‘Friends’ cast speaks out after Matthew Perry’s death: ”We are all so utterly devastated”

Two days after Matthew Perry’s sudden and shocking death, Friends stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer came together to express their grief and pay tribute to their departed friend.

The core cast of Friends had earlier refrained from making any announcements or statements when the news came out. There has been an outpouring of messages from many others who were close to Perry—from Gilmore Girls star Lauren Graham and Charmed star Shannen Doherty to Friends co-stars Maggie Wheeler and Morgan Fairchild, who portrayed Chandler’s mother.

In an exclusive statement given to PEOPLE, the cast members shared their deep sorrow, “We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family,” their statement reads. “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,” the statement continued, “For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.” The message has been signed by Aniston, Cox, Kudrow, LeBlanc and Schwimmer.

The series’ creators, Marta Kauffman and David Crane, joined by executive producer Kevin Bright, released a joint statement on Sunday. “We are shocked and deeply, deeply saddened by our beloved friend Matthew’s passing. It still seems impossible. All we can say is that we feel blessed to have had him as part of our lives. He was a brilliant talent.”

They also noted, “It’s a cliche to say that an actor makes a role their own, but in Matthew’s case, there are no truer words. From the day we first heard him embody the role of Chandler Bing, there was no one else for us. We will always cherish the joy, the light, the blinding intelligence he brought to every moment — not just to his work, but in life as well. He was always the funniest person in the room. More than that, he was the sweetest, with a giving and selfless heart.”

Remembering Perry’s infectious charm, they declared, “We send all of our love to his family and friends. This truly is The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken.”

Matthew Perry’s life and struggles were well-documented, from his early days on the show to his public battle with substance abuse. Despite his fame, he yearned for privacy and found solace in his family and close friends. His sudden passing at the age of 54 remains a shock to the world. Law enforcement sources have ruled out drugs and foul play in his death, but the exact cause remains pending further investigation.