Could we be any more sad?
On Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, Matthew Perry, a beloved star of the hit TV sitcom Friends, was found unresponsive in a hot tub in his Pacific Palisades home. Immediately, as news of his death hit the internet, fans worldwide were shocked. TikTok, Instagram, and major news channels became flooded with memorials and videos of iconic Matthew Perry moments.
While Perry was widely loved for his character Chandler Bing on Friends, he had many other notable achievements in his life. Aside from his acting career and his notorious love for the Batman franchise, Perry created the Perry House for recovering addicts, as he was himself. The organization was created in 2013 and closed two years later.
In his honor, the Perry family created the Matthew Perry Foundation, an organization aiming to fulfill the same goal as Perry envisioned with the Perry House.
According to the foundation’s mission statement, “The Matthew Perry Foundation is the realization of Matthew’s enduring commitment to helping others struggling with the disease of addiction. It will honor his legacy and be guided by his own words and experiences and driven by his passion for making a difference in as many lives as possible.”
Perry also released a memoir about his life in late 2022, titled Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, depicting his struggle with addiction and his time on Friends.
In his book, Perry wrote “When I die, I don’t want ‘Friends’ to be the first thing that’s mentioned – I want helping others to be the first thing that’s mentioned. And I’m going to live the rest of my life proving that.”
Fans, old castmates, and the entirety of Hollywood grieved publicly on social media, comparing Perry’s death to that of an old friend. Perry’s character on Friends had a significant impact on many worldwide, with fans spanning across multiple generations. Those who had the opportunity to meet him unanimously agreed on his natural charisma and kind heart.
The Friends cast released a group statement in response to the heartbreaking news, 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.” (via The New York Times). It is reported that the cast was in attendance at his funeral on Friday, according to People magazine.
In his memoir, Perry noted, “It is very odd to live in a world where if you died, it would shock people but surprise no one.”
He had no idea just how wrong he was.
Rest in peace, Matthew Perry.