The sudden death of Matthew Perry left fans, friends, and colleagues everywhere heartbroken, but none moreso than his Friends costars, who have remained largely silent since his sudden passing. Now, however, Matt LeBlanc has spoken out about the loss of his long-time friend.

“Matthew,” LeBlanc began in an Instagram post. “It is with a heavy heart I say goodbye. The times we had together are honestly among the favorite times of my life.
It was an honor to share the stage with you and to call you my friend. I will always smile when I think of you and I’ll never forget you. Never.
Spread your wings and fly brother you’re finally free. Much love.”

“And I guess you’re keeping the 20 bucks you owe me.”

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Matthew Perry died on October 28. His assistant found him unresponsive in the hot tub of his Los Angeles home, leading to speculation that the actor had drowned. The official cause of death, however, remains unconfirmed. According to law enforcement, there were no signs of foul play or drugs on the scene.

Matt LeBlanc previously made a joint statement with his fellow Friends stars, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, and Courteney Cox. “We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates, we are a family,” the group’s October 30th statement read. “There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.”

Matthew Perry Foundation Launched to Honor Late ‘Friends’ Star

Mere days following the actor’s death, a foundation was established in Matthew Perry’s name to support those suffering from addiction. “In the spirit of Matthew Perry’s enduring commitment to helping others struggling with the disease of addiction, we embark on a journey to honor his legacy by establishing the Matthew Perry Foundation, guided by his own words and experiences, and driven by his passion for making a difference in as many lives as possible,” its inaugural statement read.

Though Matthew Perry enjoyed his career as an actor, including his most memorable role as Chandler on the beloved 90s sitcom Friends, he hoped to leave behind a more impactful legacy.

“When I die, I don’t want Friends to be the first thing that’s mentioned — I want helping others to be the first thing that’s mentioned,” Perry said in a 2022 interview on the Q With Tom Power podcast. “I’m going to live the rest of my life proving that. Addiction is far too powerful for anyone to defeat alone. But together, one day at a time, we can beat it down.”