The world lost a comedic genius on October 30, when Matthew Perry passed away at the age of 54.
Perry was best known for his role as Chandler Bing on the iconic sitcom Friends, but he also had a successful career in film and television and was a vocal advocate for mental health awareness and addiction.
Perry’s death was met with an outpouring of grief from fans and celebrities alike. His Friends co-stars were among the first to pay tribute, followed by both personal and professional friends and acquaintances, sharing an immense amount of love and fond memories from the beloved actor and mental health and addiction advocate.
Maggie Wheeler
Paget Brewster
I’m so very sad to hear about @MatthewPerry. He was lovely to me on Friends and every time I saw him in the decades after. Please read his book. It was his legacy to help. He won’t rest in peace though.. He’s already too busy making everyone laugh up there.
— paget brewster (@pagetpaget) October 29, 2023
Morgan Fairchild
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 pic.twitter.com/QWMsBVJEAr
— Morgan Fairchild (@morgfair) October 29, 2023
Friends and Warner Bros. TV
Selma Blair
Elliott Gould
Aisha Tyler
Carmen Electra
Gwyenth Paltrow
Hank Azaria
Justin Trudeau
Matthew Perry’s passing is shocking and saddening. I’ll never forget the schoolyard games we used to play, and I know people around the world are never going to forget the joy he brought them. Thanks for all the laughs, Matthew. You were loved – and you will be missed.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 29, 2023
Alyssa Milano
Adele
Adele pays tribute to Matthew Perry at her show in Vegas:
“He was so open with his struggles with addiction and sobriety, which I think is incredibly, incredibly brave. I just wanna say how much I love what he did for all of us” pic.twitter.com/mOYZGwsraV
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) October 29, 2023
Perry’s legacy will live on through his work and his advocacy. He was a gifted actor and comedian who brought joy to millions of people around the world. But more importantly, he was a kind and generous person who made a difference in the lives of many.
In addition to his work in entertainment, Perry was also a passionate philanthropist. He supported a number of charities, including the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Perry was open about his own struggles with addiction and depression, and he used his platform to raise awareness about these issues. He was also a vocal advocate for suicide prevention.
“The best thing about me, bar none, is that if somebody comes to me and says, ‘I can’t stop drinking, can you help me?’ I can say ‘yes’ and follow up and do it. When I die, I don’t want ‘Friends’ to be the first thing that’s mentioned. I want that to be the first thing that’s mentioned. And I’m gonna live the rest of my life proving that.” — Matthew Perry
Perry’s passing is a loss to the world, but his legacy will continue to inspire and entertain people for generations to come.
