could you BE any crazier?'”
“Rest little brother.
You always made my day…”
And now, Lisa Kudrow has shared her words …
“Shot the pilot, Friends Like Us, got picked up then immediately, we were at the NBC Upfronts. Then… You suggested we play poker AND made it so much fun while we initially bonded. Thank you for that.”
“Thank you for making me laugh so hard at something you said, that my muscles ached, and tears poured down my face EVERY DAY. Thank you for your open heart in a six way relationship that required compromise. And a lot of ‘talking.’”
“Thank you for showing up at work when you weren’t well and then, being completely brilliant. Thank you for the best 10 years a person gets to have. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for all I learned about GRACE and LOVE through knowing you.Thank you for the time I got to have with you, Matthew.”
