03 November 2023 , 23:13
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Matthew Perry's family and friends have gathered to say their final goodbyes to the beloved actor at his funeral.
The Friends star's family and friends gathered at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles on Friday afternoon. The cemetery is opposite Warner Bros Studios, where the show Friends filmed for ten years. Perry died six days ago at the age of 54, leaving the world of Hollywood and fans of the show heartbroken.
Perry's father, John Bennett Perry, and stepfather, Keith Morrison, were among guests at the event, reports Page Six. His Friends co-stars Lisa Kudrow Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox were also seen at the event, with David Schwimmer and Matt Le Blanc also reportedly joining the group later on.
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Matthew Perry's Friends co-stars were pictured at the funeralThe 54-year-old Friends actor sadly died on Saturday as he was found unresponsive in the hot tub of his Los Angeles home. Just 24 hours before his death, Matthew had been pictured enjoying a date with 25-year-old model Athenna Crosby. The pair seemed very happy as they spent time at the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles, California.
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On Monday, the cast of friends - Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, and Lisa Kudrow - issued a statement describing their shock and sadness. "We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family,' the cast said in a joint statement on Monday."
"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."
Friends' co-creators Marta Kauffman, David Crane, and director Kevin Bright also released a statement regarding the tragic news. “We are shocked and deeply, deeply saddened by our beloved friend Matthew’s passing,” they said. “It still seems impossible. All we can say is that we feel blessed to have had him as part of our lives.”
His tearful mother Suzanne Morrison, 84, and Dateline journalist stepfather Keith, 76, were both at the private event, as was his father John Perry, 82. In a statement following Matthew's death, the family wrote: "We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother. Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend. You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love."
Earlier on Friday it was announced that Perry's parents have set up a foundation to honour the late star. In a statement, the organisation said: "The Matthew Perry Foundation is the realisation of Matthew’s enduring commitment to helping others struggling with the disease of addiction. It will honour his legacy and be guided by his own words and experiences and driven by his passion for making a difference in as many lives as possible.”
Matthew Perry's friends co-stars were seen in attendance at the funeral (SPLASH)
The cast were seen gathering to pay their respects (SPLASH)The Matthew Perry Foundation also referenced a quote by Perry on its website, in which he said: “When I die, I don’t want Friends to be the first thing that’s mentioned – I want helping others to be the first thing that’s mentioned and I’m going to live the rest of my life proving that.
“Addiction is far too powerful for anyone to defeat alone. But together, one day at a time, we can beat it down.”
Perry's stepfather Keith was earlier seen in a grocery store, casting a sombre figure as he kept his eyes on his phone. He wore a sage-green T-shirt and pushed around an almost-full cart of shopping. Keith has been married to Matthew's mother Suzanne Perry since 1981 and welcomed four more children - Caitlin, Emily, Will and Madeline - with her, but treated the Friends actor as his own.
Matthew's parents were reportedly by his side throughout his struggles with drugs and alcohol. When he was sent to the hospital in 2018 due to an opioid-induced colon injury, they rushed to the hospital to comfort their son. Matthew mentioned this to Diane Sawyer in an ABC news segment in October 2022. “I was like, ‘Whoa, I must be really sick for this to be happening.
Athenna, who Perry spent time with the day before he died, has now spoken out about their time together and revealed Matthew "refused to touch the drink menu" as he worked hard to stay sober. She said the Hollywood star had been very proud of how far he had come.
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Matthew Perry's loved ones came to pay their respects (Shutterstock / SplashNews.com)Paying tribute to Matthew, Athenna said he was "an amazingly generous and nice person". Matthew is believed to have suffered from accidental drowning as he was found unresponsive by his assistant on October 28.
Athenna penned a touching statement following his death in which she spoke about being "devastated". She wrote on social media: "I am so devastated from his death but felt it was in poor taste to talk about it publicly as the attention should not be on me but rather on him and his legacy and he was an extremely private person and I always respected that in our friendship."
Law enforcement says 911 dispatched responders at around 4:00 p.m. PST due to a report of cardiac arrest. When they arrived on the scene, they began water rescue protocol after Matthew had seemingly drowned. At the time, it was reported that there were no illegal drugs on the scene and cops did not suspect any foul play.
Matthew Perry's family and friends gathered for his funeral (Shutterstock / SplashNews.com)Matthew shared in his recent memoir that he hoped to be remembered for more than just Friends when he died. Speaking in Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, he shared how he'd also liked to be known as someone who helped people.
He said: "The best thing about me, bar none, is that if a fellow alcoholic comes up to me and asks me if I can help them stop drinking, I can say yes, and actually follow up and do it. "I can help a desperate man get sober," he added.
"Maybe I'd found my calling; beyond Friends, beyond movie stardom, beyond everything. I was here to help people get and stay sober."
In an interview promoting the book, he explained: "When I die, I don't want Friends to be the first thing that's mentioned. I want [the work helping addicts] to be the first thing that's mentioned, and I'm going to live the rest of my life proving that."