The cast of Friends have said they are “utterly devastated” by the death of their co-star Matthew Perry.
Best known for playing witty and sarcastic Chandler Bing on the hit US sitcom, Perry died aged 54 on Saturday.
His fellow stars, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer, said in a joint statement that they were “more than cast mates. We are a family”.
“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew”, the Friends cast said in a statement released to People magazine on Monday.
“We were more than just cast mates. 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.”
They added: “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.”
On Sunday, Friends co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane, along with executive producer Kevin Bright, described their “shock” and being “deeply saddened” at Perry’s death in a joint statement.
They added: “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.”
They also said: “This truly is The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken.”
Perry, who was nominated for an Emmy for his role in Friends, rose to fame alongside Aniston, LeBlanc, Kudrow, Schwimmer and Cox – who played Perry’s on-screen wife Monica Geller.
The actors reunited on screen for the first time in 2021 after the show ended its celebrated 10-year run in 2004, having become a pop culture phenomenon.
While his on-screen character brought joy to many, Perry had spoken candidly about how he struggled with drug and alcohol addiction when filming the series.
Tributes have poured in following the news of Perry’s death, including from fellow Friends supporting cast members, as well as famous figures such as Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and Sarah, Duchess of York.