(Los Angeles) The actors of the series Friends explained on Monday that they were “totally devastated” after the death of actor Matthew Perry, who played their comrade Chandler in this cult series.
“We are all completely devastated by the loss of Matthew,” explained Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer in a joint statement, their first speaking since the death on Saturday. “We were more than just film colleagues. We are a family. »
The actor died at the age of 54. He was found unconscious on Saturday by his assistant in his jacuzzi at his Los Angeles home.
Since this thunderclap, his companions Friends had kept silent.
“There is so much to say, but for now we will take a moment to grieve and digest this unfathomable loss,” they explained in their press release. “For now, our thoughts and love are with Matty’s family, his friends and all those who loved him around the world. »
Matthew Perry struggled for years with his addiction to painkillers and alcohol. The cause of his death is not yet known.
His unexpected death sparked a flood of tributes, from major Hollywood figures to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
A true cultural phenomenon, the series Friendsbroadcast between 1994 and 2004, left its mark on an entire generation of viewers.
It tells the adventures of a group of happy friends – Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Ross and Chandler – in New York, punctuated by romantic relationships, notably between Monica and Chandler and the endless saga between Rachel and Ross.
Creators of the “shocked” series
Since the announcement of Matthew Perry’s death, series co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane have also reacted.
“We are shocked and deeply, deeply saddened… It still seems impossible,” they explained in a joint statement with executive producer Kevin Bright.
In addition to the success of Friends which brought him worldwide fame, Matthew Perry starred in films such as Fools Rush In And The Whole Nine Yards.
Behind the camera, the actor has long struggled with his demons. In these memoirs published last year, he confided having undergone 65 detoxification sessions, spending more than nine million dollars.
He had also undergone several surgeries related to his drug addiction problems, including a seven-hour colon surgery in 2018, going so far as to say one day: “I should be dead”.
During a recent television appearance, the actor surprised the audience by admitting to having suffered from severe anxiety “every night” while filming Friends.
According to TMZ, no drugs were found at the scene of the actor’s death on Saturday. Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications were found in his home.