Paget Brewster, Selma Blair and More Mourn ‘Friends’ Star Matthew Perry: ‘You Sweet, Troubled Soul’

Tributes poured in from all corners of Hollywood when the news came of Matthew Perry’s death at age 54 on Saturday. The actor, best known for starring as Chandler Bing in “Friends,” was found dead in a hot tub at his home in Los Angeles.

Many of the sentiments posted online Saturday pointed to Perry as the heart of the humor in “Friends.” As written in a tribute by PvNew‘s chief correspondent Daniel D’Addario, “the character’s caustic wit, as performed by a master comic actor, presented as nothing more and nothing less than observational humor about his friends: One degree harsher and it would have tanked the show, one degree softer and it wouldn’t have landed.”

Several also referenced Perry’s struggle with alcoholism and drug addiction, which he discussed publicly throughout his career, especially in his memoir “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing.”

“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,” said “Friends” co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane and executive producer Kevin Bright in a joint statement. “He was a brilliant talent. 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.”

The “Friends” co-creators and EP concluded their statement by saying, “We send all of our love to his family and friends. This truly is The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken.”

“Oh no!!! Matthew Perry!! You sweet, troubled soul!!” wrote Mira Sorvino, who starred with Perry in the 1994 TV movie “Parallel Lives,” on X, formerly known as Twitter. “May you find peace and happiness in Heaven, making everyone laugh with your singular wit!!!”

“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,” wrote Paget Brewster, who had a six-episode arc on the show. “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.”

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

Maggie Wheeler, who played Janice, Chandler’s on-again, off-again girlfriend in “Friends” posted, “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.”

Jimmy Burrows, who directed 15 episodes of “Friends,” posted a picture of himself and Perry, saying, “Nobody did it better.”

Shannon Doherty posted a long tribute on Instagram under a picture of herself, Perry and Roger Castillo. “We were a gang way back,” she began. We all grew up together going to the Formosa, North and constantly laughing. Matt, Roger, David, Roxana. 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.”

SAG-AFTRA president, Fran Drescher posted, “So sad that on the eve of the brightest moon we lost one of our brightest stars. A brilliant comedian but a sad clown. I didn’t know him but as Chandler he will always be a “friend” May you RIP dear one. Your talent will continue to make us laugh… health is wealth.”

Meredith Salenger, who starred in “A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon” with Perry, wrote that she has known Perry since they were both 16, and shared four photos of them together. “Oh man. No words. Rest in peace sweet @MatthewPerry,” she said.