Matt LeBlanc has paid an emotional tribute to Matthew Perry – two weeks after his shocking death at the age of 54.
Perry was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home on Saturday, October 28th. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office announced that his cause of death was “deferred” and the investigation was considered “ongoing” by authorities.
Friends icon LeBlanc, 56, who played Perry’s character Chandler Bing’s best friend Joey Tribbiani, wrote on Instagram: “Matthew. It is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye. The times we had together were honestly some of the best times of my life.
“It was an honor to be on stage with you and to call you my friend.” I will always smile when I think of you and I will never forget you. Never.
“Spread your wings and fly brother, you are finally free.” Much love.
Chandler and Joey Forever: Matt LeBlanc has paid an emotional tribute to Matthew Perry – two weeks after his shocking death at the age of 54
Tragic loss: Perry died as a result of an accidental “drowning” in the hot tub at his Los Angeles home. Police found prescription pills but no illegal drugs in the home, sources said (Pictured 2022)
Six stars: Friends icon LeBlanc, 56, who played Perry’s character Chandler Bing’s best friend Joey Tribbiani, wrote on Instagram: “Matthew. It is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye. The times we had together were honestly some of the best times of my life.
“And I guess you keep the $20 you owe me.”
LeBlanc shared a heartbreaking photo of the Friends cast, which also includes Jennifer Aniston, 54, David Schwimmer, 57, Lisa Kudrow, 60, and Courteney Cox, 59, hugging Perry at the final taping in 2004.
He posted photos of Joey and Chandler hugging during the show.
Last month, the five “Friends” stars released a joint official statement regarding the actor’s tragic death.
“We are all deeply devastated by the loss of Matthew.” We were more than just cast mates. “We are a family,” they told People. “There is so much to say, but for now we will take a moment to grieve and process this incredible loss.”
The stars continued: “Over time we will say more as we are able,” the statement continued. “Right now our thoughts and love are with Matty’s family, his friends and everyone who loved him around the world.”
Perry was buried in a simple, hour-long service at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles on November 3, a ceremony also attended by his Friends co-stars.
One onlooker told : “Mrs Aniston was one of the first to arrive.” She kept to herself. “This is a high-profile event.”
Dynamic Duo: “It was an honor to share the stage with you and call you my friend.” I will always smile when I think of you and I will never forget you. Never’
Close bond: He posted photos of Joey and Chandler hugging during the show
Iconic: The couple’s bromance during the show has won them fans around the world
Heartbroken: Perry’s five “Friends” co-stars previously released a joint official statement regarding the actor’s tragic death
His tearful mother Suzanne Morrison, 84, and his Dateline journalist stepfather Keith, 76, were both present at the private event, as was his father John Perry, 82. Keith Morrison was one of the pallbearers.
Located across from Warner Bros Studios, where Friends was filmed for 10 seasons, the cemetery is the final resting place of a galaxy of Hollywood stars – including Carrie Fisher, Bette Davis, Stan Laurel, Buster Keaton, INXS frontman Michael Hutchence and Paul Walker , Brittany Murphy and Anne Heche.
Perry died as a result of an accidental “drowning” in the hot tub at his Los Angeles home. Sources said police found prescription pills in the home, but no illegal drugs.
Earlier in the day, Perry had reportedly played a two-hour game of pickleball – a sport similar to tennis but played on a smaller court – before sending his assistant off on an errand. When they returned, Perry was reportedly found lifeless in his hot tub.
His body was removed from his home by the LA County Medical Examiner’s Office hours after his death.
Perry became famous for his role as “Chandler Bing” on the hit 90s sitcom “Friends,” which ran for ten seasons.
He recently posted a picture of himself and his father, John Bennett Perry, who accompanied him on a 1998 episode of Friends.
He was born in Massachusetts and raised in Canada by his mother, Suzanne Marie, after his parents divorced when he was one year old.
Perry was a natural fit for the role of Chandler, beloved for his sarcastic one-liners, and many of his mannerisms grew out of the actor’s own demeanor.
In his memoirs, he said: “It was as if someone had followed me for a year, stealing my jokes, copying my mannerisms, photocopying my world-weary but witty view of life.” One character in particular stood out to me: I didn’t think , that I could “play” Chandler. I ‘was’ Chandler.”
Perry later revealed that his alcohol addiction only really came to light when he first appeared on the sitcom at the age of 24.
Years later, he said he was “in big trouble” at the end of the hit show’s 10th season.
In a 2016 interview, he admitted that he didn’t remember three seasons of filming because he was “a little out of control at that point.”
At one point during his time on Friends, Perry said he was taking 55 Vicodin painkillers a day and was down to 100 pounds, but still “didn’t know how to stop.”
Following his sudden death, many took to social media and paid tribute to the late actor, particularly for his role as Chandler in Friends.
Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada, went to school with Perry when he lived in the country and wrote a touching post about him.
“Matthew Perry’s death is shocking and sad.” I will never forget the schoolyard games we used to play, and I know people around the world will never forget the joy he brought them.
“Thanks for all the laughter, Matthew.” “You were loved – and we will miss you,” Trudeau said.
Warner Bros, which produced “Friends,” said in a statement: “We are devastated to learn of the death of Matthew Perry. “He was a true gift to all of us. Our condolences go out to his family, his loved ones and all his fans.”
After moving to LA, Perry starred as Chazz Russell on Boys Will Be Boys and also had roles on shows like the sitcom Growing Pains before becoming a global superstar as Chandler.
“That was the only guy who played him,” Friends creator Marta Kauffman said in the 2021 reunion special.
The star revealed the culmination of his horrific battle with drug and alcohol addiction that almost cost him his life in his memoir titled Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir.
Perry also revealed that his colon ruptured at age 49 as a result of his opioid addiction.
Doctors gave him only a two percent chance of survival and he was in a coma for two weeks, followed by months more in the hospital.
Perry required 14 surgeries to repair all abdominal damage, and he admitted to going to rehab 15 times over the years in hopes of kicking his drug addiction.
On Monday, Perry’s five “Friends” co-stars released a joint official statement regarding the actor’s tragic death.
Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer all signed the statement, telling fans they were heartbroken by the news.
“We are all deeply devastated by the loss of Matthew.” We were more than just cast mates. “We are a family,” they told People. “There is so much to say, but for now we will take a moment to grieve and process this incredible loss.”
The stars continued: “Over time we will say more as we are able,” the statement continued. “Right now our thoughts and love are with Matty’s family, his friends and everyone who loved him around the world.”
Perry famously played the role of Chandler Bing in the popular sitcom, alongside Aniston as Rachel, Cox as Monica, LeBlanc as Joey, Kudrow as Phoebe and Schwimmer as Ross.
Maggie Wheeler, whose character Perry dated from the show’s second to third seasons, was among the first to publicly mourn her late co-star on social media.
Perry’s former co-star Maggie Wheeler (pictured) mourned his loss. Her character was known for being his on-screen boyfriend, and her nasal voice screamed her catchphrase: “Oh my God.”
“Friends” was a huge worldwide success as the series ran for ten seasons between 1994 and 2004
‘What a loss. “The world will miss you, Mathew Perry,” she captioned the image, which shows her gazing adoringly at him while portraying her character, Janice Litman-Goralnik.
Perry also appeared in several films, including “17 Again” with Zac Efron, “Fools Rush In” with Salma Hayek and “Getting In” with comedian Dave Chapelle.
He starred in “The Whole Nine Yards” and “The Kid” with Bruce Willis, who was a guest star in the sixth season of “Friends.”
Perry never married and ended his engagement to Molly Hurwitz, a talent manager, in 2021.
He dated several well-known actresses, including Julia Roberts and Lizzy Caplan.