Following the unexpected death of actor Matthew Perry, fans and celebrities expressed their condolences and mourned the actor’s loss.
In a joint statement, director Kevin Bright, co-creators of the sitcom “Friends,” Marta Kauffman, and David Crane paid a heartfelt homage to Matthew Perry, who brought the character of Chandler Bing to life for everyone.
According to Deadline, the creators of the statement recalled how Matthew Perry made the character his own and how he was given the role of Chandler Bing in the audition room.
“He possessed exceptional talent. The expression “an actor makes a role their own” is overused, but in Matthew’s instance, it couldn’t be more accurate.
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,” the statement read.
The creators said that Matthew Perry’s demise has left them “deeply saddened.”
“We are shocked and deeply, deeply saddened by our beloved friend Matthew’s passing. It still seems impossible. All we can say is that we feel blessed to have had him as part of our lives…,” they grieved.
Friends, which followed the lives of six friends in their 20s living in New York, was a smash hit across the globe when it aired between 1994 and 2004, and re-runs still remain hugely popular years later. The makers reunited with Matthew Perry in 2021 for a special reunion episode.
Matthew Perry was found dead at his Los Angeles home in a jacuzzi. No foul play is suspected in connection with the death. He was 54.