30 October 2023 , 19:49
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Matthew Perry's assistant Briana Brancato expressed her “deepest gratitude” to the star in a touching tribute following his tragic death.
The Friends star, 54, was found at his home in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles on Saturday, with reports that an assistant returned from an errand to find him unresponsive in his hot tub. His unexpected death was later confirmed, and an investigation is still underway to determine the cause, but police suspect no foul play.
It’s not yet known if it was Matthew’s assistant Briana who discovered his body, but she took to social media to pay a heartbreaking tribute to her boss, who she had worked with for over seven years. She shared a sweet slideshow of personal snaps of the funnyman, including one of the pair relaxing on a giant bed together, as well as pictures of Matthew with his dogs.
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Matthew's assistant paid a touching tribute to her longtime friend and boss (brianabrancato/Instagram)
She shared snaps of her having fun with the former Friends star (brianabrancato/Instagram)“I've expressed my deepest gratitude to him on numerous occasions, not only for guiding me into a career I cherish but also for allowing me to take care of him for 7 years. Along (with) the countless other experiences I'm thankful for. From witnessing him in his genius to sharing in his worldly adventures living around the world, he took me on a remarkable journey,” Briana wrote.
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“My heart is heavy, but celebrating my memories is the most profound way to honor his legacy. I hope that up there, in the great beyond, Mattman is sending us signs. We truly need them. You'll forever be in my heart. I love you Matty,” she concluded her emotional post.
The pair shared a close bond while she worked for him (brianabrancato/Instagram)
Briana's post showed a softer side to the funnyman (brianabrancato/Instagram)Matthew’s untimely passing has prompted a flood of tributes from fellow Hollywood stars, including Katheleen Turner, who played his on-screen father in Friends, and Gwyneth Paltrow, who revealed she had a brief romance with him before he shot to fame on the iconic US sitcom in the 1990s. “I met Matthew Perry in 1993 at the Williamstown Theater Festival in Massachusetts,” she began in a post on Instagram.
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“We were both there for most of the summer doing plays. He was so funny and so sweet and so much fun to be with. We drove out to swim in creeks, had beers in the local college bar, kissed in a field of long grass. It was a magical summer. He had shot the pilot of Friends but it had not aired yet. He was nervous, hoping his big break was just around the corner. It was,” the Oscar winner added.
“We stayed friends for a while until we drifted apart, but I was always happy to see him when I did. I am super sad today, as so many of us are. I hope Matthew is at peace at long last. I really do,” Gwyneth shared. In a bizarre turn of events, the Shakespeare in Love star ended up dating Brad Pitt, who eventually married Matthew’s co-star Jennifer Aniston.