Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer released a collective statement honoring their Friends colleague Matthew Perry, who passed away at 54 years old on Saturday.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Matthew,” stated the five actors. “We were more than just colleagues, we were a tight-knit family. There are no words to express our sorrow, so for now we will take time to mourn and come to terms with this unimaginable loss. In the future, we will share more as we are able. Our hearts and thoughts go out to Matty’s loved ones, friends, and all those who cherished him worldwide.”

According to sources in law enforcement, Perry, famous for his role as the witty and endearing Chandler Bing on the popular TV show, was discovered deceased in his hot tub at his residence in Los Angeles on Saturday evening.

The Los Angeles county medical examiner has stated that the cause of death for Perry on Sunday has been postponed until a toxicology report is completed. Cap Scot Williams, who heads the city’s police robbery homicide division handling the investigation, has confirmed that foul play is not suspected.

The co-creators of Friends, Marta Kauffman and David Crane, along with executive producer Kevin Bright, released a joint statement on Sunday. They cleverly referenced the show’s episode titles to express their sadness, stating, “This is truly the one where our hearts are shattered.”

“It still appears to be unachievable. We can only express our gratitude for having him in our lives,” the statement stated. “He possessed exceptional skills. While it may be a common phrase to say an actor embodies a role, in Matthew’s instance, there is no phrase more accurate,” the writers stated.

Ever since we first heard him portray Chandler Bing, he has been the only one for us. We will forever hold dear the happiness, brightness, and remarkable intelligence he brought to every single moment – not only in his acting, but also in life. He was consistently the most hilarious person in the room. Beyond that, he was also the kindest, with a generous and unselfish heart. Our heartfelt love goes out to his loved ones and friends.

The family of Perry expressed their deep sadness over the devastating loss of their dear son and brother. Matthew was a source of immense happiness to everyone as an actor and a companion.

“You all held a special place in his heart and we are grateful for the overwhelming display of affection.”

Selma Blair, Hank Azaria, Gwyneth Paltrow and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau were among those to pay tribute to Perry after his death.

Source: theguardian.com