Photo credit:  Floral tributes are left for actor Matthew Perry outside the apartment building which was used as the exterior shot in the TV show “Friends” in New York on October 29, 2023. Perry, 54, was known globally for his portrayal of wise-cracking character Chandler Bing on the wildly popular “Friends,” which ran for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004. First responders found Perry unconscious in a hot tub at his house on October 28 and were unable to revive him, law enforcement sources told the Los Angeles Times. Police confirmed they’d mounted a “death investigation for a male in his 50s.” (Photo by Adam GRAY / AFP) (Photo by ADAM GRAY/AFP via Getty Images)

 

Tributes continue to pour in for Matthew Perry.   He was mourned on social media by friends, co-stars, and some very famous fans, including his childhood classmate, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his “Friends” mom Morgan Fairchild, and even singer Adele.  Perry, who played Chandler Bing on NBC’s “Friends” for 10 seasons, was found dead at his Los Angeles home on Saturday. He was 54.

The fans – People of all ages and backgrounds gathered on Sunday by the “Friends” building in New York’s West Village to pay their respects to Perry and pose for pictures outside of the show’s iconic apartment. Despite the dreary weather, dozens of flower bouquets and handmade signs with phrases like “the one where we all lost a friend” were piled on the southwest corner of Bedford and Grove near the cozy neighborhood restaurant The Little Owl. (“Friends” was filmed on the Warner Bros. lot in Los Angeles, but exterior shots of Monica and Rachel’s rent-controlled apartment were filmed at 90 Bedford Street.)

(Photo by ADAM GRAY/AFP via Getty Images)

 

Justin Trudeau, who attended elementary school with Perry while their parents worked together, wrote a tribute on X, formerly Twitter.  Perry’s mother served as press secretary to Trudeau’s father, Pierre Trudeau, during his time as prime minister.

Adele took a moment to talk about him during her show in Las Vegas on Saturday night. She recalled how his work made her laugh and said that even though she’d never met him, there is a strange thing that happens sometimes when an entertainer dies that makes you feel personally sad.

“I just want to say how much I love what he did for us,” she said to the cheering crowd.

 

Warner Bros. Television Group, which produced “Friends,” released a statement in which it said, “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.”

 

In a statement, “Friends” co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane and executive producer Kevin Bright said,

“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.”

“He was a brilliant talent,” the statement continued. “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.”

“We send all of our love to his family and friends. This truly is The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken,”

 

Alongside a photo from her appearance on “Friends,” Brooke Shields wrote on Instagram

 

Saturday Night Live also showed a tribute card for Perry during the weekend’s episode. Perry once hosted the show, in 1997, which featured one sketch where he played Matt LeBlanc’s character Joey and Colin Quinn played Chandler.

 

The Ottawa Senators hockey account paid tribute to Perry in a post that read:

Morgan Fairchild, who played Chandler’s mother on “Friends” wrote on X, that she was “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,” Fairchild wrote.

She had also worked with Perry’s father, actor John Bennett Perry, on several television series.

Another frequent “Friends” co-star, Maggie Wheeler, who played his girlfriend Janice, wrote, “The joy you brought to so many in your too short lifetime will live on. I feel very blessed by every creative moment we shared.”

 

Talk show host Jennifer Hudson shared a pic on X showing her alongside Perry on her set, and wrote:

Selma Blair, who also appeared on an episode of “Friends,” posted on Instagram that she was “broken hearted.”

“My oldest boy friend,” Blair wrote. “All of us loved Matthew Perry, and I did especially. Every day. I loved him unconditionally. And he me. And I’m broken. Broken hearted. Sweet dreams Matty. Sweet dreams.”

 

Many Hollywood actors crossed paths with Perry, who had worked steadily on screen since he was a child.

Wendell Pierce, who worked with Perry on “The Odd Couple,” wrote on X that for two years, “Matthew Perry was my boss, my colleague, and a giving, kind, funny man. I pray and hope he is at peace.”

 

Shannen Doherty shared a photo on Instagram and reflected on their friendship, which extended back to an appearance on “Beverly Hills 90210,” and included a Valentine’s Day date in Malibu once.

“We were a gang way back. We all grew up together going to the Formosa … We played dare and Matt had to say ridiculous things to girls at the bar. We just always had fun and supported each other. You would always find us all together in a booth speaking in our own made up language. And yes, Matt always had THAT sense of humor,” Doherty wrote. “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.”