Matthew Perry’s funeral took place on a Friday, where friends and family gathered to pay their respects. The service was held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles, located near Warner Bros. Studios. According to a source, Perry’s beloved Friends co-stars, including Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer, were in attendance.
The funeral service commenced at 3 p.m. PST and concluded at 5 p.m. PST. Perry’s passing occurred on October 28, at the age of 54, at his Los Angeles residence, reportedly due to an apparent drowning, as initially reported by TMZ. Law enforcement sources stated that no drugs were found at the scene, and there were no signs of foul play.
Matthew Perry (Credits: BNN Breaking)
The autopsy has been concluded, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office, but the findings are pending toxicology testing. However, according to the actor’s web record, the cause of death is presently listed as “deferred,” pending additional inquiry.
Following his sudden passing, Perry’s family sent a statement to PEOPLE expressing their profound grief. The statement read, “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.”
In an exclusive joint statement with PEOPLE, Perry’s fellow Friends cast members expressed their grief as well: “We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just castmates. 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. For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.” Aniston, Cox, Kudrow, LeBlanc, and Schwimmer signed the statement.
The adored Friends star, who fought alcohol and drug addiction for decades, had intentions to start a foundation to help people who were struggling with substance misuse before he tragically passed away. His family created this charity after his death, opening the website for The Matthew Perry charity that same Friday.
The mission statement of the foundation highlights Matthew’s perpetual dedication to supporting individuals battling addiction: “The Matthew Perry Foundation is the realization of Matthew’s enduring commitment to helping others struggling with the disease of addiction. It will honor 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.”
“When I die, I don’t want ‘Friends’ to be the first thing that’s mentioned — I want to help others to be the first thing that’s mentioned. And I’m going to live the rest of my life proving that,” Perry said in a moving black-and-white photo and inspirational quote that can be found on the foundation’s website. Perry made this statement during his November 2022 appearance on the Q With Tom Power podcast. “Addiction is far too powerful for anyone to defeat alone. But together, one day at a time, we can beat it down.”
