‘Friends’ co-stars say they're 'utterly devastate' by Matthew Perry's shock death

Matthew Perry’s Friends co-stars have broken their silence to say they are “so utterly devastated” by his shock death. 

Sources had said the late Chandler Bing actor’s co-stars David Schwimmer, 56, Jennifer Aniston, 54, Courteney Cox, 59, Lisa Kudrow, 60, and Matt LeBlanc, 56, have spent the last day crafting a joint statement to express their grief and pay tribute to their tragic co-star after he was found dead in his hot tub. 

They said in a note released today: "We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just castmates. 

"We are a family. 

"There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss. 

"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 message was signed by each of Matthew’s old friends. 

He was found in the jacuzzi in the backyard of his $6 million mansion in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles aged 54 over the weekend and even though it is feared he died from drowning, an official cause of death may take weeks to be confirmed by the medical examiner. 

Insiders said Matthew’s Friends co-stars were crushed by the shock news of his death. 

One told Page Six: "The cast is reeling from the loss of their brother, because that’s what Matty was – their brother. 

"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."

Matthew had a particularly close relationship with Jennifer, who played Rachel Green on Friends. 

He admitted he started off wanting to date her, but his crush instead developed into a close friendship as she supported him throughout his stints in rehab amid his drink and drug addictions. 

Matthew told Diane Sawyer in 2022 about the actress’ help: "She was the one that reached out the most. You know, I’m really grateful to her for that."

Meanwhile, other actors who appeared on Friends over the years have paid tribute to Perry, such as Maggie Wheeler, who portrayed Chandler’s on-off-again girlfriend Janice Hosenstein in the series. 

“What a loss.The world will miss you Matthew Perry. 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,” she wrote. 

Morgan Fairchild, who played Chandler’s mum Nora Bing, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "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 and condolences to his friends and family, especially his dad, John Bennett Perry, who I worked with on Flamingo Road and Falcon Crest."

- Bang! Showbiz, additional reporting by NZ Herald