15 November 2023 , 15:10
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David Schwimmer has paid tribute to his close pal Matthew Perry as he thanked him for "ten incredible years of laughter and creativity" following his untimely death.
Taking to Instagram, David, who played the role of Ross Geller in the hit American sitcom, penned a touching tribute to his former pal and co-star. Sharing a picture of the two of them on set, he wrote: "Matty, Thank you for ten incredible years of laughter and creativity.
"I will never forget your impeccable comic timing and delivery. You could take a straight line of dialogue and bend it to your will, resulting in something so entirely original and unexpectedly funny it still astonishes.
Read More: Jennifer Aniston's candid comments about Matthew Perry's struggles before his death
David and Matthew starred alongside each other for more than a decade"And you had heart. Which you were generous with, and shared with us, so we could create a family out of six strangers. This photo is from one of my favorite moments with you. Now it makes me smile and grieve at the same time.
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"I imagine you up there, somewhere, in the same white suit, hands in your pockets, looking around— 'Could there BE any more clouds?'"
Matthew was found dead in his hot tub on October 28 by emergency responders. 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 drugs on the scene and cops did not suspect any foul play.
In the years prior to his death, Matthew was vocal about his struggles with addiction. According to him, there were portions of his time filming Friends that he simply could not remember as a result. Ultimately, he suffered from an opioid overdose a few years ago that landed him in the hospital. After his colon burst, his loved ones were told he would only have a 2% chance of survival. After pulling through, he went through an extensive recovery process that included surgeries and rehabilitation center visits.
A friend who went through the rehab with Matthew told the DailyMail: "It’s such tragic news. Everyone is praying he didn’t relapse. Matt was a genuinely lovely guy. He was always the first to welcome newcomers to the group and would always volunteer to help and be of service."
According to the friend, Matthew's death is being met with teary-eyed reactions throughout his social circle. In recent years, Matthew was believed to be sober which his friend confirmed. The star explained his journey in his memoir and while promoting the book, he told Whoopi Goldberg on The View that he was doing well. His friend said: "It’s no secret that he struggled with drugs and alcohol for years but the last time I spoke to him, which was within the last few weeks, he seemed to be in a good place."
The Friends crew also paid tribute to their star. The official Twitter account wrote: "We are devastated to learn of Matthew Perry’s passing. He was a true gift to us all. Our heart goes out to his family, loved ones, and all of his fans."