Mourning Matthew Perry: “Friends” stars break their silence with joint statement Not enough fuel for Gaza water systems ++ A ceasefire would mean “surrender to Hamas”

Two days after the sudden death of American-Canadian actor Matthew Perry, the exact cause of death is still unclear. Perry’s co-stars from the hit series Friends have now issued a joint statement.

Accordingly, the “Friends” actors are taking time to “mourn and process” the death of their former co-star. In a statement provided to People magazine on Monday and signed by the five actors, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc wrote: “We are all deeply devastated by the loss of Matthew.” And:

“There is so much to say, but for now we will take some time to grieve and process this incredible loss,” the statement continued. “If we are able to do so, we will say more about it in due course. At this time, our thoughts and love are with Matty’s family, his friends and all who loved him around the world.”

Perry’s death

The “Friends” star was found dead in a hot tub at his home on Saturday afternoon (local time), US media reported. Perry was 54 years old.

The Los Angeles coroner’s office has conducted an autopsy but has not yet released the cause of death. According to People.com, the authority announced on Sunday (local time) that the results of a toxicological analysis were still pending.

There was no evidence of foul play in Perry’s death, the New York Times reported, citing Capt. Scot Williams of the Los Angeles Police Department. The cause of death will probably not be determined for some time. In his autobiography, published in 2022, the actor wrote openly about his decades-long battle with alcohol, drug and pill addiction. American media also reported on Sunday that no illegal drugs were found at the scene.

According to a source, Co-Friends star Lisa Kudrow still believes Perry’s death was related to the anti-anxiety and depression pills found at his home. “She thinks he took something that was incompatible with the hot water,” the Daily Mail quoted the source as saying.

Perry is survived by his parents and siblings.

His career

Perry was born in Williamstown, Massachusetts, to an actor father and a journalist mother. After his parents separated, he moved to Ottawa, Canada, with his mother as a teenager.

As a teenager, Perry initially pursued his passion for tennis and became one of the best tennis players in Canada. Like his father, the younger Perry also developed an interest in acting – after returning to the US as a teenager to live with his father in Los Angeles.

Perry’s first recognized role was a small role in the drama “240-Robert” in 1979. From then on, other small roles in various series, and later film roles, followed.

However, his big break only came in the 1990s: Perry got the role of Chandler Bing in the hit series ‘Friends’. A total of ten seasons were filmed between 1994 and 2004 with the same cast. The popular role as the quirky, funny, but lovable Chandler earned Matthew Perry a Primetime Emmy nomination in 2002.

In “Friends,” Perry co-starred with Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow in the comedy about a close-knit group of friends in New York City. The group of six actors, who had become close friends off-screen, achieved a level of fame rarely seen before on television.

However, as it later became known, Matthew Perry had to struggle with his success: In his 2022 biography “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” Perry reported on his lifelong struggle with addiction to alcohol and opioids.

His addiction led to several admissions to rehab, as well as a number of serious health problems. In 2018, he had to spend five months in hospital after suffering a ruptured intestine.

“What surprises me most is my resilience,” he told People last year, referring to his autobiography. “The way I can recover from all this torment and horror. I wanted to tell the story, even if it’s a bit scary to tell all its secrets in one book, but I didn’t leave anything out. Everything is in there.”

Perry also talked about how his addiction was a constant companion while filming “Friends”: “I was taking 55 Vicodin a day, weighing 128 pounds, being on ‘Friends’ and being seen by 30 million people — and that’s why I can” I couldn’t watch the show because I was brutally thin,” Perry said in a CBC interview last year. He also didn’t watch the show because he could tell exactly when he was addicted to what: “Drinking, opiates, drinking, cocaine (…) I could tell from season to season by the way I looked.”

The reactions

According to TMZ.com, Perry’s mother, biological father and stepfather arrived at the actor’s home on Saturday evening. “We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother,” the family told People Magazine in a statement. It continues: “Matthew has brought so much joy into the world, both as an actor and as a friend. You all meant so much to him and we are grateful for your loving concern.”

Numerous fans and stars expressed their shock and sadness over Perry’s sudden death, including actresses Shannen Doherty, 52, Selma Blair, 51, and Mira Sorvino, 56. Gwyneth Paltrow (51) shared on Instagram on Sunday her memories of a romance with Perry in 1993, before he became known as Chandler Bing in the cult series ‘Friends’. “It was a magical summer,” the Oscar winner wrote. He was “so funny and so sweet.” She is now ‘super sad’, like so many other people.

Warner Bros. Television Group, which produces “Friends,” released a statement to LAT: “We are devastated by the death of our dear friend Matthew Perry,” the production company said. “Matthew was an incredibly gifted actor and an indelible part of the Warner Bros. Television Group family. The impact of his comedic genius was felt around the world, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of so many. This is a heartbreaking day and we send our love to his family, loved ones and all his loyal fans.”

The official ‘Friends’ channel announced on Instagram: “We are shocked by the death of Matthew Perry. He was a true gift to all of us.”

Actress Maggie Wheeler played Perry’s on-and-off girlfriend in “Friends.” On Instagram she writes: “What a loss. The world will miss you. The joy you brought to so many people in your short life will live on. I feel blessed by every creative moment we shared.”

The Canadian Prime Minister also reports on platform X. Justin Trudeau and Matthew Perry went to school together. Trudeau writes: “Matthew Perry’s death is shocking and sad. I will never forget the schoolyard games we played, and I know people around the world will never forget the joy he brought to them. Thanks for all the laughs, Matthew. You were loved – and we will miss you.”

Actress Selma Blair also shares a photo with Perry. It appears to be from recent years.

On Instagram, actress Alyssa Milano shared a short scene from the series ‘Who’s the Boss?’, in which Perry made a guest appearance in an episode in 1990.

(lacquer, with material from SDA)