Matt LeBlanc Pens Heartbreaking Tribute to Matthew Perry: 'You're Finally Free'

"I will always smile when I think of you and I'll never forget you. Never," LeBlanc shared in his tribute to Perry, who died on Oct. 28

Matt LeBlanc is honoring his on-screen roommate and best friend of a decade, Matthew Perry, after his sudden death.

The actors starred as best friends Joey Tribbiani and Chandler Bing on Friends. And in the wake of Perry’s death last month, LeBlanc, 56, shared an emotional yet touching tribute on Instagram featuring photos of the pair on the NBC sitcom’s set.

"Matthew. It is with a heavy heart I say goodbye. The times we had together are honestly among the favorite times of my life," he wrote. "It was an honor to share the stage with you and to call you my friend."

"I will always smile when I think of you and I’ll never forget you. Never," he continued. "Spread your wings and fly brother you’re finally free. Much love."

In concluding the post, LeBlanc joked: "And I guess you’re keeping the 20 bucks you owe me."

Related: Remembering Matthew Perry's Life and Career in Photos

LeBlanc and Perry were long regarded as one of television’s most beloved best friend duos, and when the cast reunited in 2021 to film HBO Max’s Friends: The Reunion special — and to chat to PEOPLE for an exclusive look at the reunion — they were their usual silly selves.

Reflecting on where they’d imagine their characters to be in 2021, nearly two decades after the hit sitcom came to a close, LeBlanc told PEOPLE Joey likely "would have opened a chain of sandwich shops," to which Perry added that his on-screen bestie would have subsequently "eaten all the sandwiches."

LeBlanc then added to his answer that it would be a "dinosaur-themed sandwich shop," building off his castmate’s joke. "Bronto-burger."

As for his own character’s fate, Perry said he believed Chandler "would be a wonderful father" and "a wonderful comedy writer."

Related: Matthew Perry's Lasting Legacy: How He Won Our Hearts and Found a Mission Helping Others with Addiction

Later, they joked again as Perry called the chemistry between the cast "magic," and LeBlanc deadpanned, "I would say awkward."

"It’s awkwardly magic," Perry added.

During their conversation with PEOPLE, LeBlanc also reflected on how it felt to all be in the same room again.

"It's funny, when we do get together, it's like no time has passed," he said. "We pick up right where we left off."

He expanded on how connected he felt to Perry and the rest of the cast — Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox and David Schwimmer — as he said of their enduring bond, "I think everybody sort of has a relationship like that in their life. You know that when you have a conversation with that person, it's really heartfelt, it's honest, it's open. You know that there's no ulterior motive. They're significant relationships.'"

Related: Christina Ricci, Aisha Tyler and Other Friends Guest Stars Remember Matthew Perry

In 2016, LeBlanc also showed his support for his TV BFF as he attended a showing of Perry's playwright debut, The End of Longing, which premiered in the West End in London in 2016.

He shared a photo with Perry from after the show, commending his former costar on his performance. "He and the cast were great. Way to go bro," LeBlanc captioned the shot.

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Days after Perry’s sudden death at his home in Los Angeles on Oct. 28, LeBlanc and his castmates released a statement to PEOPLE, breaking their silence on the loss of their dear friend.

"We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family," the joint statement said. "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," they concluded.

LeBlanc, Aniston, Cox, Kudrow and Schwimmer later attended Perry's Los Angeles funeral service occurring one week after his death. 

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