LOS ANGELES: The cast of “Friends” said in a joint statement that they have been left “utterly devastated” by the sudden death of their fellow cast member Matthew Perry.
In their first public response since Perry’s death on Saturday, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer told People magazine: “We were more than just cast mates. We are a family.
Perry, aged 54, was known globally for his portrayal of the wise-cracking character Chandler Bing on the wildly popular “Friends,” which chronicled the lives of six New Yorkers and ran for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004.
First responders found Perry unconscious in a hot tub at his house Saturday and were unable to resuscitate him, law enforcement sources told the Los Angeles Times.
“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family,” said the statement, endorsed by each of Perry’s five co-stars.
“There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss,” they further added.
They further assured that they would share more in due course, as they were able, and conveyed their thoughts and love to Matthew’s family, friends, and admirers worldwide.
Despite Perry’s well-documented struggles with addiction and significant health challenges over the years, news of his sudden passing has elicited reactions from both the entertainment industry and fans across the globe. The cause of Perry’s death is not yet known.
