Matthew Perry Dead at 54: Friends Stars, Celebrity Friends and Fans React

Perry was discovered at his residence in the Los Angeles area on Saturday, Sources told the outlet. First responders arrived on the scene after getting a call for a cardiac arrest. TMZ was told the actor appeared to have drowned.

Per the outlet, Perry was discovered in a jacuzzi. No drugs were found and no foul play is suspected in the death.

"We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother," said his family in a statement. "Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend. You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love."'

Perry achieved icon status with his turn as Chandler Bing on mega-hit Friends, which ran for 10 seasons after debuting in the sitcom heyday of the mid '90s. His comedic style and unforgettable mannerism earned him fans across the globe, spanning generations.

He went on to star in several films, including The Whole Nine Yards (with Bruce Willis) and Fools Rush In (opposite Salma Hayek).

The actor detailed his history with substance abuse, and ultimate sobriety, as well as his life behind-the-scenes of his favorite films and television shows in his memoir  "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing," which was published just shy of a year ago.

Fans and friends alike mourned the sudden passing of one of Hollywood's brightest comedic lights, with tributes on social media, as well as physical tributes being left outside the apartment building used as an exterior for Chandler's place.

On Monday, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer released a joint statement to PEOPLE, sharing their immediate reaction on his passing while promising to honor him further when they have more time to grieve.

"We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family," they began. "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 group continued. "For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world."

The official social media account for Friends and Warner Bros. Television wrote, "We are devastated to learn of Matthew Perry's passing. He was a true gift to us all. Our heart goes out to his family, loved ones, and all of his fans."

NBC Entertainment echoed the sentiments, posting, "We are incredibly saddened by the too soon passing of Matthew Perry. He brought so much joy to hundreds of millions of people around the world with his pitch perfect comedic timing and wry wit. His legacy will live on through countless generations."

Friends co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane, as well as executive producer Kevin Bright, issued a statement dubbing this time The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken, a reference to the show's episode titles. "We are shocked and deeply, deeply saddened by our beloved friend Matthew’s passing," they shared. "It still seems impossible. All we can say is that we feel blessed to have had him as part of our lives."

"He was a brilliant talent. It's a cliche to say that an actor makes a role their own, but in Matthew's case, there are no truer words. From the day we first heard him embody the role of Chandler Bing, there was no one else for us," they continued. "We will always cherish the joy, the light, the blinding intelligence he brought to every moment — not just to his work, but in life as well. He was always the funniest person in the room. More than that, he was the sweetest, with a giving and selfless heart."

Maggie Wheeler, who portrayed Matthew Perry's love interest Janice on Friends paid tribute to her late colleague and friend, writing, "What a loss.The world will miss you Mathew Perry . The joy you brought to so many in your too short lifetime will live on. I feel so very blessed by every creative moment we shared. ♥️"

Morgan Fairchild, who brought Chandler Bing's mother to life, wrote, "I'm heartbroken about the untimely death of my 'son,' Matthew Perry. The loss of such a brilliant young actor is a shock. I’m sending love & condolences to his friends & family, especially his dad, John Bennett Perry, who I worked with on Flamingo Road & Falcon Crest. #RIPMatthew"

Aisha Tyler, who appeared with Perry on Friends, paid tribute to the actor, writing alongside an image of him on her Instagram, "He had a gentleness and generosity of spirit that was unparalleled. I learned how to tell a joke perfectly just by watching him work. And I will never forget the moment he leaned in, on my first night of taping Friends, to tell me warmly, “get ready for your life to change."

Paget Brewster, who played Chandler's girlfriend Kathy, also posted to X: "He was lovely to me on Friends and every time I saw him in the decades after. Please read his book. It was his legacy to help. He won't rest in peace though.. He's already too busy making everyone laugh up there."

Longtime friend Shannen Doherty also paid tribute on Instagram, sharing a photo of them together.

"We were a gang way back. We all grew up together going to the Formosa, North and constantly laughing ... We played dare and Matt had to say ridiculous things to girls at the bar. We just always had fun and supported each other. You would always find us all together in a booth speaking in our own made up language. And yes, Matt always had THAT sense of humor," she wrote. "Matt and I had a date and it was on Valentine's Day. He wanted to get a reservation at a restaurant in Malibu but couldn't so my dad got the reservation for him. We went and he talked about my dads Irish persuasiveness the majority of the night. Our friendship spanned a long time. A lifetime really. I know many are hurting, especially our little gang. He will be missed by many and definitely by us. Yes. I could be more poetic or say things better but right now, shock and sadness prevail."

Gwyneth Paltrow, who has known Perry for more than 30 years and briefly dated him before they were famous, also honored him with a touching tribute on Sunday morning.

"I met Matthew Perry in 1993 at the Williamstown Theater Festival in Massachusetts. We were both there for most of the summer doing plays. He was so funny and so sweet and so much fun to be with. We drove out to swim in creeks, had beers in the local college bar, kissed in a field of long grass. It was a magical summer," she recalled. "He had shot the pilot of Friends but it has not aired yet. He was nervous, hoping his big break was just around the corner. It was. We stayed friends for a while until we drifted apart, but I was always happy to see him when I did. I am super sad today, as so many of us are. I hope Matthew is at peace at long last. I really do."

Both Adele and Charlie Puth, who, like many around the world, were fans of the show, took moments during their concerts on Saturday night to also honor the late actor.

Hank Azaria shared a video to his Instagram page to reflect on their bond, sharing that he was "the first friend" he made in Los Angeles after moving here in his early 20s.

"A lot of us who were close to him felt like we lost him to drugs and alcohol a long time ago because — as he documented in his autobiography — there was so much suffering," shared Azaria, who claimed Perry went with him to his first AA meeting, attended together for a year and credited the actor with helping him get sober.

Kaley Cuoco shared her tribute to her IG Story, writing, "Thank you for the laughs Matt Perry. You were a joy to watch for so many years and a constant lesson in comedic timing. We loved you!! So sad to hear this."

Rumer Willis recalled being on set with her dad Bruce Willis of The Whole 10 Yards, in which Perry also starred, saying in an IG Story, "he was so kind and funny and sweet with my sisters and me and I think his physical Comedy and that movie still makes me laugh so much." She added, "I know he had many challenges in his life and brought a lot of joy to people with his comedy. I hope he can rest peacefully."

Olivia Munn also shared a Story tribute, writing, "He struggled to much with addiction and was brave enough to be open and honest about it. I'm so sorry to his family and friends who are getting this news today. Nothing short of heartbreaking. Rest in love, Matthew Perry."

Read on to see how celebrities across the entertainment industry grieved Perry on social media, including longtime friends like Selma Blair, his famous admirers and more.