Matthew Perry – CelebrityGossipers

Lauren Graham Shares Insight into Late Friend Matthew Perry’s Final Year

CelebrityGossipers — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 07:10:01 +0000

Gilmore Girls alum Lauren Graham reflected on her memories of late friend Matthew Perry and the joy the Friends star felt in the last year of his life.

Lauren Graham remembers Matthew Perry being happy in the last year of his life.

The Gilmore Girls star reflected on her friendship with the late actor, who died Oct. 28 at age 54. And while he was best known for his onscreen wit as Chandler Bing on Friends, she recalled him being just as funny offscreen.

“No one made me laugh as hard,” Graham said on CBS Mornings Nov. 16. “I mean, just tears streaming. There was just such joy in being around him and being his friend.”

The Parenthood alum, who guest starred on several of Perry’s other shows over the years—Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, The Odd Couple and Go On—spoke of the joy he felt after releasing his 2022 memoir Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing.

“And I’ll say too, that this last year, he was so proud of the book he wrote and of how many people it touched,” said the actress, who Perry honored with a photo of the two in his memoir, “and it was a success that gave him a level of happiness that I hadn’t seen in him for a really long time. So that’s a nice memory.”

And Graham is still coming to terms with Perry’s sudden death. Still, she acknowledged how important this final chapter was for the Fools Rush In star, who had spoken about how he hoped his book, which recounts his struggle with addiction and quest to get sober, would help others on a similar journey.

“It’s just a really tragic loss and he leaves his beautiful work behind and that’s something to be thankful for,” the Because I Said So actress expressed. “And again, the book really meant something to him. So it was a really happy year for him.”

Jesse Grant/WireImage for Fusion PR _LA

In the weeks since his passing, several of Perry’s friends and former cast mates, including the five surviving Friends cast members, Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow and Matt LeBlanc, have shared heartfelt tributes and sweet memories.

“It is with a heavy heart I say goodbye,” LeBlanc, who played Chandler’s friend and roommate Joey Tribbiani, wrote on Instagram Nov. 14 alongside photos of him and Perry from the beloved sitcom. “The times we had together are honestly among the favorite times of my life. It was an honor to share the stage with you and to call you my friend.”

He continued, “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.”

Read on for more moving of stars’ moving remembrances for Perry:

Molly Hurwitz/ Instagram

Molly Hurwitz

“He would love that the world is talking about how talented he was. And he really was very talented. As the Friends reunion was approaching, we rewatched the show together. ‘F–k, I was so good!!!…See what I did there???’ We rewound and studied scenes. Our respect and appreciation of humor is something that connected us. Being with him as he rediscovered his brilliance was magical. But, I obviously knew that man in a very different way, too. While I loved him deeper than I could comprehend, he was complicated, and he caused pain like I’d never known. No one in my adult life has had a more profound impact on me than Matthew Langford Perry. I have tremendous gratitude for that, for everything I learned from our relationship. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Al Anon, an invaluable resource for those who love someone struggling with this destructive disease. Matty, I feel relief that you are at peace.Sincerely,Moll-o-Rama(…fication).”

NBC

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

“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.”

Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

Bradley Whitford

“Matthew Perry made me laugh. Hard. You have not lived until you havewitnessed one of his in-between-the-takes confidential riffs on the absurdity of show business and the idiocy of male confidence, wrapped up perfectly with the sudden realization that we were both grown men who wear makeup for a living. Without substances, Matt had a huge, open heart and a pyrotechnical, joyous brain. I think the most beautiful parts of Matt made him the most vulnerable to the monster that he would have to fight for the rest of his life. His battle was heroic. They don’t have award shows for that. They should. Matt was full of contradictions. He was hilariously self deprecating and insecure and wildly self confident. He was a fountain of light with a huge capacity for darkness. He was profoundly blessed and terribly cursed.I want his parents to know that Matt was kind. Not just to his costar. To everyone. To honor Matt, I hope we can continue the work that mattered most to him: to open our hearts to so many who share his vulnerabilities, to encourage them to get the help they need, and to give them the love and the support they deserve. I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to work with Matt, to spend some precious time with him, and most of all, to be his friend.”

Terence Patrick/CBS via Getty Images

Ben Winston

“I feel so unbelievably lucky to have been able to make that reunion show with six truly remarkable people, witnessing their precious unbreakable bond with each other. Spending time with Matthew was simply a dream come true. Kind, caring… and a comedic genius.”

Stephen Lovekin/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images/Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic

Gwyneth Paltrow

“I met Matthew Perry in 1993 at the Williamstown Theater Festival in Massachusetts,” Gwyneth Paltrow wrote in a tribute on Instagram. “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. 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. He had shot the pilot of Friends but it had not aired yet. He was nervous, hoping his big break was just around the corner. It was. We stayed friends for a while until we drifted apart, but I was always happy to see him when I did. I am super sad today, as so many of us are. I hope Matthew is at peace at long last. I really do.”

Rachel Murray / Getty Images for Clinique/Screen Media Films / Dayn Nanda / E! News

Adele

During Adele‘s Oct. 28 concert in Las Vegas, which took place just hours after Matthew’s death was confirmed, she paused her show to honor him, recalling the impact he had on her childhood. “One of my friends, Andrew, when I was 12 did the best Chandler impression,” she told the crowd. “And he would do it all the time to make us laugh. And if anyone was having a bad day or feeling low, he would just pretend to be Chandler. And I’ll remember that character for the rest of my life.”

ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

Maggie Wheeler

Maggie Wheeler, who played one of Perry’s most memorable love interests on Friends, wrote on Instagram, “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.”

Magma Agency/WireImage

Salma Hayek

After his passing, Perry’s Fools Rush In costar Salma Hayek noted it took a “couple of days to process this profound sadness.”

“There is a special bond that happens when you share dreams with someone, and together you work towards them,” she wrote in an Oct. 30 Instagram post. “I was very moved last year when Matthew shared on his Instagram stories how much he loved ‘Fools Rush In,’ and how he thought that that film we did together was probably his best movie.”

“Throughout the years, he and I found ourselves reminiscing about that meaningful time in our lives with a deep sense of nostalgia and gratitude,” she continued. “My friend, you are gone much too soon, but I will continue to cherish your silliness, your perseverance, and your lovely heart. Farewell, sweet Matthew, we will never forget you.”

Nicholas Hunt / Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

Ione Skye

Alongside her final texts with Matthew days before his death, his former costar Ione Skye wrote on Instagram, “My last exchange a week ago. I’m very very sad. Loved this guy.”

Matthew Eisman/Getty Images, Cindy Ord/WireImage

Kathleen Turner

Kathleen Turner, who played Chandler Bing’s parent on Friends, told People, “He had a good sense of humor and a good heart. He liked other people, which, to me, is terribly important, especially for an actor.”

Getty Images

Shannen Doherty

The Beverly Hills, 90210 star remembered her time spent with the Emmy nominee.

“Matt always had THAT sense of humor,” she wrote on Instagram. “Matt and I had a date and it was on Valentine’s Day. He wanted to get a reservation at a restaurant in Malibu but couldn’t so my dad got the reservation for him. We went and he talked about my dads Irish persuasiveness the majority of the night. Our friendship spanned a long time. A lifetime really. I know many are hurting, especially our little gang. He will be missed by many and definitely by us. Yes. I could be more poetic or say things better but right now, shock and sadness prevail.”

NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images

Morgan Fairchild

Morgan Fairchild, who played Chandler Bing’s mother on Friends, paid tribute to her onscreen son, captioning a social media post, “I’m heartbroken about the untimely death of my ‘son’. 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.”

Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Se?zane

Rumer Willis

The Whole Nine Yards actress, who worked alongside dad Bruce Willis and Perry during the 2000 film, shared a touching tribute after Perry’s passing.

“I’m so sad to hear about Matthew Perry passing,” she captioned an Instagram post. “When I was a kid and I was on set while he and my dad were doing whole nine and whole 10 yards he was so kind and funny and sweet with my sisters and me and I think his physical comedy and that movie still makes me laugh so much, I know he had many challenges in his life and brought a lot of joy to people with his comedy I hope he can rest peacefully.”

Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images

Paget Brewster

Paget Brewster, who played the role of Kathy in the fourth season of Friends, remembered the time spent alongside the actor on set.

“I’m so very sad to hear about @MatthewPerry,” she wrote on X. “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.”

Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty Images

Yvette Nicole Brown

Perry’s Odd Couple costar reflected on his legacy, sharing a statement to social media.

“Our #OddCouple family suffered a great loss today,” she wrote on X, alongside a photo featuring the cast. “The entire entertainment world has. 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! #RIPMatthewPerry.”

Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for A+E

Olivia Munn

The Violet star praised the actor for opening up about his sobriety journey after his passing.

“He struggled so much with addiction and was brave enough to be open and honest about it,” Olivia Munn wrote on Instagram Story Oct. 28. “I’m so sorry to his family and friends who are getting this news today. Nothing short of heartbreaking.”

Matthew Perry Shared Final Instagram From Hot Tub Just Days Before Apparent Drowning

CelebrityGossipers — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 03:49:21 +0000

Just days before Matthew Perry died from an apparent drowning, the Friends star shared his final Instagram from a hot tub: “Oh, so warm water swirling around makes you feel good.”

Perhaps Matthew Perry died in his happy place.

Because, just five days before he passed away from an apparent drowning in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home, the Friends star posted his final Instagram: a picture of himself relaxing in a pool of water.

“Oh, so warm water swirling around makes you feel good,” the 54-year-old captioned the Oct. 23 post, which showed him sporting large headphones as he rested his arms on the edge. “I’m Mattman.”

On Oct. 28, an LAPD spokesperson told E! News that officers responded to a “death investigation for a male in his fifties.” And while a law enforcement source confirmed to NBC News that there was no obvious foul play at the scene, the incident was treated as a water rescue.

Following news of his sudden passing, Perry’s friends, family and fans have flooded social media with heartbreaking tributes.

“He was a brilliant talent,” Friends‘ co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane as well as executive producer Kevin Bright said in a statement. “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,” they continued. “He was always the funniest person in the room. More than that, he was the sweetest, with a giving and selfless heart.”

Meanwhile, Gwyneth Paltrow shared a favorite memory from 1993 at the Williamstown Theater Festival, where she and the actor were performing in summer plays.

“We drove out to swim in creeks, had beers in the local college bar, kissed in a field of long grass,” Paltrow recalled. “It was a magical summer. He had shot the pilot of Friends but it had not aired yet. He was nervous, hoping his big break was just around the corner. It was. We stayed friends for a while until we drifted apart, but I was always happy to see him when I did.”

“I am super sad today, as so many of us are,” she continued. “I hope Matthew is at peace at long last. I really do.”

To relive his life in pictures, keep reading…

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

1988

The Boys Will Be Boys star poses for a photo while at the Limelight in New York City.

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

1990

The Sydney actor takes a break while on the set of the CBS series in Los Angeles, California.

Reisig & Taylor/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images

1994

The Friends star sits by the well-known fountain that serves as the backdrop for the show’s opening sequence.

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

1996

The Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing author attends the Scream premiere in Los Angeles.

Gerald Weinman/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images

1997

Perry poses while on the set of Friends as his beloved character Chandler Bing.

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

2000

The 17 Again star attends the Los Angeles premiere of The Grinch.

Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage

2004

The actor hits the red carpet for the premiere of The Whole Ten Yards.

Evan Agostini/Getty Images

2006

The Mr. Sunshine star attends the Entertainment Weekly and Matrix Men upfront party.

Gabriel Olsen/WireImage

2012

The Odd Couple actor hangs out backstage at an event in celebration of the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards.

Dave Benett/Getty Images

2016

Perry poses for a photo while at the play The End Of Longing.

Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival

2017

The American-Canadian actor was front and center at The Circle premiere in New York City.

Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic

2022

Perry attends the 2022 GQ Men of the Year party.

David Livingston/Getty Images

2023

Six months prior to his passing, the Almost Heroes star discussed his memoir while on stage at the 2023 Los Angeles Times Festival.