Matthew Perry’s family have broken their silence following his death at age 54. The “Friends” alum died of an apparent drowning at his California home on Saturday.
“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother,” Perry’s family said in a statement to People on Sunday. “Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend.”
They add: “You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love.”
Perry was found dead in the hot tub of his home in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of LA just after 4 p.m.
Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey told CNN that the call came in at 4:07 p.m. for a possible “water rescue” emergency. They arrived to find Perry “unresponsive.”
The late actor’s parents, Suzanne Perry and John Bennett Perry (who divorced in 1970), appeared extremely distraught outside his home in the aftermath. Suzanne was also joined by Perry’s stepdad and her husband, “Dateline’s” Keith Morrison.
Warner Bros. released a statement about the late star’s death shortly after the news broke.
“We are devastated by the passing of our dear friend Matthew Perry. Matthew was an incredibly gifted actor and an indelible part of the Warner Bros. Television Group family,” the statement read. “The impact of his comedic genius was felt around the world, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of so many. This is a heartbreaking day, and we send our love to his family, his loved ones, and all of his devoted fans.”
Perry’s longtime “Friends” costars — whom he reunited with in 2021 for an HBO Max special — have yet to comment on the tragedy.
The late star often spoke highly of the cast, which includes Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc. He opened up about their bond in his 2022 memoir, “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing,” and how they supported him during his struggles with addiction amid the duration of the 10-year series run.
While promoting his book, Perry revealed that Aniston was the “one that reached out the most” during his struggles.
“I’m really grateful to her for that,” Perry said of Aniston in an October 2022 interview with Diane Sawyer, adding that she confronted him on set about his alcohol addiction.
“Jennifer, she says, ‘We know you’re drinking,’” he recalled at the time. “… Imagine how scary a moment that was.”
“I should have been the toast of the town, but I was in a dark room meeting with nothing but drug dealers and completely alone,” he continued.
His memoir came out nearly a year ago on November 1, 2022.
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