The world is mourning over the tragic loss of actor Matthew Perry, famous for his role as Chandler Bing on the beloved TV series Friends. Friends director, James Burrows, who directed 15 episodes of the show, including the iconic pilot, expressed his grief, comparing Perry’s passing to “a brother dying.”
In a heartfelt interview on the Today show, James Burrows shared the profound impact of Perry’s journey towards recovery from addiction over the past few years. He spoke of how the Friends’ team was immensely proud to witness the actor’s remarkable transformation. Perry’s struggle with addiction was widely known, and his progress was a source of inspiration.
“We were so proud of him these last couple of years that he was making this remarkable recovery,” James Burrows said. “He was part of a family, and he was the first one to not be part of that family anymore. I texted the girls (Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, and Lisa Kudrow) the day we found out, and they were destroyed. It’s a brother dying.”
James Burrows also praised Matthew Perry’s portrayal of Chandler Bing, describing it as a “perfect meld.” He emphasized that Perry was always fully present in the moment, even when he wasn’t speaking on screen.
In an earlier interview on the Today show, Friends creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane shared their impressions of Matthew Perry’s state in the weeks leading up to his passing. They expressed their belief that he was in a positive place both mentally and physically. His sudden death has left them and many fans heartbroken and bewildered.
“He didn’t seem weighed down by anything. He was in a really good place, which is why this seems so unfair,” said Marta Kauffman. She also revealed concerns about Perry’s well-being during the filming of “Friends: The Reunion” a few years ago, given his previous struggles with addiction and pain management.
“Knowing he had been through everything he’d been through and every time he had surgery, they’re giving him opioids for pain, and the cycle starts over again. So yes, I was concerned about what point he was in the cycle at that moment,” she added.
Matthew Perry’s untimely death occurred at his Los Angeles home, and the exact cause is still pending investigation. The loss of the beloved actor has left a void in the hearts of his friends, colleagues, and fans worldwide, as they remember his remarkable journey and the indelible mark he left on the world of entertainment.
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