Hollywood celebrities paid tribute to Friends actor Matthew Perry after the tragic news of his death shocked the world over the weekend.
Perry, who was known for playing beloved character Chandler Bing on the globally popular 90s TV sitcom, Friends, was found dead in his jacuzzi at his Los Angeles home in what was believed to be a drowning accident.
According to TMZ, no drugs were found at the scene and no foul play was suspected.
He was 54.
Friends creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane and executive producer Kevin Bright issued a joint statement expressing their sadness and shock.
The statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter read:
“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."
"We send all of our love to his family and friends. This truly is The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken.”
Although his Friends costars Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, and Lisa Kudrow have yet to respond, the Instagram pages for Warner Bros. TV and Friends said in a joint post:
"We are devastated to learn of Matthew Perry’s passing. He was a true gift to us all."
"Our heart goes out to his family, loved ones, and all of his fans."
Actor Maggie Wheeler, who played Chandler's hopelessly devoted admirer "Janice," posted a tribute to Perry with a photo of them together on the show.
She wrote in the caption:
"What a loss.The world will miss you Matthew Perry."
"The joy you brought to so many in your too short lifetime will live on. I feel so very blessed by every creative moment we shared."
Paget Brewster, who played Kathy in the show's fourth season, also expressed her grief.
"I’m so very sad to hear about @MatthewPerry. He was lovely to me on Friends and every time I saw him in the decades after," wrote Brewster.
She also encouraged people to read Perry's powerful 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, in which he opened up about his decades-long struggle with addiction to help others battling similar internal demons.
"Please read his book. It was his legacy to help.," she wrote on X (formerly Twitter), adding:
"He won’t rest in peace though.. He’s already too busy making everyone laugh up there."
Morgan Fairchild, who played Perry's onscreen mother, said she was "heartbroken about the untimely death of my 'son', Matthew Perry."
"The loss of such a brilliant young actor is a shock."
"I’m sending love & condolences to his friends & family, especially his dad, John Bennett Perry, who I worked with on Flamingo Road & Falcon Crest. #RIPMatthew"
On Monday, the 73-year-old actress appeared on CNN and said Perry was "terribly brave" for penning his tell-all memoir detailing his alcoholism and substance abuse.
"I think one of the bravest things that he did in his career and his life was to go public, to write this book, to reach out to other people, to try to be of help to other people," said Fairchild.
Celebrities outside the world of Friends also paid tributes to the late actor.
Yvette Nicole Brown and Wendell Pierce, who starred with Perry in the 2015 TV sitcom, The Odd Couple–based on the Neil Simon play of the same name–wrote:
"Our #OddCouple family suffered a great loss today. The entire entertainment world has."
"I am too sad about the news to say more than this: @mattyperry4 was a sweetheart who deserved more peace in this life."
"54 is too young to go. We love you, Matty! #RIPMatthewPerry"
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who went to elementary school with Perry in Ottawa–which is mentioned in his book–called news of Perry's death "shocking and saddening."
Perry also noted in his memoir that his mother used to be a press secretary for Trudeau's father, former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
Justin Trudeau shared his remembrance with the actor as a classmate.
"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."
More tributes from Hollywood poured in following the devastating loss in the entertainment industry.
How to Get Away with Murder actor Viola Davis wrote:
"This is devastating. Your book shifted so many close to my heart."
"The people no one sees and most throwaway. It was a gift."
"Beyond the joy you brought to many, your heart reigned supreme. Rest well.....know that you brought love."
Selma Blair posted a photo of a selfie of them together and said she was left "Broken hearted."
"My oldest boy friend," she wrote in an Instagram post.
"All of us loved Matthew Perry, and I did especially. Every day."
"I loved him unconditionally. And he me. And I’m broken. Broken hearted. Sweet dreams Matty. Sweet dreams."
Alyssa Milano, who worked with Perry in the 1998 TV movie Dance 'Til Dawn, shared a clip of them on Who’s the Boss? and wrote:
"Matty was always the funniest person in the room. And the KINDEST. He was kind."
"Matty, remember when we used to go play bingo at that church in the valley? You made me laugh that painful kind of laugh. A cry laugh. You made me cry-laugh."
"My condolences to all who loved him."
Emmy-winning actor Chad Lowe wrote:
"So sad to learn about Matthew Perry’s death."
"He was one of the funniest people I knew. It was hard to watch him struggle with his alcoholism over the years."
"But he was courageous in the fight and helped a lot of people by going public with his battles. He was loved by so many."
Gwyneth Paltrow honored Perry by recalling the first time they met in 1993 at the Williamstown Theater Festival in Massachusetts.
“We were both there for most of the summer doing plays. He was so funny and so sweet and so much fun to be with," she said.
"We drove out to swim in creeks, had beers in the local college bar, kissed in a field of long grass. It was a magical summer."
"He had shot the pilot of 'Friends' but it had not aired yet. He was nervous, hoping his big break was just around the corner. It was."
"We stayed friends for a while until we drifted apart, but I was always happy to see him when I did."
"I am super sad today, as so many of us are. I hope Matthew is at peace at long last. I really do.”
Hank Azaria, who had a recurring role on Friends as Phoebe's boyfriend, David, shared a video in which he opened up about a vulnerable time in his life.
“I’m a sober guy for 17 years, and I wanna say that, the night I went into AA, Matthew brought me in."
"The whole first year I was sober, we went to meetings together."
“He was so caring and giving and wise. And he totally helped me get sober."
"And I really wish he could’ve, you know, found the – found it in himself to stay with the silver life more consistently.”
Music star Adele even paused during her residency performance at Caesar’s Palace Colosseum in Las Vegas.
The "When We Were Young" singer told her audience about how much Perry's character had an impact on her life and also praised his fortitude about going public with his personal battles.
“He’s probably the best comedic character of all time…. He was so open with his struggles with addiction and sobriety, which I think is incredibly, incredibly brave.”
Perry's family issued a statement expressing monumental grief, saying:
"We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother."
"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."
Rest in peace, Matthew.
