One day after Friends stars Matt LeBlanc and Courteney Cox paid tribute to Matthew Perry on social media, co-stars Jennifer Aniston, a.k.a. Rachel Green, and David Schwimmer, a.k.a. Ross Geller, are following suit with earnest, sweet messages remembering their friend.
Perry, who died on October 29 at the age of 54, was best known for playing Chandler Bing on NBC’s superhit sitcom for 10 seasons. He brought the role to life with astounding talent and comedic chops. It’s clear he loved to make everyone laugh, and Aniston points that out on her Instagram post as well: “As he said himself, if he didn’t hear the ‘laugh’ he thought he was going to die. His life literally depended on it. And boy did he succeed in doing just that. He made all of us laugh. And laugh hard,” she writes. She adds that Perry was a part of their DNA. “We were always the 6 of us. This was a chosen family that forever changed the course of who we were and what our path was going to be.”
And if that isn’t enough to make you emotional all over again, Aniston also shared a text Perry sent telling her how making her laugh made his day. In his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, And The Big Terrible Thing, he wrote about how he appreciated Aniston approaching him about his battle with addiction, and that he had a huge crush on her while filming the early seasons of Friends.
Friends co-star David Schwimmer also praised Perry’s immense talent in his tribute, saying: “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.” He’s right. Watch any random episode, and even almost 20 years later, Perry’s work feels like a standout.
Schwimmer’s photo is from a flashback scene of Chandler and Ross in college, attempting to act as cool as they possibly can with flashy outfits, expressions, and hairstyles. He notes it was one of his favorite moments they shared. Aniston and Schwimmer end their posts in the most Chandler way possible, using his trademark dialogue delivery style.
Perry’s death hit hard, with fans from across the globe, his pals, and his coworkers pouring in tributes to the actor. A recovering addict who spent time in and out of rehab, he devoted his life to aiding friends who were struggling.
He also wrote in his book that he’d love to be remembered for helping people instead of only being known for his Friends performance. It’s bittersweet because his pitch-perfect portrayal of Chandler—awkward, unabashedly funny, unexpectedly charming—helped audiences in so many ways. That’s why, as Aniston puts it, “This one has cut deep.”
To reflect on what they’ve said about Perry’s ability to make everyone laugh, here’s an unforgettable Friends scene with him, Aniston, and Schwimmer. Perry’s delivery of “Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!” will always be famous.