Surviving Friends co-stars have released a statement on the Saturday passing of fellow castmate Matthew Perry.
Perry, 54, was found dead in his California home on Saturday by first responders who arrived on a possible cardiac arrest call. The former Friends star was found unresponsive in his hot tub.
Friends co-stars David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, and Lisa Kudrow remained silent throughout the weekend, though released a joint statement to People Magazine on Tuesday.
“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family,” their statement reads. “There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.”
Matthew Perry's 'Friends' Costars Speak Out After His Death: 'We Are All So Utterly Devastated' (Exclusive) https://t.co/t4SQxAIVfL
— People (@people) October 30, 2023
“In time we will say more, as and when we are able,” the statement continues. “For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.”
Friends co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane issued a joint statement on Sunday along with executive producer Kevin Bright.
“We are shocked and deeply, deeply saddened by our beloved friend Matthew’s passing,” they wrote. “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,” they continued. “From the day we first heard him embody the role of Chandler Bing, there was no one else for us.”
Perry’s family spoke to TMZ over the weekend.
“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother,” Perry’s family told the outlet in a statement. “Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend. You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love.”
“The cast is reeling from the loss of their brother, because that’s what Matty was — their brother,” an industry source told Page Six Sunday. “The entire cast are close, they will be devastated, because they were together through the best of times and worst of times.”
Perry starred as Chandler Bing on Friends, which ran from 1994 until 2004.
Last year, Perry released a memoir titled Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, which discussed the actor’s struggle with drugs and alcohol, along with a near-death experience.
Perry said he spent over $9 million on rehab and other programs to combat his addictions and find sobriety. Perry had reportedly been sober since May 2021.
As of Tuesday, no cause of death has been reported for the late Friends actor.
