Friends is one of the few shows that still runs on television continually since its initial airing. The sitcom is a rare cultural impact that seems to always find a new audience to this day despite ending at the beginning of the millennium. Matthew Perry, the beloved star who portrayed the sarcastic character Chandler Bing, had shockingly passed on Saturday due to drowning. Perry was a big factor in the show’s success, and his Chandler was a voice of an entire generation in the 90s.
Fans took to social media as soon as news broke to pay respects and tributes to Perry. The five members of the Friends cast, who became cultural icons along with Perry, from the show have yet to make official statements in this time. However, CBS News reports the creators of the show, Marta Kaufman and David Crane, would share their sentiments along with the show’s producer Kevin Bright in a statement that reads,
“We are shocked and deeply, deeply saddened by our beloved friend Matthew’s passing. It still seems impossible. All we can say is that we feel blessed to have had him as part of our lives. He was a brilliant talent. 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. We send all of our love to his family and friends. This truly is The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken.”
Other co-stars and industry peers of Perry have paid tribute to their friend on social media. James Burrows, legendary sitcom director who still helms shows as recent as the new Frasier revival, worked closely with Perry on a large number of Friends episodes shared a behind-the-scenes photo between him and Perry with the caption, “Nobody did it better.” Maggie Wheeler, who played Chandler’s recurring girlfriend, posted a photo, saying, “What a loss. The world will miss you Mathew 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.” Morgan Fairchild had portrayed Chandler’s mom and she would post a photo with the caption, “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 & condolences to his friends & family, especially his dad, John Bennett Perry, who I worked with on Flamingo Road & Falcon Crest. #RIPMatthew”
Our own Chris Bumbray was featured on CTV sharing his reaction to the news of Perry’s passing. You can view his interview below.