Matthew Perry’s former co-star Ione Skye shares final text message days before actor’s death

A former co-star of Matthew Perry has posted a private text exchange with the actor just days before his sudden death.

Matthew Perry told a former co-star she was “beautiful” in a text message sent just days before his death.

The Friends star, who died aged 54 of an apparent drowning at his Los Angeles home on Sunday, got in touch with US-British actress Ione Skye on October 15, more than three decades after the pair starred together on Perry’s debut film A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon in 1988.

Skye, now 53, shared their sweet exchange on her Instagram account, along with an old photo of the pair on-set.

Perry wrote, “Hi! I hope all is well. I was meditating (I meditate now) and ‘In You [sic] Eyes’ started playing,” Perry began, referencing a song on the soundtrack of Skye’s career-launching movie, Say Anything (1989). The actor continued, “I instantly thought of you and how beautiful you are.”

Skye responded, “Awe. I love that Xo.” To which Perry replied, “Hope you are healthy and happy.”

Matthew Perry's text exchange with former co-star Ione Skye just days before his death.

Perry told the actress she was “beautiful”.

The conversation continued, with Skye saying, “Yes I am both. I think! Good to hear from you. I only have nice memories with you.”

Finishing off the chat, Perry said, “Me too. That one afternoon, I was just sitting in my apartment, and there you were!”

Posting screenshots of the chat on social media, Skye, who is married to Australian musician Ben Lee, added in the caption, “My last exchange a week ago. I’m very very sad. Loved this guy.”

Ione Skye and Matthew Perry co-starred in the 1988 film ‘A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon’.

Perry was found unresponsive in his hot tub around 4pm on Saturday, local time, after participating in a two-hour game of pickle-ball earlier in the day.

It’s understood his assistant found him and called 911.

An official cause of death is yet to be released.

On Sunday, the coroner’s office stated Perry’s cause of death had been “deferred”, which usually means the autopsy has been finished but the examiner needs further time to complete an investigation.

It comes amid an outpouring of emotional tributes from Perry’s friends, co-stars and those in the industry.

Perry was just 54. Picture: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Friends creators Marta Kauffman, David Crane and Kevin Bright issued a heartbreaking statement on Monday.

“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 wrote in the joint message.

“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.”

The team finished up their statement with a devastating nod to the series’ iconic episode titles, signing off: “The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken.”

Earlier, the official Friends social media account confirmed fans’ worst fears by paying respect to the man who brought the fan favourite Chandler Bing to life.

In posts to Instagram and X, the account wrote: “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.”

Perry’s leading co-stars, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc, are yet to comment.