'Friends' Cast Breaks Their Silence on the Death of Matthew Perry

Fans were shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Friends star Matthew Perry, who was found unresponsive in the hot tub of his Los Angeles home on Saturday afternoon. In the aftermath of the news, many of Perry's colleagues have expressed their condolences, but his costars on the hit NBC series have kept silent until now.

On Oct. 30, David Schwimmer Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, and Matt LeBlanc shared a group statement following Perry's death.

"We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew," the joint statement read. "We were more than just castmates. We are a family."

Rather than delve into the difficult emotions they're currently going through, the actors asked for more time to mourn in private.

"There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss," they said. "In time we will say more, as and when we are able. For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world."

Since Friends premiered on NBC nearly 30 years ago, the core cast have remained tight, which is a testament to the real-life friendships that were forged over the decade that the series ran. Though fans had long-since clamored for a reunion, the closest they got before Perry's death was an unscripted 2021 HBO Max reunion special called "The One Where They Get Back Together."