Paget Brewster, Selma Blair and More Mourn ‘Friends’ Star Matthew Perry: ‘You Sweet, Troubled Soul’
Tributes poured in from all corners of Hollywood when the news came of Matthew Perry’s death at age 54 on Saturday. The actor, best known for starring as Chandler Bing in “Friends,” was found dead in a hot tub at his home in Los Angeles.
Many of the sentiments posted online Saturday pointed to Perry as the heart of the humor in “Friends.” As written in a tribute by Variety‘s chief correspondent Daniel D’Addario, “the character’s caustic wit, as performed by a master comic actor, presented as nothing more and nothing less than observational humor about his friends: One degree harsher and it would have tanked the show, one degree softer and it wouldn’t have landed.”
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Several also referenced Perry’s struggle with alcoholism and drug addiction, which he discussed publicly throughout his career, especially in his memoir “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing.”
“We are shocked and deeply, deeply saddened by our beloved friend Matthew’s passing. It still seems impossible. All we can say is that we feel blessed to have had him as part of our lives,” said “Friends” co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane and executive producer Kevin Bright in a joint statement. “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.”
The “Friends” co-creators and EP concluded their statement by saying, “We send all of our love to his family and friends. This truly is The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken.”
“Oh no!!! Matthew Perry!! You sweet, troubled soul!!” wrote Mira Sorvino, who starred with Perry in the 1994 TV movie “Parallel Lives,” on X, formerly known as Twitter. “May you find peace and happiness in Heaven, making everyone laugh with your singular wit!!!”
“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 Paget Brewster, who had a six-episode arc on the show. “Please read his book. It was his legacy to help. He won’t rest in peace though.. He’s already too busy making everyone laugh up there.”
“My oldest boy friend. All of us loved Matthew Perry, and I did especially. Every day,” wrote Selma Blair on Instagram. “I loved him unconditionally. And he me. And I’m broken. Broken hearted. Sweet dreams Matty. Sweet dreams.”
Maggie Wheeler, who played Janice, Chandler’s on-again, off-again girlfriend in “Friends” posted, “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.”
Jimmy Burrows, who directed 15 episodes of “Friends,” posted a picture of himself and Perry, saying, “Nobody did it better.”
Shannon Doherty posted a long tribute on Instagram under a picture of herself, Perry and Roger Castillo. “We were a gang way back,” she began. We all grew up together going to the Formosa, North and constantly laughing. Matt, Roger, David, Roxana. We played dare and Matt had to say ridiculous things to girls at the bar. We just always had fun and supported each other. You would always find us all together in a booth speaking in our own made up language. And yes, Matt always had THAT sense of humor.”
SAG-AFTRA president, Fran Drescher posted, “So sad that on the eve of the brightest moon we lost one of our brightest stars. A brilliant comedian but a sad clown. I didn’t know him but as Chandler he will always be a “friend” May you RIP dear one. Your talent will continue to make us laugh… health is wealth.”
Meredith Salenger, who starred in “A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon” with Perry, wrote that she has known Perry since they were both 16, and shared four photos of them together. “Oh man. No words. Rest in peace sweet @MatthewPerry,” she said.
Hank Azaria recalled the early days of his friendship with Perry in a video posted on X: “Matthew was the first friend I made in Los Angeles… We were really more like brothers for a long time,” Azaria said, noting he was 21 and Perry was 16 when they met. “We drank a lot together. We laughed a lot together. We were there for each other during the early days of our career.”
Azaria later shared how Perry helped him get sober, saying, “The night I went into AA, Matthew brought me in. The whole first year I was sober, we went to meetings together. As a sober person, he was so caring and giving and wise, and he totally helped me get sober. And I really wish he could have found within himself to stay with the sober life more consistently.”
“Our #OddCouple family suffered a great loss today,” posted Yvette Nicole Brown, who played Dani in the CBS series that starred Perry as Oscar. “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“
“In The Whole Nine Yards – Matthew Perry runs full force into a patio door – that and the scene that followed is one of the top comedic moments I’ve witnessed. I told him so when I recurred on The Odd Couple. He smiled so big I thought he’d crack his face It was beautiful,” wrote Lisa Ann Walter, who co-starred with Perry in “The Odd Couple.”
Octavia Spencer wrote, “I’m incredibly saddened to hear of Matthew Perry’s passing today. His gift to the world will be remembered forever. Sending love to Matthew’s family, friends, co-stars and millions of fans around the world.”
“So sad to learn about Matthew Perry’s death. He was one of the funniest people I knew,” said Chad Lowe. “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.”
“We are incredibly saddened by the too soon passing of Matthew Perry,” NBC Entertainment said in a post. The network aired “Friends” for all 10 seasons. “He brought so much joy to hundreds of millions of people around the world with his pitch perfect comedic timing and wry wit. His legacy will live on through countless generations.”
“We are devastated by the passing of our dear friend Matthew Perry,” reads a statement from Warner Bros. TV Group, which produced “Friends.” “Matthew was an incredibly gifted actor and an indelible part of the Warner Bros. Television Group family. The impact of his comedic genius was felt around the world, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of so many. This is a heartbreaking day, and we send our love to his family, his loved ones, and all of his devoted fans.”
“Happy trails to you, Matt. Thanks for being you,” said Nancy Sinatra. “Wishing you a peaceful journey home through the stars. If you loved Matthew Perry as I did read his book. You will learn a lot about him.”
“Awful news. RIP brother,” posted Josh Charles, who worked with Perry on “The Good Wife.”
“Very sad about Matthew Perry. He was so much fun to work with; and yet so serious about his craft,” said Robert King, who co-created “The Good Fight.”
“What a tragic piece of news to read,” George Takei wrote on Threads. “My heart goes out to his loved ones and long time cast mates.”
“Matthew Perry invited me to his home once to join in the celebration of the LA Kings winning the Stanley Cup,” wrote Stuart Levine, vice president of editorial and media relations at NBCUniversal. “He couldn’t have been nicer. A truly deep loss.”
“Matthew Perry’s performance in FRIENDS was Emmy worthy,” said “Pose” co-creator Stephen Canals on X. “A performance in a show that defines my adolescence. Thank you, sir, for the many laughs. May you rest easy.”
“Please never hesitate to reach out to people you know who may be struggling. Or even just to reach out and check in,” said “Cougar Town” co-creator Kevin Biegel on X. “We all go through our battles, it’s hard to work outside of yourself, I know. But if you can, do it, someone may for you. I didnt know him but felt like I did…”
“It is always so shocking, especially someone that made you laugh and who brought so much joy to your life that you don’t know,” Adele told the crowd at her Las Vegas show Saturday. “This is what I find so strange, I never met him in my life. There is something, you feel so sad about it especially because you don’t necessarily know what was going on.”
Adele continued, “One of my favorite memories of when I was younger, with my friends, and one of my friends Andrew when I was 12 did the best Chandler impression, and he would do it all the time to make us laugh. And if anyone was having a bad day or feeling low, he would pretend to be Chandler. And I will remember that character for the rest of my life.”
See more tributes to Perry below.
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