Matt LeBlanc writes gut-punch tribute to friend Matthew Perry: ‘You’re finally free’

Matt LeBlanc has become the first of the lead stars of Friends to post a tribute to Matthew Perry following his former co-star’s death at the age of 54.

In a heart-wrenching post shared on Instagram, the actor, who played Joey Tribbiani in the beloved sitcom opposite Perry’s Chandler Bing, shared a compilation of photos from the show, including moments from several iconic scenes.

The 56-year-old wrote in his caption: ‘Matthew.

‘It is with a heavy heart I say goodbye. The times we had together are honestly among the favorite times of my life.

‘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. Much love.’Matt LeBlanc Posts Tribute to 'Friends' Co-Star Matthew Perry: 'I'll Never  Forget You' | Entertainment Tonight

Matt LeBlanc and Matthew Perry in Friends

Joey and Chandler’s friendship is one of the most belove aspects of Friends for fans across the globe (Picture: Brian D. McLaughlin/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
He concluded his message with a quip that demonstrated the love he shared with Perry, as well as Joey and Chandler’s heartwarming and enduring friendship throughout the 10 seasons of the Friends.

‘And I guess you’re keeping the 20 bucks you owe me,’ he wrote.

Perry died on October 28 after reportedly drowning at his home in Los Angeles.

The initial toxicology tests that were conducted did not show any fentanyl or methamphetamines in his system when he died.

A cause of death is yet to be determined, with the results of his autopsy pending a toxicology report.

Following Perry’s death, the other five lead stars of Friends – LeBlanc, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow – shared a joint statement expressing their heartbreak.

Matt LeBlanc and Matthew Perry in Friends

The actors pictured in the episode The One with the Fake Monica, which aired in 1995 (Picture: Alice S. Hall/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
The lead stars of Friends – Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing, Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green, David Schwimmer as Ross Geller, Courteney Cox as Monica Geller, Matt Le Blanc as Joey Tribbiani, Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay

The close friendship forged between the cast of Friends carried across off-screen (Picture: NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
‘We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family,’ they said in the statement sent to People.

‘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. For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.’

The tribute that LeBlanc shared on Instagram has led to an outpouring of support for the actor, after he uploaded pictures from some of Joey and Chandler’s most memorable scenes together.

The first picture was from the 1996 episode The One After the Superbowl (Part 1), when Joey and Chandler arm themselves against a stalker who has become enamoured with Joey’s Days of Our Lives character Dr Drake Ramoray – Joey with a saucepan, and Chandler with a bottle.

Next, he shared a photo from the One with the Cat, the 1997 episode when the housemates are robbed, leaving them with basically no furniture in their apartment, except for a canoe in their living room.

Matt LeBlanc and Matthew Perry in Friends

Joey and Chandler loved their recliners (Picture: Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
The third and fourth pictures in LeBlanc’s post featured heartfelt moments between Joey and Chandler, which showed them hugging each other tightly.

Lastly, the actor posted a picture from the day that the cast filmed the last ever episode of the series, when they were photographed having a loving huddle.

Following Perry’s death, an interview resurfaced where the late actor had spoken about how he wished to be remembered.

Perry had struggled in his life with addiction issues, which he opened up about in his memoir Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing.

He went on to open an addiction recovery facility at his former mansion in Malibu.

Matthew Perry

Perry pictured in London in 2016, when he was starring in his play The End of Longing as an exaggerated version of himself (Picture: David M. Benett/Getty Images)
In November 2022, Perry was speaking at a live recording of the Q podcast wiht Tom Power when he said: ‘I would like to be remembered as somebody who lived well, loved well, was a seeker.

‘And his paramount thing is that he wants to help people. That’s what I want.’

In a clip that’s since gone viral as heartbroken fans pay tribute to the star, he added: ‘The best thing about me, bar none, is that if somebody comes to me and says, “I can’t stop drinking, can you help me?” I can say “yes” and follow up and do it.

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