Site icon Empoword Journalism

Matthew Perry Fans Pay Tribute To Late Actor

Teguan Harris
beige apartment block again blue sky. Known from TV show friends.

Teguan Harris

Fans and co-stars gather to pay tribute to Friends star Matthew Perry following his passsing age 54.

Matthew Perry passes age 54

Best known for his role as Chandler Bing in the hit sitcom, Friends, Matthew Perry passed away on Saturday 28 October.

Perry played Chandler in Friends from 1994 to 2004. In his comedy role, Perry’s most famous storylines included his relationship with Janice Litman-Goralink (Maggie Wheeler), and marriage to Monica Geller-Bing (Courtney Cox).

As well as Friends Perry acted in multiple movies, playing teacher ‘Ron Clark’ in The Ron Clark Story (2007) and ‘Nicholas “Oz” Oseransky’ in the comedy movie The Whole Nine Yards (2000) and its sequel, The Whole Ten Yards (2004).

“Thanks for all the laughs, Matthew. You were loved – and you will be missed.”

Celebrities, fans, and Friends co-stars have paid tribute to the late star on social media and in public memorials.

Canadian Prime Minister and former schoolmate of the actor paid tribute to Perry on Twitter/X:

Fans remember Matthew Perry

Tributes to Perry including flowers and cards have been left outside the iconic Friends apartment in New York City.

It was here where characters Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston), Monica Geller-Bing (Courtney Cox), Phoebe Buffay-Hannigan (Lisa Kudrow), Joe Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc), Ross Geller (David Schwimmer), and Chandler Bing all lived and hung out during the series.

As news of Perry’s passing broke, fans across Manhattan continued to mourn and remember the actor.

Ashwin Saxene, who was visiting Manhattan from Florida told CBS New York: “A lot of people in our group were actually crying. Everyone was too emotional and we actually felt the goosebumps.”

Several fans also took to social media to pay tribute to the Friends star by tweeting, posting artwork, and making edits using his most loved and appreciated scenes from the sitcom.

 

Fans shared with CBS New York how they felt compelled to visit the ‘Friends Experience’ on East 23rd Street to remember Perry.

“It’s just not going to be the same without him in this world,” said Nicky Carlo of Mott Haven.

Although only the exterior of the now-famous West Village apartment was actually used on the show, many fans associate the building with the sitcom.

Genney Lambyn and Charlie Zeidan, fans visiting New York City, shared their thoughts with CBS: “For me, it’s like I’ve lost an old friend,” said Lambyn.

“It brings back a lot of memories,” added Zeidan.

Friends co-stars release statement

Friends co-stars Aniston, Cox, Kudrow, LeBlanc and Schwimmer have released a joint statement following Perry’s death.

“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew,” the group said. They continued: “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.”

“This truly is ‘The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken.'”

The Friends co-creators, Marta Kauffman and David Crane, along with the show’s executive producer, Kevin Bright, released a joint statement the following Sunday on CBS News.

“We are shocked and deeply, deeply saddened by our beloved friend Matthew’s passing,” they said. “It still seems impossible. All we can say is that we feel blessed to have had him as part of our lives.”

“It’s a cliche to say that an actor makes a role their own, but in Matthew’s case, there are no truer words. 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. This truly is ‘The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken.'”

Tributes continue to pour in

Other Friends stars continue to leave heartfelt tributes to Perry online following the announcement of his death.

Perry’s on-screen love interest Maggie Wheeler (Janet), as well as Aisha Tyler (Charlie Wheeler), have paid tribute to the actor on their Instagram pages.

Morgan Fairchild, who played the mother of Chandler Bing posted on Twitter/X:

Actress Kathy Brewster left her own tribute to Perry via Twitter/X. She acknowledges his commitment to helping others with addiction and substance abuse.

Final ‘Goodbye’

Perry was laid to rest in Forest Lawn, Los Angeles, on Friday 3 November. Around twenty members of family, friends, and co-stars attended the private funeral service.

“It will honor his legacy.”

Throughout his adult life, Perry had been candid about his experience with addiction and alcoholism.

He narrates his experiences in his bestselling memoir Friends, Lovers and The Big Terrible Thing.

During his promotional tour, he shared that he hoped he would be remembered for his outreach work, rather than his time on the hit sitcom.

Since his passing, ‘The Matthew Perry Foundation’ has been set up in his name. On its website, the foundation vows: “It will honor his legacy and be guided by his own words and experiences and driven by his passion for making a difference in as many lives as possible.”

 Read Next:

Featured image courtesy of David Vives on Unsplash. No changes were made to this image. Image licence found here.

Writer and journalist. University graduate in English Literature. Book reader, word lover and Notion enthusiast.

Exit mobile version