With news of actor Matthew Perry’s passing over the weekend, fans are understandably reacting by re-watching episodes of Friends, the hit NBC sitcom that ran from 1994 to 2004 and featured an ensemble including Perry as Chandler Bing. All 10 seasons are streaming on Max, and the streamer has added a tribute to the late star.
Each season of Friends, currently the top pick under Max’s “popular” section, now opens with a title card showing Perry’s picture and the phrase “In memory of Matthew Perry 1969-2023.” According to the Los Angeles Times, Perry, who was 54, was found dead at his Los Angeles home on Saturday.
In a statement quoted by Variety, Friends co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane and executive producer Kevin Bright released this statement honoring Perry: “We are shocked and deeply, deeply saddened by our beloved friend Matthew’s passing. 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. 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.”
