Matthew Perry’s Funeral Took Place Minutes Away From Where Friends Was Filmed
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Less than a week after his death, loved ones gathered to pay their respects at Matthew Perry’s funeral—including the remaining members of the cast of Friends.
The actor’s castmates, who starred alongside Perry on the NBC sitcom for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004, all arrived to say goodbye to their friend at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles on November 3, 2023. The cemetery is just across the road from Warner Bros Studios, where Friends was filmed.
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Photos obtained by the Daily Mail show Lisa Kudrow, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, and David Schwimmer walking in a group outside of the church where Perry’s funeral service was held. According to the publication, Matt Le Blanc joined his costars later on. Matthew’s mother Suzanne Perry, father John Bennett Perry, and stepfather Keith Morrison were also among guests at the funeral.
‘Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing’ by Matthew Perry
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Other images from the service showed men in black suits escorting a wooden coffin into the church. According to the Mail, the service ended with a rendition of the Peter Gabriel song “Don’t Give Up.”
The outlet reports that Aniston was “one of the first to arrive” at Perry’s funeral. “She kept to herself,” a source told the publication.
Before his death, Perry acknowledged Aniston for always staying in touch with him even after their show came to an end. The actor, who struggled with addiction throughout his career, expressed his gratitude for her support in a 2022 interview with Diane Sawyer. “She was the one that reached out the most. You know, I’m really grateful to her for that,” he said at the time.
In the days leading up to Perry’s funeral, the Friends cast issued a joint statement to People, where they expressed their grief over the loss of their friend and former co-star. “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,” the group wrote in their statement. “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.”
The actor died on October 28, 2023, after an apparent drowning at his Los Angeles home. At the time, it was reported that no drugs were found at the scene and there was no indication of foul play. Perry’s cause of death is still being determined.
Perry opened up about his experiences with alcohol and substance abuse in his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers and The Big Terrible Thing. During a promotional interview for the book, the actor revealed that he didn’t want to only be remember for his acting or his role as Chandler Bing on Friends.
“The best thing about me, bar none, is if somebody comes up to me and says, ‘I can’t stop drinking. Can you help me?’ I can say yes and follow up and do it,” Perry said in his interview on the Q with Tom Power podcast. “And I’ve said this for a long time: when I die, I don’t want Friends to be the first thing that’s mentioned — I want that to be the first thing that’s mentioned. And I’m going to live the rest of my life proving that.”
Despite his death, Perry’s goal came true with the formation of the Matthew Perry Foundation, a charity announced on November 3, 2023, which will focus on helping those struggling with addiction. “The Matthew Perry Foundation is the realization of Matthew’s enduring commitment to helping others struggling with the disease of addiction,” officials for the organization said in a statement. “”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.”
Friends, Lovers, and The Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
‘Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing’ by Matthew Perry
$23.9929.9920% Off
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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