Friends stars gone too soon from Matthew Perry loss to rare diseases and suicide
News of the tragic death of Friends star Matthew Perry shocked and saddened the world. Matthew, who became globally famous as the wise-cracking Chandler Bing, was found dead at his LA home last Saturday - and his cause of death is yet to be determined.
Mourning fans have shared their grief online and many celebrities who worked with the actor shared personal tributes to social media. A statement released by his Friends castmates Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow said they were 'utterly devastated'.
The statement said: "We were more than just cast mates. We are a family. 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 to For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world."
However, sadly, Matthew's death is not the first tragedy to hit the smash-hit comedy. Here, the Mirror takes a look back at the other sad losses that have plagued the show...
James Michael Tyler - Gunther
James Tyler Moore as lovesick Gunther (Unofficially Friends/Youtube)If there had been a seventh friend, it would have been Gunther. He appeared in 148 episodes of the series and hopelessly pined over Jennifer Aniston's character Rachel Green in most of them.
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Gunther was manager at Central Perk, where Rachel was employed at the start of the series. Although clearly terrible at her job, Gunther refused to fire her because he was so smitten. In real-life, James would have made a great coffee shop manager - his experience as a barista is why Friends producers hired him - in a bid to make Central Perk more ‘authentic’.
After the show ended, James often appeared at Friends events and Central Perk pop-ups. Sadly, James was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018. He appeared via video on the Friends reunion in May 2021 before going public with his diagnosis in June 2021. A few months later, James passed away aged 59.
"Friends would not have been the same without you," Jennifer Aniston said in tribute. "Thank you for the laughter you brought to the show and to all of our lives. You will be so missed." While Courteney Cox added: "The size of gratitude you brought into the room and showed every day on set is the size of the gratitude I hold for having known you. Rest In peace James."
Stan Kirsch - Monica's teenage lover Ethan
Stan had a starring cameo in Friends where he played a high school student dating MonicaStan played Monica Geller's much younger love interest Ethan in The One with the Ick Factor in 1995. In the episode, Monica, played by Courtney Cox, discovers he's a high school student and a 17-year-old virgin. She is horrified as she lied about her age too and told him she was 22 when she was actually 26.
Stan also had a regular role in the successful series Highlander as Richie Ryan. In 2020, aged 51 the actor tragically took his own life at the Los Angeles home he shared with wife Kristyn Green.
Ron Leibman - Rachel's dad Dr Green
Ron Leibman as Rachel's dad Dr Green (NBC)Ron Leibman played Rachel’s authoritarian father, Dr. Leonard Green. Dr Green was often found in disagreement with Ross Gellar, always teasing and mocking him. Ron starred in four episodes, including The One With The Two Parties and The One with the Race Car Bed, where he takes Rachel and Ross out for dinner and ridicules Ross for saying he is allergic to lobster.
An award-winning actor, Ron also starred in The Sopranos and Law and Order. He died in 2019 at the age of 82 following complications of pneumonia.
Robin Williams - Betrayed husband Thomas
Robin Williams with Billy Crystal in Friends (NBC)There were many celebrity cameos on Friends but one of the most memorable was Robin Williams and Billy Crystal as Thomas and Tim in "The One With the Ultimate Fighting Champion. Thomas and Tim find themselves on the gang's couch in Central Perk as a hysterical Thomas tries to figure out who might be having an affair with his wife.
As it turns out, it's Tim. Matthew and the rest of the gang must have been in awe watching these comedy geniuses at work. Robin was 63 when he died of asphyxia by hanging in August 2014. After his passing, an autopsy on his brain revealed that he’d had Lewy Body dementia. He was also diagnosed with a form of Parkinson’s.
Charlton Heston - as himself
Charlton Heston in Friends (NBC)A titan of the golden age of Hollywood, Charlton Heston also joined the list of starry names to drop into the Friends set. And it was only natural that the Ten Commandments actor played himself. Charlton made his cameo in The One With Joey’s Dirty Day.
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In the 1998 episode, he and Joey Tribbani (Matt LeBlanc) are supposed to appear in a film together, and Joey uses the actor’s dressing room shower. Charlton starred in Ben Hur, and other other blockbuster films, including El Cid and Planet of The Apes.
As his Friends appearance made a nod to - he was a fierce gun rights activist and onetime president of the National Rifle Association. Charlton passed away April 2008 at 84 years old, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
Taylor Negron - Monica's boss Alessandro
Taylor Negron as restaurant owner Alessandro (NBC)Taylor Negron played Alessandro, who owned the restaurant of the same name. In The One Where They’re Going To Party . Alessandro was left crushed following Monica’s brutal review of his eatery in the episode.
After reading Monica’s scathing words, he went to confront her, but ended up offering her a job as head chef. That spelt the end for Monica's catering business with Phoebe but Monica continued to work at the restaurant for several seasons. Sadly, Taylor was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2008 and died in 2015 aged just 57.
Mike Hagerty - caretaker Mr Treeger
Mike Hagerty as Mr. Treeger in Friends (Warner Bros. Television)Mike Hagerty had a recurring role as the building’s super Mr. Treeger throughout Friends, appearing in five episodes including The One Where Heckles Dies. His most memorable appearance was in The One with the Ballroom Dancing when Joey is forced to help Treeger learn how to dance after he threatens to have Monica and Rachel evicted.
Mike played Kurt Russell's best friend in the comedy Overboard in 1987 and starred in several TV shows and films throughout his career. He died after going into a seizure in May 2022. He was 67. It was reported that he had a negative reaction to an antibiotic used to treat a leg infection.
Conchata Ferrell - the judge
Conchata-Ferrell as the judge who wont let Ross and Rachel get an annulment (NBC)You may not have known the name but most TV audiences of a certain age would recognise Conchata. The actress starred in The One With Joey’s Porsche. After the One in Vegas episode, Conchata played the judge who denied the now Mr and Mrs Ross and Rachel Geller get an annulment.
Away from Friends, the actress had a formidable CV. She played Berta on the sitcom Two and a Half Men, and also was a regular on L.A. Law. Moviewise Conchata had roles in Edward Scissorhands and Mystic Pizza. She died at the age of 77 after suffering a heart attack in October 2020.
Paul Gleason- Phoebe's 'alternate reality' boss Jack
Paul Gleason (NBC)In the episode "The One That Could Have Been," the "Friends" gang imagines what things would have been like had their lives gone a bit differently. In this imagined reality, Phoebe is a workaholic banker. Paul Gleason played Jack, her boss, who confronts Phoebe after she turns up to work in spite of having been fired.
He starred in movies Breakfast Club, Trading Places and Die Hard as well as several TV shows. Paul died aged 67 in 2006 from mesothelioma - a form of lung cancer connected with asbestos exposure - thought to be contracted from working on building sites as a teenager.
Alaina Reed Hall - hospital receptionist
(NBC)Alaina starred as the hospital admissions woman in season 1's The One With Two Parts: Part 2. Scary and sassy, she was the one who branded Monica an 'idiot' for trying to pretend she was Rachel because her own health insurance had run out. In 2009 Alaina died from breast cancer aged 63.
Alexis Arquette -The Customer and waiter in drag
Alexis Arquette in Friends (NBC)When Courtney Cox was married to David Arquette, her sister-in-law Alexis appeared in two minor parts in Friends. Born Robert Arquette, Alexis transitioned in the mid-noughties and her experiences were documented in the 2007 film Alexis Arquette: She's My Brother.
Alexis played a customer in the 2000 One with Rachel's sister episode and in 2001 as a waiter in drag on the Chandler's dad episode in 2001. The season 7 episode saw her interact with Monica and Chandler as they drove to Las Vegas to track down his estranged dad. Alexis died from HIV-related complications in 2016 aged just 47.
Kellie Waymire - Phoebe's friend
(NBC)The actress starred as Phoebe's friend Colleen, who helped guide Monica and Chandler through the adoption process in The One Where Ross Is Fine. In the 2003 episode, Chandler mentions to her son about his adoption - only to find out he didn't know he was. If this wasn't bad enough, Matt Perry's character also tells the boy there is no Santa.
Kellie was best known for her role as Melissa in Six Feet Under. Sadly, just one month after her Friends episode aired, she died unexpectedly aged 36. The actress suffered a cardiac arrest in November 2003 caused by undiagnosed cardiac arrhythmia. It's thought to have been linked to the mitral valve prolapse she was diagnosed with as a teenager.
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