In an exclusive statement provided to PEOPLE, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer pay homage to their late colleague and cherished friend, renowned for his portrayal of Chandler Bing over the course of ten seasons on the acclaimed NBC show.
The cast of Friends is grappling with the loss of one of their own.
Just four days after the sudden passing of Matthew Perry, his fellow cast members from the beloved television series — Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer — have come forward with a collective statement, exclusively shared with PEOPLE.
“We are profoundly devastated by the departure of Matthew. We were more than co-stars; we were family,” their statement conveys. “There are no words sufficient to express our feelings at this moment. Right now, we are taking a pause to mourn and come to terms with this unimaginable loss.”
“As time unfolds, we will share more, when we find the strength,” the statement continues. “For now, our hearts and thoughts are with Matty’s family, his close friends, and all those around the world who loved him.”
The message is signed by Aniston, Cox, Kudrow, LeBlanc, and Schwimmer.
For a decade, Perry brought to life the witty and endearing Chandler Bing, evolving from a clever sidekick to a leading figure in a performance that earned him an Emmy nomination in 2002.
The co-creators of the series, Marta Kauffman and David Crane, joined by executive producer Kevin Bright, released a joint statement on Sunday.
“We are stunned and profoundly saddened by the loss of our dear friend Matthew,” they expressed. “It still feels unfathomable. All we can say is that we consider ourselves fortunate to have had him as a part of our lives. He was a phenomenal talent.”
Reflecting on Perry’s breakthrough portrayal, they emphasized, “It’s often said that an actor truly embodies a role, and in Matthew’s case, there couldn’t be truer words. From the moment we first heard him embody Chandler Bing, there was no one else for us.”
Kauffman, Crane, and Bright’s statement went on to say, “We will forever hold dear the joy, the brilliance, the dazzling wit he brought to every moment — not only in his work but in life too. He was always the wittiest person in the room. Beyond that, he was the kindest, with a heart full of generosity and selflessness.”
The statement also extended condolences to those mourning Perry, accompanied by a touching nod to the Friends tradition. “We send our deepest love to his family and friends. This is truly The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken.”
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