The cast of Friends have broken their silence on Matthew Perry’s shock death aged 54 over the weekend.
His co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer issued a statement to PEOPLE this morning.
“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family,” they said in the statement.
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“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.”
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The statement was signed by the cast.
It comes after Friends creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane and producer Kevin Bright said in a statement they were “shocked and deeply, deeply saddened by our beloved friend Matthew’s passing”.
“It still seems impossible,” the statement continued. “All we can say is that we feel blessed to have had him as part of our lives.
“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.”
They continued: “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.”
They ended the statement with a nod to the show’s episode titles, writing: “This truly is The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken.”
TMZ reported the actor died after an apparent drowning, with multiple US publications stating the star was found at an LA-area home on Saturday (Sunday Australian time) in a jacuzzi.
No foul play was involved, according to the publications.
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The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office has completed an autopsy on the actor’s body but it’s conclusions have been “deferred” until the results of a toxicology test are completed.
In a statement to CNN, Warner Bos. Television Group promised his “legacy will live on in the hearts of so many”.
“We are devastated by the passing of our dear friend Matthew Perry,” it read.
“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.”
Perry was most well known for his role as the snarky yet loveable Chandler Bing on sitcom Friends, a role he played from 1994 to 2004.
He is also known for his performances in Fools Rush In (1997), Almost Heroes (1998), The Whole Nine Yards (2000), 17 Again (2009) and more.
He last appeared in Friends: The Reunion in 2021, which he executive produced himself.
In his memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, which was released almost a year before his death, the book provided an unflinching account of the actor’s time before he was on the hit ’90s sitcom and beyond, delving deep into his battle with addiction and the cost of fame.