Matt LeBlanc has spoken out for the first time since his on-screen best friend’s tragic death.
Actor and funnyman Matthew Perry died at his home on October 28 after presumably suffering cardiac arrest while relaxing in his hot tub.
Friends of the ‘Friends’ star have since broken their silence in a joint statement that read:
“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,” they said.
“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.”
Now, Matt LeBlanc, who played Chandler Bing’s best friend Joey Tribbiani in the NBC sitcom, broke his silence with a touching, personal tribute to the late actor.
“Matthew. It is with a heavy heart I say goodbye. The times we had together are honestly among the favorite times of my life,” he wrote.
“It was an honor to share the stage with you and to call you my friend. I will always smile when I think of you and I’ll never forget you. Never.”
The statement continued: “Spread your wings and fly brother you’re finally free. Much love.”
The tribute comes as Courteney Cox, who played Chandler’s on-screen wife Monica Geller, also broke her silence and reflected on her friendship with the “kind” and “funny” man.
“I am so grateful for every moment I had with you Matty and I miss you every day. When you work with someone as closely as I did with Matthew, there are thousands of moments I wish I could share. For now here’s one of my favorites,” she shared.
“To give a little backstory, Chandler and Monica were supposed to have a one night fling in London. But because of the audience’s reaction, it became the beginning of their love story.
“In this scene, before we started rolling, he whispered a funny line for me to say. He often did things like that. He was funny and he was kind.”
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