Friends cast ‘destroyed' over Matthew Perry’s death

A former director of Friends has revealed how the famous cast are coping after Matthew Perry’s shocking death and why they were all “so proud of him” in the last years of his life.

Matthew Perry was found dead at his California home. Picture: Getty Images

Acclaimed TV director James Burrows, who helmed more 15 episodes of Friends, and remained close with the actors, has revealed how the famous cast are faring in the wake of Matthew Perry’s death.

“I had texted the girls the day we found out,” he said during an interview on the Today show in the US. “They were destroyed. It’s a brother dying.”

Friends was the biggest show in the world. Picture: Everett Collection

Burrows, who’s most known for his work on Cheers, said Perry’s death was a “shock”, and that he needed “a couple of days to just let it soak in”, before commenting publicly.

“He was part of a family and he was the first one to not be part of that family anymore,” Burrows said.

“He was really funny. He was a little awkward, too. Chandler was awkward. And Matthew was awkward. So it was a perfect, perfect meld.”

Matthew Perry with David Schwimmer during the Friends reunion special in 2021. Picture: Terence Patrick

Perry died at age 54 following an apparent drowning at his California home last weekend. He was found underwater and was unresponsive before emergency services arrived.

The late actor’s autopsy is complete, but a coroner ordered more tests — including for toxicology, which can take months. His cause of death is still “deferred.”

TMZ reported earlier this week that authorities ran a less-in-depth test on the actor that revealed he did not have fentanyl or meth in his system at the time of his death.

Friends fans the world over are mourning Matthew Perry. Picture: AFP

According to the New York Post, a source also told TMZ that prescription medications were recovered and will be part of the review, which is common practice. Foul play is not suspected.

Perry was best known for playing Chandler Bing on Friends for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004 alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer.

“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just castmates. We are a family,” the Friends cast said in a joint statement.

Matthew Perry struggled with drugs and alcohol. Picture: Getty Images

“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.”

Burrows called Perry “incredibly inventive.”

People stand in line to pay tribute to actor Matthew Perry outside the apartment building which was used as the exterior shot in the TV show Friends in New York. Picture: AFP

“He was inventive with how he did a line,” he said. “The reading [scripts] around the table. Matthew had a certain way of turning a line.”

Perry struggled with drug and alcohol addiction for years, but was sober in the last few years. He also had reportedly stopped smoking and was looking forward to the future.

“We were so proud of him these last couple of years that he was making a remarkable recovery,” Burrows said, calling his passing “so sad”.

He added that he hopes the late star is remembered as “a wonderful actor, a funny man and a dear friend to a lot of people”.

– with the New York Post

Originally published as Friends cast ‘destroyed' over Matthew Perry’s death