David Schwimmer ‘Utterly Devastated’ by Matthew Perry’s Death
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Friends forever. David Schwimmer’s response to Matthew Perry’s death proves that he’ll always be the Chandler to his Ross. Schwimmer and Perry starred as Ross Geller and Chandler Bing respectively on the NBC comedy Friends for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004.
In an interview With People in 2022, Perry credited the series and its cast—which also included stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, and Matt LeBlanc—for changing his life. “It changed my life in every way. I got the show when I was a 24-year-old man; the show ended when I was 34. It formed my life. And it was the time of my life,” Perry said.
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Perry also described what it was like for Friends to end during the series’ reunion for Max in 2021. “The best way that I can describe it is after the show was over, at a party or any kind of social gathering, if one of us bumped into each other, that was it,” he said. “That was the end of the night. You just sat with the person all night long and that was it.”
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing
‘Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing’ by Matthew Perry
He continued, “You apologized to the people you were with, but they had to understand you had met somebody special to you and you were going to talk to that person for the rest of the night. And that’s the way it worked.”
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Almost two decades after Friends‘ finale, Perry died on October 28, 2023, at his home in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. He was 54 years old. Since then, celebrities across Hollywood have been pouring out tributes in support of the late Friends star. Read on for how David Schwimmer has reportedly responded to Matthew Perry’s death and the friendship between Ross and Chandler in real life.
How David Schwimmer responded to Matthew Perry’s death
How did David Schwimmer respond to Matthew Perry’s death? A source told Page Six on October 29 that Schwimmer—along with his Friends co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, and Matt LeBlanc—was reeling over their cast mate’s passing. “The cast is reeling from the loss of their brother, because that’s what Matty was — their brother,” the insider said. “It’s just devastating.”
The source continued, “The entire cast are close, they will be devastated, because they were together through the best of times and worst of times. And when Matty was sick, they protected him, they looked after him fiercely.”
Schwimmer, Aniston, Cox, Kudrow, and LeBlanc also released an official statement on October 30. “We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family,” the cast said in a statement to People. “There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.”
The statement continued, “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.”
Schwimmer was also the first Friends cast member to be photographed after Perry’s death. He was first photographed on October 29 opening the door to his home in New York City to receive a takeout order of Chinese food and bubble tea from the restaurant Xing Fu Tang. Photos obtained by The Daily Mail show Schwimmer flashing photographers a peace sign. Schwimmer was also photographed later that day with his ex-wife, Zoe Buckman, his daughter, Cleo.
Schwimmer was also photographed again on October 30 leaving his home in New York City. In photos obtained by Page Six, Schwimmer was seen in a baseball cap and face mask as he walked down the side walk.
In his 2022 book, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, Perry recalled Schwimmer trying to negotiate more pay for him and the rest of the cast during Season 1 of Friends—which, down the line, led to the six main stars making $1 million per episode for the final two seasons of the series. “During that first year — David’s year — he showed up one day at my dressing room,” Perry wrote. “He had brought an original hangdog expression to his character and was just damn funny. He was also the first one of us to shoot a commercial, be on The Tonight Show, buy a house, get his own movie. He was the hot guy that first year, and rightly so. He had been hilarious.”
Perry claimed that Schwimmer told him, “When we renegotiate our contracts, we should do it as a team. We should all get paid the same amount.” Perry continued, “He was by far the one in the best position to negotiate. I could not believe what he was saying. Needless to say, I was thrilled. I was perfectly happy to take advantage of his generosity of spirit… It was a decision that proved to be extremely lucrative down the line.”
What was Matthew Perry’s cause of death?
What was Matthew Perry’s cause of death? Perry died on October 28, 2023, at his home in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. He was 54 years old. Perry was pronounced dead by the Los Angeles Police Department after his assistant found him unresponsive in his hot tub.
Los Angeles Police Captain Scott Williams, who led the Robbery Homicide Division investigating Perry’s death, confirmed that “foul play” was not “suspected.” The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed to People that first responders arrived at Perry’s home at 4:07 p.m. on October 28. “An adult male patient was deceased prior to first response arrival,” an LAFD representative told People. “The patient was found by a bystander who had repositioned the victim where the head was out of water [in a freestanding jacuzzi]. Firefighters pulled the victim out of the jacuzzi and did a quick medical assessment to find he was deceased.”
Sources told TMZ that first responders were called to Perry’s home for cardiac arrest and that no drugs were found on the scene. TMZ also obtained 911 dispatch audio in which “drowning” was referenced.
“We are devastated by the passing of our dear friend Matthew Perry,” Warner Bros. Television Group, which produced Friends, said in a statement to The Los Angeles Times. “Matthew was an incredibly gifted actor and an indelible part of the Warner Bros. Television Group family. 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.”
NBC, which aired Friends, added in its own statement, “We are incredibly saddened by the too soon passing of Matthew Perry. He brought so much joy to hundreds of millions of people around the world with his pitch perfect comedic timing and wry wit. His legacy will live on through countless generations.”
In their own statement, Perry’s family told People that they were “heartbroken” over his “tragic” death. “We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother,” the statement read. “Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend. You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love.
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing
‘Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing’ by Matthew Perry
For more about Matthew Perry, read his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. The New York Times bestseller takes readers through Perry’s life and career, from his childhood dreams of becoming an actor to how he was cast in Friends to his struggle with addiction and his stints in rehab. “Hi, my name is Matthew, although you may know me by another name. My friends call me Matty. And I should be dead,” Perry writes in the book. Told in his own words for the first time ever, the memoir is an “unflinchingly honest, moving, and uproariously funny” account of Perry’s trials and triumphs. Described as an “unforgettable memoir that is both intimate and eye-opening,” Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing is a must-read for Friends fans.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, help is available. Call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for free, confidential support.
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