The five surviving costars of the hit 1990s television sitcom Friends paid tribute on Monday to their fallen cast mate, Matthew Perry, who died two days earlier in an apparent suicide at his California home. In a joint message published by People magazine, actors Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer lamented his death at 54 as an “unfathomable loss.”
The stars recalled that Perry was more than a colleague and Friend. “He was family,” the statement reads, adding that the five were “utterly devastated” by his passing. “He will be missed and remembered for his wit, warmth, kindness, and selflessness,” the actors continued. “Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this tough time.”
Perry, who played the lovable statistician Chandler Bing on the show that ran from 1994 to 2004, had spoken out in recent interviews about his battles with addiction to alcohol and prescription painkillers. The actor had said the supportive relationship he had with his Friend’s costars helped him in his recovery efforts, which included a stint in rehab last year. He also discussed his addiction struggles in his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.
Several celebrities, including singers like Charlie Puth and Adele, have shared their condolences on social media for the late star. Actors such as Selma Hayek and Morgan Fairchild — who played the characters of Chandler’s mother and Nora Bing, respectively, on the show — have also expressed their sadness. And even the leader of Canada’s federal government, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, took to X — formerly Twitter — to honor Perry’s life and legacy.
The exact cause of Perry’s death is unclear, with the Los Angeles County coroner deferring its determination until toxicology results are available. In the meantime, first responders reported finding anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications at the property where he was found, but no illegal drugs were discovered. The Los Angeles County medical examiner is also investigating whether the death was a suicide or an accident.
Despite losing their costar, the cast of Friends promised to continue to work on the long-running sitcom. In a Facebook post on Monday, the actors revealed that a special tribute to their former costar will air on Nick at Nite this Sunday. The show will include never-before-seen interviews and behind-the-scenes footage of the beloved series.
