WASHINGTON — The cast of "Friends" is mourning the loss of Matthew Perry after the actor died Saturday at the age of 54.
The Emmy-nominated actor starred as Chandler Bing in the hit series, opposite Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer as a friend group in New York.
Aniston, Cox, Kudrow, LeBlanc and Schwimmer released a joint statement on Monday, saying: "We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family. There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss. 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."
It was the first public statement on Perry's death from Aniston, Cox, Kudrow, LeBlanc or Schwimmer.
Maggie Wheeler, who played Chandler's girlfriend Janice on the show, shared a tribute to Perry on Instagram.
"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. ♥️"
"Friends" co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane, and executive producer Kevin Bright issued a joint statement Sunday, saying, “This truly is The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken. We are shocked and deeply, deeply saddened by our beloved friend Matthew’s passing."
“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," they continued. "He was always the funniest person in the room. More than that, he was the sweetest, with a giving and selfless heart.”
The series ran from 1994 until 2004. A reunion special in 2021 was hosted by James Corden and fed into huge interest in seeing the cast together again, although the HBO Max reunion focused on the actors discussing the show and not a continuation of their characters' storylines.
The special was supposed to be part of the original May 2020 launch of the HBO Max streaming service. But those plans had to be called off when the pandemic hit.
When the reunion eventually debuted in May 2021, viewers were told it was only the second time that Kudrow, LeBlanc, Aniston, Cox, Perry and Schwimmer had been in a room together since filming the series finale.
Where to watch "Friends" and where to watch the "Friends" reunion
While "Friends" used to be on Netflix, the show moved to HBO Max (now-called Max) in 2020. You can watch every episode from the show's 10 seasons and the reunion special now on Max.