‘Friends’ cast shares statement on Matthew Perry’s death: ‘We are a family’

globalnews.ca:

Friends say they are mourning the “unfathomable” death of their co-star Matthew Perry over the weekend.Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer released a joint statement to People, CNN and the BBC late Monday that marked their first comments since Perry was found dead in his Los Angeles home on Saturday at age 54.“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew,” the statement signed by the five actors said. “We were more than just cast mates.

We are a family.”The co-stars said they would have more to say about Perry and his death “as and when we are able,” adding they were sending their thoughts and love to Perry’s family, friends and fans.“There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss,” the statement said.Global News has not independently received the statement.The cause and manner of Perry’s death are still being determined by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office, following completion of an autopsy with toxicology tests.Perry’s death came one year after publication of his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, which chronicled his decades-long struggle with addition to prescription painkillers and alcohol. At the time, Perry said he had been sober for about 18 months.Perry, Aniston, Cox, Kudrow, LeBlanc and Schwimmer were catapulted to worldwide fame shortly after Friends debuted in 1994.