Gwyneth Paltrow, Selma Blair, Thomas Lennon, and More Share Heartfelt Tributes Following Matthew Perry’s Death

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

Friends star Matthew Perry tragically passed away on October 28, 2023, according to the LA Times and TMZ, who were the first publications to report the news that the actor had been found unresponsive in the hot tub of his Los Angeles home. Per People, amid all of the news surrounding the late celeb's death, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office updated its website report yesterday to confirm that an autopsy had been completed, but that the cause of death is "deferred" pending toxicology reports—meaning that the exact details of his cause of death will likely take several weeks to be disclosed.

Perhaps best known for playing Chandler Bing in the '90s TV sitcom, Matthew was a beloved Hollywood figure whose sudden death resulted in myriad reactions and touching tributes all over the world—from an assemblage of celebs who were crushed to hear that the actor had passed to his own beloved Friends community, including those behind the show's official Instagram account.

"We are devastated to learn of Matthew Perry’s passing," the post read. "He was a true gift to us all. Our heart goes out to his family, loved ones, and all of his fans."

Additionally, the co-creators behind the NBC sitcom, Marta Kauffman and David Crane, as well as executive producer Kevin Bright shared their own tribute to the late actor in a statement to NBC News (via Us Weekly).

"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 read in part.

The trio then went on to add that the late actor beautifully embodied the role of Chandler during his time on the show and fully made the role his own in the best way possible: "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," they concluded in a bittersweet reference to Friends'episode titles.

Below, more co-stars and friends who remembered the late star.

Morgan Fairchild

Matthew's on-screen mother on Friends took to X to express the following: "I’m heartbroken about the untimely death of my 'son', Matthew Perry. The loss of such a brilliant young actor is a shock. I’m sending love & condolences to his friends & family, especially his dad, John Bennett Perry, who I worked with on Flamingo Road & Falcon Crest. #RIPMatthew"

Gwyneth Paltrow

The Goop founder, whom Matthew wrote about in his 2022 memoir Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, posted her own musings on the late actor's death on her Instagram.

Maggie Wheeler

Maggie, who portrayed Chandler's ex-girlfriend Janice on Friends, also remembered Matthew in a statement shared with NBC News that read, in part, "Matthew was an incredibly generous actor. There was no single time I stepped onto a stage with him that I did not feel lifted by his brilliance. Even in his darkest moments, his comedic timing was impeccable."

The actor also took to Instagram to share more of her musings alongside a photo of herself and Matthew from the show.

"What a loss. The world will miss you Matthew Perry. The joy you brought to so many in your too short lifetime will live on. I feel so very blessed by every creative moment we shared," the caption read.

Paget Brewster

Actor Paget Brewster, who had a recurring role on Friends, wrote the following on her X account: "I’m so very sad to hear about @MatthewPerry. He was lovely to me on Friends and every time I saw him in the decades after. Please read his book. It was his legacy to help. He won’t rest in peace though.. He’s already too busy making everyone laugh up there."

Aisha Tyler

Aisha played a love interest for both David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc's characters—Ross Geller and Joey Tribbiani—during the hit sitcom's ninth season and penned, in part, in an Instagram post that Matthew "had a gentleness and generosity of spirit that was unparalleled."

Adele

The Los Angeles Times reported that the singer took a moment during her Las Vegas residency performance to pay tribute to the late actor.

Onstage, Adele reflected on Matthew's death despite never having known him before signing her hit song "When We Were Young." She recalled how the Friends alum made her and others feel, saying, "If any of us were having a bad day or feeling low, he would just pretend to be Chandler and I remember that character for the rest of my life."

Yvette Nicole Brown

Matthew's The Odd Couple co-star went on her social media and posted a cast photo followed by a snap of herself and the late celeb sitting next to one another onstage. She captioned the post, "Our #OddCouple family suffered a great loss today. The entire entertainment world has. I am too sad about the news to say more than this: @mattyperry4 was a sweetheart who deserved more peace in this life. I am heartbroken to hear of his passing. And am sad for the great talent the world has lost because of it. 💔 54 is too young to go. We love you, Matty! #RIPMatthewPerry 💔"

And just hours later, the actor posted on Instagram yet again—this time, with the caption "💔 We love you, Matty":

Thomas Lennon

Matthew's 17 Again and The Odd Couple co-star shared a simple, yet touching tribute to the late actor on Instagram that simply read, "goodnight, friend."

Mira Sorvino

Mira, who appeared alongside Matthew on Parallel Lives, mourned the loss of the actor on X in a post that mused, "I want to leave Matthew Perry’s own words here as the way we remember him. There will never be another like him- he lit up so many hearts in so many ways. Godspeed to Paradise!"

Selma Blair

The actor dedicated loving words to her "oldest boy friend" on Instagram alongside a selfie of the pair together.

Justin Trudeau

The Canadian prime minister, who attended the same elementary school as Matthew, opened up about the late actor's "shocking and saddening death" on X.

Brooke Shields

The model played Matt LeBlanc's character Joey’s super-fan on Friends, and revealed in an Instagram post that she was "really struggling to find the words" following the news of Matthew's sudden death. However, she mused that during his time here, he "brought joy to so many."

Sarah Ferguson

The royal took to social media to recall how excited she was to meet Matthew and his fellow Friends co-stars during one of the sitcom's London episodes: "I remember being thrilled to have met a natural talent, comedian and brilliant actor. It is a tragedy to lose you so early in life, rest in peace dear Matthew … you have given so much joy and laughter to so many."

Kathleen Turner

Kathleen—who played one of Chandler’s parents, Helena Handbasket, on Friends—told People that she was "very sad for Matthew" and recalled a sweet moment they shared. "He came to see one of my Broadway shows and he came backstage," the actor noted before adding that, "When he saw me, he yelled out, ‘Hey, Dad!’ and everyone thought it was pretty cool. I think it was for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"

"He had a good sense of humor and a good heart. He liked other people, which, to me, is terribly important, especially for an actor," Kathleen added, speaking fondly with the outlet about the lasting impression the late actor left.

You Might Also Like

• Here’s What NOT to Wear to a Wedding

• Meet the Laziest, Easiest Acne Routine You’ll Ever Try