Matthew Perry’s Friends Costars Speak Out After His Death: ‘We Are All So Utterly Devastated’ (Exclusive)

The Friends actors mourn one of their own.

Two days after Matthew Perry’s sudden death, his co-stars from the hit television series — Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer — issued a joint statement, obtained exclusively by PEOPLE.

“We are all so completely devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than co-stars. We are family,” their statement read. “There is so much to say, but right now we will take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.”

We will say more over time, as and when we can, the press release states. “For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends and everyone who loved him around the world.”

The message is then signed by Aniston, Cox, Kudrow, LeBlanc and Schwimmer.

Matthew Perry says ‘Friends’ cast rallied around him at height of addiction: ‘They were patient’

The cast of “Friends”. NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty

Perry played for 10 years Friends‘ warped sidekick turned leading man Chandler Bing in a perfect comedic performance that earned him a 2002 Emmy nomination.

Series co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane were joined by executive producer Kevin Bright in a joint statement Sunday.

“We are shocked and deeply, deeply saddened by the death of our beloved friend Matthew,” they wrote. “It still seems impossible. All we can say is that we feel blessed to have had him as a part of our lives. He was a brilliant talent.”

Reflecting on Perry’s breakthrough performance, they noted, “It’s a cliché to say that an actor creates his own role, but in Matthew’s case, no word could be truer. From the day we first heard him embody the role of Chandler Bing, there was no one else for us.”

NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

A statement from Kaufman, Crane and Bright continued: “We will always cherish the joy, the light, the dazzling intelligence that he brought to every moment — not only to his work, but to his life. He was always the funniest person in the room. And more than that, he was the sweetest, giving and selfless heart.”

The statement also included condolences for others grieving Perry, as well as a sweet reference to Friends title tradition. “We send all our love to his family and friends. This is truly one where our hearts are broken.”

Matthew Perry fans honor the late actor with a tribute at Chandler Bing Friends Apartment in NYC

Among others Friends the favorite to do the honors was Maggie Wheeler, who played Chandler’s ever-returning TV girlfriend Janice.

“What a waste. The world will miss you, Mathew Perry,” she wrote on Instagram. “The joy you brought to many in your too short life will live on. I feel so blessed by every creative moment we shared.”

Matthew Perry once said he would give up fame and fortune to avoid dealing with addiction: ‘I would change everything’

Morgan Fairchild, who played Chandler’s mother on the show, also shared her grief over the actor’s death.

“I am heartbroken by the untimely death of my ‘son’, Matthew Perry,” she wrote on Saturday, hours after news of Perry’s death broke. “The loss of such a brilliant young actor is a shock. I send my love and condolences to his friends and family, especially his dad, John Bennett Perry, with whom I worked on Flamingo Road and Falcon Crest. #RIPMatew”

In Perry’s 2004 book Friends… ‘To the end, he recalled, “I was 24 years old when I entered the show. I’ll be 34 when it’s over, and those are really important years in a person’s life.”

“So to do all that in public … it was difficult,” Perry continued. “First you have the wave of ‘I’m famous, and this is exactly what I’ve wanted all my life.’ But then you go through a whole loner phase where you think, ‘I wish everyone would stop staring on me.’ ”

He added: “And then eventually, hopefully, you’ll get through it all. You’ll find things in your life that are fundamental, like your family and good friends.”

‘Friends’ stars reveal the secrets of their ‘perfect’ time together: pranks, crushes and more!

The cast of “Friends”.

Warner Bros. Television

As early as 2021, Friends The cast reunited for the cover of PEOPLE in support of the unscripted special Friends: The Reunionwhich premiered that May on HBO Max.

“I feel like we can pick up where we left off, and no time has passed,” Kudrow told PEOPLE at the time. “We’re connected no matter what.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

A year later, when Perry appeared solo on the cover of PEOPLE to promote his memoir Friends, lovers, and the great terrible thing, the star described in detail how it is Friends the cast supported him amid his struggles with substance abuse.

They were understanding and patient, he said. “It’s like penguins. In nature, when one is sick or badly injured, other penguins surround it, support it and walk around until that penguin starts walking on its own. And that’s something the cast did for me.”

The cast of “Friends”. Reisig & Taylor/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty. Matthew Perry detailed how he would like to be remembered a year before his death at age 54: Watch

Perry was found dead at his home in Los Angeles on Saturday. He was 54 years old.

According to TMZ, which first reported the death, law enforcement sources said no drugs were found at the scene. There were also no signs of foul play.

A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department told PEOPLE on Saturday that officers responded to a call at Perry’s address regarding the death of a man in his 50s, but would not confirm the identity of the deceased.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed to PEOPLE that an autopsy has been completed and the results are pending a toxicology report. However, the online record has the status of the actor’s cause of death currently listed as “delayed” as “further investigation is pending.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the SAMHSA Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education