Matt LeBlanc shares touching tribute to Matthew Perry: 'I'll never forget you'

ByHayley FitzPatrick ABCNews logo
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
New details emerge in Matthew Perry's final hours
Matthew Perry was best known for "Friends," but the actor's legacy reached far beyond that.

Matt LeBlanc posted a touching tribute Tuesday honoring his late "Friends" co-star Matthew Perry, Good Morning America reported.

The actor shared several photos on Instagram with Perry, who died Oct. 28 at the age of 54, and wrote about the impact Perry had on his life.

The video in the player above is from a previous report.

"It is with a heavy heart I say goodbye," LeBlanc began his tribute. "The times we had together are honestly among the favorite times of my life."

Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani and Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing in an episode of 'Friends.'
NBCUniversal via Getty Images

He continued, "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."

"Spread your wings and fly brother you're finally free," he added. "Much love. And I guess you're keeping the 20 bucks you owe me."

LeBlanc and Perry acted alongside one another on the hit sitcom "Friends," which ran from 1994 to 2004.

SEE ALSO | Matthew Perry remembered: Hollywood community pays tribute to late 'Friends' star

LeBlanc's personal tribute comes after he issued a joint statement with the cast of "Friends," including his co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer, honoring Perry on Oct. 30.

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

Perry, who was known for playing Chandler Bing on the hit sitcom, died last month in his Pacific Palisades home. LeBlanc played Joey Tribbiani on the show and was roommates with Perry's character at the start of the series.

In a statement issued on Oct. 29, the LAPD said Perry "was discovered by a witness unresponsive in his jacuzzi" on Oct. 28 at around 4 p.m. PT. "The Los Angeles City Fire Department responded to the scene and pronounced Perry deceased," the LAPD statement said.

READ MORE | Fans gather at iconic 'Friends' locations in New York City to remember Matthew Perry

A statement from the LAPD said "there were no obvious signs of trauma." The LA County coroner confirmed Oct. 29 to ABC News that an autopsy was performed. Perry's cause of death is pending while they wait for toxicology results, which could take weeks.

The Matthew Perry Foundation, which was created in the "realization of Matthew's enduring commitment to helping others struggling with the disease of addiction," was launched earlier this month.