Selma Blair, Shannen Doherty and more pay tribute to late “Friends” actor Matthew Perry: 'Always the funniest person in the room'

Shania Russell
·9 min read

Matthew Perry, who was best known for playing Chandler Bing on the long-running hit sitcom Friends, was found dead at his Los Angeles–area home on Saturday, multiple outlets report. Hollywood stars have since taken to social media to pay tribute to the late actor, remembering him for his wit and lasting friendship.

Maggie Wheeler, who played Chandler's recurring love interest Janice across 10 seasons of Friends, mourned her former costar in a touching Instagram post.

"What a loss," Wheeler wrote. "The world will miss you, Mathew 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."

Paget Brewster, who also played one of Perry's onscreen love interests, starring in the show's fourth season as Kathy, wrote in her own post, "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. 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."

Morgan Fairchild, who portrayed Perry's onscreen mother on Friends, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "I'm heartbroken about the untimely death of my 'son,' Matthew Perry. The loss of such a brilliant young actor is a shock. I'm sending love & condolences to his friends & family, especially his dad, John Bennett Perry, who I worked with on Flamingo Road & Falcon Crest. #RIPMatthew"

Kathleen Turner, who portrayed Chandler's father (later confirmed to be a transgender woman), said in a statement to EW, "I was proud to play his 'dad…'"

Elliott Gould, who played Jack Geller and became Perry's onscreen father-in-law in later seasons, also paid tribute to the actor who he described as "terrifically talented." Gould wrote that he was "honored" to work with Perry when they first met in 1994.

"What he didn't know until I told him, was that it was my privilege to play his father-in-law," the post continued. "My heart goes out to his wonderful family. He will be missed by so many but he will never be forgotten."

The official Friends and Warner Bros. accounts also shared the news of Perry's passing on Instagram, writing: "We are devastated to learn of Matthew Perry's passing. He was a true gift to us all. Our heart goes out to his family, loved ones, and all of his fans."

Selma Blair, who guest-starred on Friends, shared a photo of her and Perry smiling for a selfie and wrote an emotional post. "My oldest boy friend. All of us loved Matthew Perry, and I did especially," she captioned the image. "Every day. I loved him unconditionally. And he me. And I'm broken. Broken-hearted. Sweet dreams, Matty. Sweet dreams."

Aisha Tyler, who appeared as Dr. Charlie Wheeler in the final two seasons of Friends, wrote that Perry had "a gentleness and generosity of spirit that was unparalleled." Recalling their time as costars, she added, "I learned how to tell a joke perfectly just by watching him work. And I will never forget the moment he leaned in, on my first night of taping Friends, to tell me warmly, 'get ready for your life to change.'"

In a message shared on her Instagram Story, Rumer Willis — whose father Bruce Willis starred alongside Perry in The Whole Nine Yards — wrote, "I'm so sad to hear about Matthew Perry passing. When I was a kid and I was on set while he and my dad were doing [The Whole Nine Yards] he was so kind and funny and sweet with my sisters and me."

She continued, "I think his physical comedy and that movie still makes me laugh so much. I know he had many challenges in his life and brought a lot of joy to people with his comedy. I hope he can rest peacefully."

Shannen Doherty, who was briefly Perry's costar when he appeared on the '90s teen drama Beverly Hills 90210, reflected on a "lifetime of friendship" with the actor in an emotional post recounting their youth together.

"We were a gang way back," Doherty wrote. "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."

She continued, "Our friendship spanned a long time. A lifetime really. I know many are hurting, especially our little gang. He will be missed by many and definitely by us. Yes. I could be more poetic or say things better, but right now, shock and sadness prevail."

Perry's onetime Who's the Boss costar Alyssa Milano shared a clip of the actor that she captioned: "Matty was always the funniest person in the room. And the KINDEST. He was kind."

She continued, "Matty, remember when we used to go play bingo at that church in the valley? You made me laugh that painful kind of laugh. A cry laugh. You made me cry-laugh. My condolences to all who loved him."

Thomas Lennon, who starred opposite Perry in their 2015 reboot of The Odd Couple, called him "the best shoulder to lean on."

Their costar Yvette Nicole Brown shared a photo of the main cast, writing, "Our #OddCouple family suffered a great loss today. The entire entertainment world has. I am too sad about the news to say more than this: [Perry] was a sweetheart who deserved more peace in this life. 54 is too young to go. We love you, Matty!"

Another alum from the sitcom, Wendell Pierce, wrote: "For two years Matthew Perry was my boss, my colleague, and a giving, kind, funny man. I pray and hope he is at peace."

Perry's Parallel Lives costar Mira Sorvino expressed her grief on X with a post wishing Perry "peace and happiness in Heaven."

Octavia Spencer honored the late actor with a post captioned, "His gift to the world will be remembered forever. Sending love to Matthew's family, friends, costars, and millions of fans around the world."

Alongside a photo of the star, Viola Davis wrote, "This is devastating. Your book shifted so many close to my heart. The people no one sees and most throw away. It was a gift. Beyond the joy you brought to many, your heart reigned supreme. Rest well.....know that you brought love."

Olivia Munn shared her condolences in an Instagram Story post, in which she wrote, "He struggled with so much addiction and was brave enough to be open and honest about it. I'm so sorry to his family and friends who are getting this news today. Nothing short of heartbreaking. Rest in love, Matthew Perry."

Nancy Sinatra also acknowledged the loss with a reference to Perry's 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. "Happy trails to you, Matt. Thanks for being you. 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."

Adele paused her Las Vegas show on Saturday night to pay tribute to Perry. "I'll remember that character for the rest of my life," she said of his role as Chandler Bing. "He was so open with his struggles with addiction and sobriety, which I think is incredibly, incredibly brave," she added. "I just wanna say how much I love what he did for us, especially what he did for me. One of the best comedians...and hopefully now he can rest in peace."

Hank Azaria said Perry was "the first friend I made in Los Angeles," in a post to Instagram, in which he called his friend "the funniest man ever." The Simpsons actor also credited Perry for taking him to his first AA meeting and lamented losing Perry to "drugs and alcohol a long time ago," noting that he struggled reading the late actor's candid memoir. Still, Azaria remembered the way Perry would have him "crying laughing," adding, "As an actor, he was so brilliant. I just wish we – the world — I and the world — could have gotten what the rest of his career would've been."

In a touching Instagram post, Speechless star John Ross Bowie recounted Perry's role in helping him through sobriety. Writing that he was "bouncing off the f---ing walls" at his first party as a non-drinking person, he said that Perry, who sat across from him, "must've sensed something about me because he promptly asked if I wanted a Diet Coke, and then he got us two Diet Cokes. And then when we were done, I got us two more diet Cokes. And it went on like that for the rest of the night. I didn't sleep well that night (because I had had easily seven Diet Cokes) but I woke up the next morning not hungover, while still having had a great evening."

Bowie added, "I think of him and that night all the time. He was clearly something my higher power sent to me on a fidgety autumn evening, 13 years ago. I'm glad he is at peace.. May his memory be a blessing."

SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher wrote on Instagram that though she didn't know Perry personally, "he will always be a 'friend.'" The former Nanny star called Perry a "brilliant comedian but a sad clown" but added that his "talent will continue to make us laugh."

Perry played the sarcastic Chandler Bing on the popular NBC sitcom about a group of friends living in New York City alongside his costars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer. After premiering in 1994, the series continued for 10 seasons and has only grown its fanbase over the years, thanks to newfound success on streaming platforms. Across his career, the actor, who struggled with addiction, was an outspoken advocate on the issue, and turned his former Malibu home into a sober living facility called the Perry House, which ran until 2015.

Perry was reportedly found dead in his hot tub after an apparent drowning, reports TMZ, citing law enforcement sources. The outlet reported that no drugs were found at the scene. A law enforcement officer told The New York Times that there was no indication of foul play.

Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.

Related content:

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next