Years-old memories have resurfaced for Hollywood stars who spent time with and around Matthew Perry before his death at age 54 on Saturday, Oct. 28. The actor has been remembered across industries by musicians like Charlie Puth and Adele, but also by the community he fostered prior to becoming the ever-quotable Chandler Bing on Friends.
On Sunday evening, Gwyneth Paltrow looked back on the time she spent with Perry just before his breakout role on Friends. “I met Matthew Perry in 1993 at the Williamstown Theater Festival in Massachusetts. We were both there for most of the summer doing plays. He was so funny and so sweet and so much fun to be with,” she wrote in the caption beneath an old photo of Perry shared on Instagram. “We drove out to swim in creeks, had beers in the local college bar, kissed in a field of long grass. It was a magical summer.”
Paltrow explained that, at the time, the actor had filmed the pilot episode of Friends, but it hadn’t yet aired. “He was nervous, hoping his big break was just around the corner,” she continued. “It was.” Paltrow and Perry, as she explained, remained friends for a period of time before drifting apart. “I was always happy to see him when I did,” she concluded. “I am super sad today, as so many of us are. I hope Matthew is at peace at long last. I really do.”
Knowing many mourning Perry’s death will be revisiting Friends, Max has added a tribute card to the beginning of each season of the series. It reads: “In memory of Matthew Perry 1969-2023.” The streaming service is currently home to all 10 seasons of the sitcom. In the hours following news of his death, Friends co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane and executive producer Kevin Bright shared moving remembrances of the actor.
“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,” they shared in a statement. “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.”
Fellow sitcom star Fran Drescher also paid tribute to Perry on Sunday night. “So sad that on the eve of the brightest moon we lost one of our brightest stars,” she wrote on Instagram. “A brilliant comedian but a sad clown.” While she didn’t know the actor personally, she added, “as Chandler he will always be a ‘friend.’ May you RIP dear one. Your talent will continue to make us laugh… health is wealth.”
Yvette Nicole Brown, who worked alongside Perry for two years on The Odd Couple, shared a cast photo on X (formerly Twitter) with the late actor front and center. “Our #OddCouple family suffered a great loss today. The entire entertainment world has,” she wrote. “I am too sad about the news to say more than this: @mattyperry4 was a sweetheart who deserved more peace in this life. 54 is too young to go. We love you, Matty!”
One moment in particular from Perry’s career stuck with actress Lisa Ann Walter, who had a recurring role on the CBS series. “In The Whole Nine Yards – Matthew Perry runs full force into a patio door – that and the scene that followed is one of the top comedic moments I’ve witnessed,” she shared on X (formerly Twitter). “I told him so when I recurred on The Odd Couple. He smiled so big I thought he’d crack his face. It was beautiful.”
Regardless of whether they were series regulars or recurring characters, and even those with minor guest appearances, the actors who spent time with Perry on set carry with them the impact of knowing him. “Really struggling to find the words. You were so loved, Matthew. I loved you dearly,” Brooke Shields, who appeared in a 1996 episode of Friends, wrote on social media. “Thank you for the belly laughs. You brought joy to so many. We already miss you… sending all of my love to your family & friends.”
Allison Janney, who starred in Perry’s ABC comedy Mr. Sunshine, took to Instagram to share a tribute of her own, writing: “He’s gone too soon. I’m so sad for his loss and so grateful that I had the honor of working with him many times in my career. He was a comic genius. He brought me so much joy and laughter and also comfort and support through a difficult time.”
In a separate post on Instagram, Octavia Spencer shared: “I’m incredibly saddened to hear of Matthew Perry’s passing today. His gift to the world will be remembered forever. Sending love to Matthew’s family, friends, co-stars and millions of fans around the world.”
