The showbiz world was shocked to hear of Matthew Perry‘s death on Oct. 28. The actor, who famously played Chandler Bing in 10 seasons of “Friends,” died at age 54 after an apparent drowning at his Los Angeles home, per People. Fans instantly took to social media to share some of their best memories of the star, including iconic “Friends” scenes involving Perry’s impeccable comedic timing.
In addition to his acting career, clips of Perry talking about his experience with alcohol and substance use disorder resurfaced as well. In a poignant clip, taken from Perry’s appearance on “Q With Tom Power” podcast in 2022 to promote his memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” he spoke of how he’d like to be remembered.
“When I die, I know people will talk about ‘Friends,’ ‘Friends,’ ‘Friends.’ And I’m glad of that, happy I’ve done some solid work as an actor, as well as given people multiple chances to make fun of my struggles on the World Wide Web,” he said. “But when I die, as far as my so-called accomplishments go, it would be nice if ‘Friends’ were listed far behind the things I did to try to help other people. I know it won’t happen, but it would be nice.”
“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother,” Perry’s family said in a statement to People. “Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend.” They added, “You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love.”
The official “Friends” social media accounts mourned the loss of Perry as well, writing, “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.”
Celebrities have also shared their grief and sadness alongside their personal memories of Perry. While his fellow core “Friends” costars have yet to publicly comment on the impact of his loss, Maggie Wheeler, who played Janice on “Friends,” and Morgan Fairchild, who played Chandler’s mom, have both expressed their shock. Selma Blair, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Adele are just some of the other celebrities who have opened up about Perry’s death, too.
Ahead, see how stars are paying their respects to Perry.
– Additional reporting by Njera Perkins
