MATTHEW Perry’s family and Friends co-stars gathered in Los Angeles for an emotional farewell to the iconic actor.
His funeral was held at the Forest Lawn Church of the Hills, just down the street from where Matthew and his cast members filmed the cult series Friends for 10 years.
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Matthew Perry’s friends and family gathered for the iconic actor’s emotional funeralCredit: AP
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Perry was best known for his role on Friends, which ran for 10 seasons. Credit: Getty
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The cast of Friends were seen united as they headed to Matthew’s funeralCredit: Splash News
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They comforted each other while grieving their friendCredit: Splash
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The service was held at the Forest Lawn Church of the Hills across from the Warner Bros studios Credit: The US Sun
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People were seen hugging each other at the relatively small ceremonyCredit: BackGrid
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Matthew’s mother Suzanne Morrison (left) was seen in a black floral dress Credit: US Sun
The Los Angeles ceremony appeared to be an intimate event with about 20 people in attendance, TMZ reported.
Matthew’s co-stars, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox and David Schwimmer, were all dressed in black as they arrived at the church as a group.
Matt LeBlanc is said to have attended the two-hour service, joining Matthew’s father, John Bennett Perry, and stepfather, Keith Morrison.
Photos show mourners in black comforting each other on the funeral home’s lawn.
The devastating final farewell comes after Matthew, 54, was found unresponsive in a jacuzzi at his Los Angeles home on Saturday.
He was loved around the world for his role as Chandler Bing in the series Friends, which was filmed on the Warner Bros. studio lot. which is located less than a mile from where Matthew’s funeral service was held.
COLLEAGUES ‘DISRUPTED’
Matthew’s colleagues issued a joint statement days after his death.
“We are all so completely devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than co-stars. We are family,” they wrote.
“There is so much to say, but right now we will take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.”
“Over time, we will say more, as and when we can,” the statement reads.
“For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends and everyone who loved him around the world.”
The note was signed by each of his colleagues.
Jim Burrows, who directed more than a dozen episodes of Friends, said he immediately texted Aniston, Cox and Kudrow after hearing the tragic news.
“I texted the girls the day we found out,” he told Today on Thursday.
“They are destroyed. The brother is dying.”
Friends co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane, along with director Kevin Bright, released their own statement.
“We are shocked and deeply, deeply saddened by the death of our beloved friend Matthew,” they said. “It still seems impossible. All we can say is we feel blessed to have had him as part of our lives.”
‘BRILLIANT TALENT’
The trio called Matthew a “brilliant talent”, saying he embodied the role of Chandler.
“We will always cherish the joy, the light, the dazzling intelligence he brought to every moment – not only in his work, but in life. He was always the funniest person in the room. More than that, he was the sweetest, with a giving and selfless heart. This is truly where our hearts are broken.”
Matthew had a particularly close relationship with Jennifer, who played Rachel Green on Friends.
After he got over his initial crush on the star, they formed a close friendship as she supported him during his rehab and drug battles.
“She was the one who reached out the most,” Diane Sawyer said in an October 2022 interview.
– You know, I’m really grateful to her for that.
Matthew’s Friends co-star Maggie Wheeler, who played Janice Hosenstein, paid tribute to him on Instagram on Saturday.
“What a loss. The world will miss you Matthew Perry. The joy you brought to so many in your too short life will live on,” she wrote.
“I feel so blessed by every creative moment we shared.”
DEATH INVESTIGATION
Matthew’s assistant found him underwater in his jacuzzi before emergency services arrived at his home.
They lifted his head to help him breathe, but he was already dead when medics arrived, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The cause of his death has not yet been made public.
It has been delayed, meaning medical examiners need more time to investigate.
Dispatch records showed that emergency services were first called to the Los Angeles property for a cardiac arrest.
Law enforcement sources told TMZ that no illegal drugs were found at the scene and foul play is not suspected.
However, prescription drugs, including anti-anxiety and anti-depressant pills, were found in the home, the paper reported.
FINAL HOURS
Hours earlier, the actor was playing pickleball with a racket with a friend, who said the star had been feeling sick and “tired” for the past week.
He returned home from the country club and sent his assistant on an errand.
His assistant found him unresponsive in the water when they returned and frantically called 911.
Matthew was seen on a date just 24 hours before his death.
He appeared to be in good spirits as he shared a laugh with the brunette beauty at the Bel-Air Hotel.
Witnesses told TMZ the couple sat at the table for more than an hour, but he barely touched his meal or drink.
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Matthew’s father, John Bennett Perry (centre) was one of the family members present Credit: The US Sun
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The service took about two hours Credit: BackGrid
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Mourners were dressed in black as they gathered on the lawn Credit: BackGrid
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The cast and creators of Friends described Matthew as a ‘brilliant talent’ Credit: Getty
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Matthew was 54 at the time of his deathCredit: mattyperry4/Instagram
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