Friends cast shares brief statement on the death of Matthew Perry
The Friends cast said they are "utterly devastated" by Perry's death
This weekend, beloved Friends star Matthew Perry died at the age of 54. A number of his colleagues and fans shared statements on social media this weekend, including Maggie Wheeler and Paget Brewster (who played memorable love interests for Perry’s Chandler on Friends), and now the rest of the core Friends cast has released a statement on Perry’s death to People that—while brief—makes it clear just how hard this has been for them (it also includes a promise that they will say more in the future. Here’s the statement from the Friends cast in full:
We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family. There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.
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.
People says the message was signed by Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, and Courteney Cox.
Perry’s cause of death has not been confirmed, but the New York Times said that police in Los Angeles conducted a “preliminary investigation” because of Perry’s “celebrity status” after he was found unresponsive in a hot tub over the weekend, and that the results from their findings have been “deferred” pending a coroner’s investigation. It reportedly could take “weeks or months” before any further details are released. A TMZ story published shortly after Perry’s death said that no illegal drugs were found in the actor’s home, just COPD medication presumably related to his many years as a smoker.