Friends director James (Jim) Burrows has revealed the cast of the hit sitcom have been left absolutely “destroyed” over the death of castmate Matthew Perry.
Burrows, 82, who directed more than a dozen episodes of the comedy show, revealed on TODAY that he texted Lisa Kudrow, Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox immediately after finding out the shock news.
“I had texted the girls the day we found out,” he said. “They were destroyed. It’s a brother dying.”
READ MORE: Truth behind Rachel McAdams’ absence from ‘Mean Girls’ reunion
READ MORE: Priscilla Presley breaks down in tears during rare interview
The director, who is known for shows including Cheers and Will and Grace added: “I had to have a couple of days to just let it soak in.”
“He was part of a family and he was the first one to not be part of that family anymore.”
On Tuesday, the cast of Friends broke their silence on Matthew Perry’s shock death aged 54 over the weekend.
READ MORE: The Friends storyline Matthew Perry rejected
READ MORE: Inside Matthew Perry and Courtney Cox’s relationship
His co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer issued a statement to People
“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.
“There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss,” the statement continued.
For a daily dose of 9Honey, subscribe to our newsletter here
“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.”
The statement was signed by the cast.
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.
Perry was most well known for his role as the loveable Chandler Bing on sitcom Friends, a role he played from 1994 to 2004.
In his memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, which was released in October 2022, he provided an unflinching account of the time before he was on the hit ’90s sitcom and beyond, delving deep into his battle with addiction and the cost of fame.
In 2019, at the age of 49, Perry nearly died after his colon burst from opioid overuse. He was in a coma for two weeks and spent five months in the hospital.
In January 2022, Perry had his 14th surgery to do with opiate abuse. He said he believed he hadn’t slept more than four hours a night in his whole life, and was full of regret about his past relationships.
If you or someone you know would like to talk to someone confidentially about addiction, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit Reach Out.
In an emergency, call 000.