‘Friends’ Stars Mourn Matthew Perry’s Death in Tributes: ‘The World Will Miss You’

Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts starred on one episode of Friends in 1996. She was dating Matthew when the episode aired and their relationship lasted three months.

“The sudden passing of anybody so young is heartbreaking,” she told Entertainment Tonight in December 2023. “I think that, you know, it just helps all of us just appreciate what we have and to keep going in a positive way as best we can.”

She also said she had “all good thoughts and feelings” about her short time on the sitcom. “They were all so welcoming to me as just kind of a one-off character,” Julia gushed. “And it was really fun.”

Lisa Kudrow

Lisa, who played Phoebe Buffay, took to Instagram more than two weeks after his death to thank Matthew for all the years of sweet memories.

“Shot the pilot, Friends Like Us, got picked up then immediately, we were at the NBC Upfronts. Then…You suggested we play poker AND made it so much fun while we initially bonded. Thank you for that,” she wrote alongside a photo of herself and Matthew.

Lisa continued, “Thank you for making me laugh so hard at something you said, that my muscles ached, and tears poured down my face EVERY DAY. Thank you for your open heart in a six way relationship that required compromise. And a lot of ‘talking.’ Thank you for showing up at work when you weren’t well and then, being completely brilliant. Thank you for the best 10 years a person gets to have. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for all I learned about GRACE and LOVE through knowing you. Thank you for the time I got to have with you, Matthew.”

David Schwimmer

Nearly three weeks after Matthew’s death, Ross Geller actor David thanked his former costar for “10 incredible years of laughter and creativity” and remembered his “impeccable comic timing and delivery.”

“You could take a straight line of dialogue and bend it to your will, resulting in something so entirely original and unexpectedly funny it still astonishes,” David wrote on Instagram. “And you had heart. Which you were generous with, and shared with us, so we could create a family out of six strangers.”

Sharing a photo “from one of [his] favorite moments” on set, David added that the snap made him “smile and grieve at the same time.”

He concluded, “I imagine you up there, somewhere, in the same white suit, hands in your pockets, looking around – ‘Could there BE any more clouds?”

Jennifer Aniston

In her Instagram post, Rachel Green actor Jennifer reflected on losing Matthew, noting that it “cut deep.”

“Having to say goodbye to our Matty has been an insane wave of emotions that I’ve never experienced before,” Jennifer wrote. “We all experience loss at some point in our lives. Loss of life or loss of love. Being able to really SIT in this grief allows you to feel the moments of joy and gratitude for having loved someone that deep. And we loved him deeply. He was such a part of our DNA. We were always the 6 of us.”

Jennifer continued, “This was a chosen family that forever changed the course of who we were and what our path was going to be. For Matty, he KNEW he loved to make people laugh. As he said himself, if he didn’t hear the ‘laugh’ he thought he was going to die. His life literally depended on it. And boy did he succeed in doing just that. He made all of us laugh. And laugh hard. In the last couple weeks, I’ve been pouring over our texts to one another. Laughing and crying then laughing again. I’ll keep them forever and ever.”

Jenn also added a text message from Matthew in which he said that making her laugh made his day, as well as a photo of the two of them bursting into laughter.

“Matty I love you so much and I know you are now completely at peace and out of any pain,” the actress concluded. “I talk to you every day … sometimes I can almost hear you say, ‘Could you BE any crazier?’ Rest little brother. You always made my day.”

Courteney Cox

Courteney played Matthew’s onscreen wife and best friend, Monica Geller, and the actress penned a touching tribute to the fallen Friends star two weeks after his death.

“I am so grateful for every moment I had with you Matty and I miss you every day,” Courteney started, including a clip of the duo’s famous hookup scene from the season 4 episode entitled “The One with Ross’s Wedding.” “When you work with someone as closely as I did with Matthew, there are thousands of moments I wish I could share. For now here’s one of my favorites.”

“To give a little backstory, Chandler and Monica were supposed to have a one night fling in London,” Courteney continued of her memories of Matthew. “But because of the audience’s reaction, it became the beginning of their love story. In this scene, before we started rolling, he whispered a funny line for me to say. He often did things like that. He was funny and he was kind.”

Matt LeBlanc

Matt LeBlanc played Matthew’s onscreen wingman and roommate Joey Tribbiani for 9 seasons of the iconic NBC show.

“Matthew. It is with a heavy heart I say goodbye. The times we had together are honestly among the favorite times of my life,” Matt wrote next to a carousel of photos from some of their most memorable scenes. “It was an honor to share the stage with you and to call you my friend. I will always smile when I think of you and I’ll never forget you. Never. Spread your wings and fly brother you’re finally free. Much love. And I guess you’re keeping the 20 bucks you owe me.”

Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow

Friends director James Burrows revealed the initial reactions of Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow upon learning their former Friends costar Matthew Perry died on October 28.

James said during a November 2 interview on NBC’s Today that he reached out to “the girls” via text upon hearing the news of Matthew’s death. “They were destroyed,” he explained. “It’s a brother dying. He was part of a family and he was the first one to not be part of that family anymore.”

Elliott Gould

Elliott, who played Monica’s dad and Chandler’s father-in-law on Friends, remembered Matthew Perry in a sweet Instagram post.

“I was saddened to hear the news about Matthew Perry‘s passing. I first met Matthew in 1994 when I joined the NBC sitcom Friends. Matthew was kind, thoughtful, smart, funny, and just a terrifically, talented actor,” he wrote. “Matthew told me he was so honored to be working with me. What he didn’t know until I told him, was that it was my privilege to play his father-in-law. My heart goes out to his wonderful family. He will be missed by so many but he will never be forgotten.”

Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer

The main cast of Friends issued a heartbreaking joint statement two days after Matthew’s death, proving just how much they are relying on each other in the wake of the tragic news.
“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family,” their statement, released on October 30, read. “There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.”

Their statement continued, “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.”

The message was signed by Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer.

Selma Blair

Selma Blair only appeared on one episode of Friends — she played Wendy in season 9 — but the actress had a friendship with Matthew outside of the show.

“My oldest boy friend,” she wrote on Instagram. “All of us loved Matthew Perry, and I did especially. Every day. I loved him unconditionally. And he me. And I’m broken. Broken hearted. Sweet dreams Matty. Sweet dreams.”

Hank Azaria

Hank Azaria appeared in five episodes of Friends throughout the show’s run. He also had a close relationship with Matthew outside of work. In a video tribute to the late star, Hank revealed that Matthew was his “first friend” in Hollywood after they met while filming a pilot together.

“We were really more like brothers for a long time,” Hank shared. “We drank a lot together. We laughed a lot together. We were there for each other in the early days of our career.”

He called Matthew the “funniest man ever” and admitted that he wound up “crying laughing” after most nights that he spent with him. Hank also recalled Matthew taking him to his first AA meeting 17 years ago. “That whole first year I was sober we went to meetings together,” he shared. “As a sober person, he was so caring and giving and wise and he totally helped me get sober.”

Hank concluded his message by praising Matthew’s work. “Professionally, as an actor, he was so brilliant,” he said. “I just wish the world could have gotten what the rest of his career would have been.”

Kathleen Turner

Kathleen Turner played Matthew’s character, Chandler Bing’s, parent on Friends. She admitted that she hadn’t seen Matthew in at least 10 years before his death, but had nothing but kind things to say about him.

“He had a good sense of humor and a good heart,” she told PEOPLE. “He liked other people, which, to me, is terribly important, especially for an actor.It’s extremely sad when you think about how young [he was] and a pity he couldn’t get more control.”

Paget Brewster

Paget Brewster was a guest star on Friends in season 4. She remembered Matthew being kind to her during the brief time they worked together.

“I’m so very sad to hear about Matthew Perry,” she tweeted. “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.”

Aisha Tyler

Aisha Tyler starred in nine episodes of Friends as Dr. Charlie Wheeler during season 9 in 2003. In her tribute to Matthew, the actress revealed what she learned from working with him on the sitcom.

“He had a gentleness and generosity of spirit that was unparalleled,” Aisha wrote. ”I learned how to tell a joke perfectly just by watching him work. And I will never forget the moment he leaned in, on my first night of taping Friends, to tell me warmly, ‘Get ready for your life to change.’ Rest well, Matthew Perry. Thank you for the kindness and laughter.”

Morgan Fairchild

Morgan Fairchild, who played Matthew Perry’s mom, Nora Bing, on Friends, honored the late actor with a tribute on Twitter. Morgan appeared on five episodes of the sitcom between 1995 and 2001.

“I’m heartbroken about the untimely death of my “son”, Matthew Perry,” she wrote. “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.”

Maggie Wheeler

The actress played Matthew’s character Chandler Bing’s on-again, off-again girlfriend Janice on Friends, making appearances throughout the show’s 10-year run. Shortly after the actor’s death was reported, she shared a heartfelt Instagram post of the pair in a scene together.

Maggie wrote in the caption, “What a loss. The world will miss you Matthew 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.”

‘Friends’ and Warner Bros. TV

The official Instagram account for the iconic show and the studio behind it shared a tribute showing the smiling actor in character with the caption, “We are devastated to learn of Matthew Perry’s passing. He was a true gift to us all. Our heart goes out to his family, loved ones, and all of his fans.”