Matthew Perry has sadly passed away. He was 54. News about the iconic Friends star’s passing broke on Saturday, October 28, and surprised many. And though the hit NBC series’ main stars, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, and Matt LeBlanc, have yet to break their silence on his demise as of this writing, the six have been known for their unbreakable bond since the show started in 1994. But amid all the controversies, how was Perry’s relationship with his Friends co-stars?
Perry became a TV staple when he played the role of the sarcastic but fun Chandler Bing in Friends for a decade—from 1994 to 2004. From there, he also made a name on the big screen as Alex in 1997’s Fools Rush In opposite Salma Hayek and Mike in 2009’s 17 Again with Zac Efron, among others. Through these roles, he made a great impact on popular culture and a decades-long legacy in Hollywood. But amongst many other things that fans know about the American-Canadian actor, it was his friendship with his Friends co-stars that made a mark in the minds of many.
Matthew Perry and His Friends‘ Co-Stars’ Relationship
What started as a TV sitcom to entertain the viewers, Friends paved the way for Perry, Aniston, Cox, Kudrow, Schwimmer, and LeBlanc to forge an incredible friendship like no other. Sure, the show became a huge success, making a cultural impact from its fashion, style, and influence, among several others, but it was the friendship that everyone looked up to.
Hence, when they reunited for the Friends Reunion Special for MAX, HBO’s streaming service, in 2021, all eyes were on the sextet again.
At the time, Perry said that every time they would bump into each other after the show ended, they would spend the rest of the night with one another. “You just sat with the person all night long, and that was it,” he said.
While Aniston agreed and Cox started to tear up, Perry emotionally added that it was just the way it “worked” with all of them. “It’s just the way it is,” he continued.
Kudrow chimed in and added that though they didn’t talk daily, they managed to stay in touch and be there for anyone who would call or text. “We have such a bond from having done this show and forged this very tight relationship, anytime you text or call someone, they’re gonna pick up,” she explained. “They’ll be there.”
Cox also said that they all became best friends who had a life-changing chemistry that would stay forever.
Matthew Perry and the Friends Stars’ Friendship Behind the Scenes
The good relationship Perry had with his Friends co-stars wasn’t just seen in front of the camera. Their bond has remained long after the series ended, even behind the scenes.
When Aniston joined Instagram in 2019, her first post featured her Friends co-stars, with a caption that read, “And now we’re Instagram FRIENDS too.”
Their bond continues after Cox shared a photo with Perry in the same year. “Guess who I had lunch with today….I KNOW!! Could I BE any happier?” she wrote and used the hashtag #realfriends.
Of course, Aniston couldn’t help herself and leave a comment seeing her two friends together. “MATTY!!” she commented with three heart emojis. “I LOVE YOU, GUYS.”
They also continuously support each other’s careers, like when LeBlanc attended Perry’s playwriting debut at The Playhouse Theatre in London in 2016 for the play The End of Longing.
They were also there when Perry released his much-awaited memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, in 2022. Though he didn’t hold back with the revelations, his castmates weren’t bothered at all and showed their support. Kudrow even wrote the introduction for the book.
A source told Us Weekly they were all proud of him for “coming clean and giving himself closure” after so many years. Though he revealed a number of behind-the-scenes anecdotes about Friends, most of his revelations were about his drug and alcohol abuse.
At the time, he wrote that all of his co-stars showed his support during the darkest times in his life, describing their friendship like that of penguins.
“In nature, when a penguin is injured, the other penguins group around it and prop it up until it’s better,” he wrote. “This is what my costars on Friends did for me.”
But if there was one person who reached out to him the most, Perry revealed it was Aniston. In an interview with Diane Sawyer in 2022, Perry said the Morning Show star was a particular source of comfort and was grateful to her for that.
She was the first Friends co-star who confronted him about his alcohol addiction. With the many people who stood by him when all things failed, he credited them for saving his life without question.
The Controversies Surrounding Matthew Perry and His Friends Co-Stars’ Friendship
Despite showing a great bond in front and behind the camera, many still question the realness of Perry and his Friends co-stars’ friendship. And true to the fashion of the industry they are in, their relationship with each other isn’t shy of controversies.
Many question why Aniston didn’t invite Perry, Schwimmer, and LeBlanc, though the girls, Aniston and Kudrow, were there when she tied the knot with Justin Theroux in 2015. To give credit to the actress, she did invite the entire cast to her wedding with Brad Pitt in Malibu in 1998. But due to the intimacy of her marriage with Theroux, with only 70 people on the guest list, the boys probably understand.
in 2016, on this day, the friends cast reunited (minus matthew perry). exactly 4 years later, the cast confirms a reunion special. pic.twitter.com/MkR2kk8y5c
— nic (@anistonily) February 21, 2020
Many also raised their eyebrows when the group reunited without Perry in 2016. At the time, the cast did an interview together for Must See TV: An All-Star Tribute to James Burrows. And though Perry wasn’t there due to rehearsals for his West End play, he made a video call to join his friends. Though the reunion was considered a flop, it was still a win to see them all together again after more than a decade.
That said, no matter what people say, this group stays friends despite not always seeing each other.
Friends Stars Pay Tribute to Matthew Perry
Fans continuously mourn the passing of Perry as tributes start to pour in from different celebrities. However, the main Friends stars have yet to pay their respects to their former castmate, with a source telling Page Six they’re all “reeling” over the news of his death and are preparing to release a joint statement later. The insider added that the remaining cast are “all leaning on each other.”
“The cast is reeling from the loss of their brother because that’s what Matty was — their brother,” the tipster said. “The entire cast are close; they will be devastated because they were together through the best of times and worst of times. And when Matty was sick, they protected him; they looked him after him fiercely.”
We are devastated to learn of Matthew Perry’s passing. He was a true gift to us all. Our heart goes out to his family, loved ones, and all of his fans. pic.twitter.com/Xv6HkpSEBl
— FRIENDS (@FriendsTV) October 29, 2023
Alternatively, the Friends co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane, and the series director Kevin Wright issued a joint statement after Perry’s untimely passing. Just like everyone around the world, they, too, were surprised and “deeply saddened” by the actor’s death. And though it still felt impossible, they all felt blessed to “have had him as part of their 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. 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.”
“We send all of our love to his family and friends. This truly is The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken,” they ended their note.
I’m heartbroken about the untimely death of my “son”, Matthew Perry. The loss of such a brilliant young actor is a shock. I’m sending love & condolences to his friends & family, especially his dad, John Bennett Perry, who I worked with on Flamingo Road & Falcon Crest. #RIPMatthew pic.twitter.com/QWMsBVJEAr
— Morgan Fairchild (@morgfair) October 29, 2023
Alternatively, Morgan Fairchild, who played the role of Chandler’s mom, Nora Bin, in Friends, shared in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that she was heartbroken about the unexpected death of his onscreen “son.” She added that the loss of “such a brilliant actor” was a shock. She then sent her love and condolences to his friends and family, especially to his dad, John Bennett Perry, with whom she worked on Flamingo Road and Falcon Crest.
Maggie Wheeler, who played Chandler’s on-again-off-again girlfriend Janice, also paid tribute to Perry, calling his demise a “loss.” “The world will miss you, Mathew Perry,” she said. “The joy you brought to so many in your too-short lifetime will live on. I feel so very blessed by every creative moment we shared.”
The Iconic Role of Matthew Perry in Friends
Sure, Aniston, Cox, Kudrow, Schwimmer, and LeBlanc made a significant impact with their roles in the ever-successful TV sitcom Friends. Still, it couldn’t be denied that the character of Perry stood out. He didn’t just make it his own, but he made it iconic that nobody could ever think of anyone who could play that role but him. His sarcasm and one-liners always came up perfectly.
It was the same thing the producer David Crane said about casting Perry as Chandler. After seeing one actor after another to play the said role, no one came out as funny and as natural as Perry. Kauffman added that when Perry delivered the lines, it sparkled and came alive.
“And for the first time through the casting process, we knew there was a character there and that this was the only guy to play it,” he said.
Crane continued that Perry threw his lines like no other, making them his own and adding a lot of comedy skills.
True enough, no one could play Chandler’s role but Perry.
thank you matthew perry for giving us chandler bing 😭 you and he will never be forgotten 🩷 pic.twitter.com/TbIJpZ03cO
— anna ⁴ (@beauxarlen) October 29, 2023
Perry was found unresponsive in his hot tub. According to CNN, the Los Angeles Police Department Robbery-Homicide Division is investigating his death, though no foul play is suspected. However, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office requires additional investigative steps to know the real manner of his demise, changing the listing of his cause of death to “deferred” on the medical examiner’s online record for Perry.
“In cases where the cause of death cannot be determined at the time of autopsy, a deferred certificate will be issued until additional studies have been completed,” LA coroner’s guidelines read.
Though an autopsy has already been conducted, the examiners are still waiting for the results of Perry’s toxicology reports.