Actor dies at 54
“Friends” colleagues give him his last escort: Matthew Perry buried in Los Angeles
Actor Matthew Perry died on October 28, 2023 at the age of 54
© Brian Ach/Invision/AP/DPA
Actor Matthew Perry died at the age of 54. His funeral took place in Los Angeles. His former colleagues from the series “Friends” also came to the memorial service.
His death shocked fans, friends and family members: last weekend was actor Matthew Perry found lifeless in the hot tub at his Los Angeles home. The former “Friends” actor was 54 years old. An exact cause of death is not yet known; the results of the autopsy are still pending.
Perry’s funeral took place on Friday afternoon (local time) at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Numerous famous personalities are buried in the cemetery in Los Angeles, such as actress Carrie Fisher, singer Michael Hutchence and film legend Buster Keaton. The park-like facility is located near the Warner Bros. Studios, where many scenes from the cult series “Friends” were created over ten years.
The funeral service for Matthew Perry is said to have started at 3 p.m. local time and lasted around two hours. At the end of the service, a rendition of Peter Gabriel’s song “Don’t Give Up” was played, reports the British newspaper “Daily Mail”. No further details are known yet.
Perry’s former “Friends” colleagues Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer also came to Perry’s funeral. Photos and videos published by the US portal “Page Six”, among others, show the actors arriving and on the cemetery grounds.
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Two days after Perry’s death, the five actors issued a joint statement that was published by the US magazine “People”. It says, in part: “We are all deeply devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just fellow actors. We are a family. There is so much to say, but for now we will take a moment to reflect “We are grieving and coming to terms with this incredible loss. At this time, our thoughts and love are with Matty’s family, his friends and everyone who loved him around the world.”
Perry’s family also previously released a statement to People. They write that they are “heartbroken over the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother.” “Matthew has brought so much joy into the world, both as an actor and as a friend.” The 54-year-old leaves behind five half-siblings, his parents John and Suzanne Perry and his stepfather Keith Morrison, his mother’s second husband.
Sources: “People”, “Page Six”, “Daily Mail”