“We are family”: the actors of Friends “totally devastated” after the death of Matthew Perry

The actors of the series Friends explained on Monday October 30 that they were “totally devastated” after the death of actor Matthew Perry, who played their comrade “Chandler” in this cult series. “We are all completely devastated by the loss of Matthew,” explained Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer in a joint statement, their first speaking since the death on Saturday. “We were more than just film colleagues. We are a family."

The actor died at the age of 54. He was found unconscious on Saturday by his assistant in his jacuzzi at his Los Angeles home. Since this thunderclap, his companions from “Friends” had remained silent. “There is so much to say, but for now we will take a moment to grieve and digest this unfathomable loss,” they explained in their press release. “For now, our thoughts and love are with Matty’s family, his friends and all those who loved him around the world.”

Since the announcement of Matthew Perry's death, series co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane have also reacted. “We are shocked and deeply, deeply saddened... It still seems impossible,” they said in a joint statement with executive producer Kevin Bright. In addition to the success of “Friends” which brought him worldwide fame, Matthew Perry starred in films such as “Love at First Sight” and “My Neighbor Killer”.

Matthew Perry struggled for years with his addiction to painkillers and alcohol. The cause of his death is not yet known. His unexpected death sparked a flood of tributes, from major Hollywood figures to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. A true cultural phenomenon, “Friends” left its mark on a generation of viewers. It tells the adventures of a group of happy friends - Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Ross and Chandler - in New York, punctuated by romantic relationships including between Monica and Chandler and the endless saga between Rachel and Ross.