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The stars of the TV show Friends expressed their deep sorrow over the passing of their colleague Matthew Perry.
Perry, famous for his role as the clever and sardonic Chandler Bing on the popular American sitcom, passed away at the age of 54 on Saturday.
Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, and David Schwimmer, who are all co-stars, released a statement together expressing that they are not just colleagues, but also a close-knit family.
The cast of Friends expressed their profound sorrow over the passing of Matthew in a statement to People magazine on Monday.
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“We were more than just colleagues in a show. We are like a close-knit family.”
There is a lot to express, but for now, we will pause to mourn and make sense of this unimaginable tragedy.
They stated, “We will provide more information in due time, as we are able to. Currently, our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to Matty’s family, friends, and all those who cared for him globally.”
Marta Kauffman and David Crane, creators of the show Friends, along with executive producer Kevin Bright, expressed their shock and deep sadness at the passing of Perry in a joint statement on Sunday.
They stated: “We will forever hold dear the happiness, brightness, and brilliant intellect he brought to every moment – not just in his professional endeavors, but in life as a whole.”
“He was consistently the most humorous individual in any setting. Not only that, but he exuded kindness and had a generous and altruistic spirit.”
They also stated, “This is truly The One that Breaks Our Hearts.”
Perry, who received an Emmy nomination for his performance in Friends, gained popularity alongside Aniston, LeBlanc, Kudrow, Schwimmer, and Cox – who portrayed Perry’s on-screen wife, Monica Geller.
The cast of the show came together on screen for the first time since its finale in 2004, marking a highly anticipated reunion in 2021. The show had gained immense popularity and became a cultural sensation during its 10-year run.
Perry’s portrayal on screen brought happiness to numerous people, but he openly discussed his battles with substance abuse while working on the show.
Messages of condolences have flooded in after the announcement of Perry’s passing, including from his co-stars on Friends and notable figures like Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sarah, Duchess of York.
Hank Azaria, who guest starred on the sitcom as Phoebe Buffay’s (played by Kudrow) romantic interest David, described Perry as a “brother” to him.
On his Instagram account, he shared a video where he expressed, “During the beginning of our careers, we supported each other and to me, he was just as hilarious as he was on Friends. In real life, he was the funniest person I’ve ever met.”
“At night, he displayed an exceptional talent for comedy, effortlessly stringing together jokes and creating a crescendo of laughter by the end of the evening.”
Maggie Wheeler, the actress who portrayed Chandler’s on-again, off-again love interest Janice Hosenstein, expressed her condolences and stated that the world will miss you.
Elliott Gould, who portrayed the father of Ross and Monica Geller (played by Schwimmer and Cox), fondly recalled Perry as a “kind, considerate, intelligent, humorous, and incredibly talented actor.”
“I have great affection for Matthew Perry, who played Joey Tribbiani’s stalker Erika Ford, and I want to express my gratitude for the joy and laughter he brought me.”
Kathleen Turner and Morgan Fairchild, Perry’s co-stars in the show Friends, also honored the actor on screen.
The actor’s other notable TV work includes the short-lived Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip, written by West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin, while he also starred in several films, including Fools Rush In, opposite Salma Hayek and his father John, which he previously said was “probably his best movie”.
Hayek expressed that it has taken her some time to come to terms with the “deep sorrow,” but she will always hold onto the “playfulness, determination, and kind heart” of her co-star who has passed away.
Alongside a selection of photos of them together posted to Instagram, she added: “There is a special bond that happens when you share dreams with someone, and together you work towards them.
Last year, I was deeply touched when Matthew expressed his fondness for ‘Fools Rush In’ on his Instagram stories. He also believed that the film we worked on together was possibly his finest work.
Over time, he and I often found ourselves looking back on that significant period in our lives with a strong feeling of longing and appreciation.
Lindsay Posner, the director of The End Of Longing, a play written by and featuring Perry, stated that Perry’s desire was to be remembered for “assisting individuals in their recovery”.
On the Radio 4 show Today, the theatre director from Britain fondly remembered how the deceased was known for being kind and generous, and how he strived to be recognized as a talented actor in both serious and comedic roles.
He stated, “The End Of Longing” was a play based on my own experiences with addiction.
“He expressed his desire to be remembered for his role in aiding individuals through the production and aiding in their recovery.”
According to the PA news agency, the Los Angeles police were called to investigate the death of a man in his 50s at around 4pm on Saturday.
According to Captain Erik Scott of the Los Angeles Fire Department, a male was discovered unconscious in a separate jacuzzi.
The statement also mentioned that the LAPD and LA County medical examiner are currently investigating the circumstances. Our thoughts are with those who have lost a loved one unexpectedly, and we offer our condolences to their families and friends.
It was reported that the post-mortem examination was inconclusive and authorities are waiting for the results of toxicology tests.
Source: independent.co.uk
