Friends and family of Matthew Perry gathered for the actor’s funeral at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles near Warner Bros. Studios. The service included Perry’s Friends costars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer. The funeral, which started at 3 p.m. PST, ended at 5 p.m. PST.
Perry passed away on October 28 at the age of 54 at his Los Angeles home, with initial reports suggesting an apparent drowning. Law enforcement sources disclosed that no drugs were found at the scene, and there were no signs of foul play.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed that an autopsy has been conducted, with results pending a toxicology report. An online record currently lists the status of the actor’s cause of death as “deferred” due to “pending additional investigation.”
Perry’s family issued a statement expressing their heartbreak over the loss of their beloved son and brother and acknowledging the outpouring of love from his fans.
Perry’s Friends castmates also released a joint statement expressing their devastation at his loss and emphasizing their close bond as a “family.” They expressed their intention to share more about their feelings in the future.
“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family,” their statement read. “There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.”
“In time we will say more, as and when we are able,” the statement continued. “For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.”
Before his untimely passing, Perry, who had struggled with alcohol and drug addiction for many years, had plans to establish a foundation to support individuals dealing with substance abuse. His loved ones brought this vision to life with the launch of The Matthew Perry Foundation’s website on Friday.
The foundation’s mission statement outlines its commitment to helping those battling addiction and honoring Perry’s legacy. It will be guided by his experiences and driven by his passion for making a positive impact on as many lives as possible.
The website also features a poignant quote from Perry, where he expressed his desire to be remembered for his efforts to help others combat addiction and the importance of facing addiction together.
“When I die, I don’t want ‘Friends’ to be the first thing that’s mentioned — I want helping others to be the first thing that’s mentioned. And I’m going to live the rest of my life proving that,” the quote from his November 2022 appearance on the Q With Tom Power podcast read.
“Addiction is far too powerful for anyone to defeat alone. But together, one day at a time, we can beat it down,” Perry added.
