Friends stars Courteney Cox and Matt LeBlanc have each offered their initial individual tributes to their co-star Matthew Perry, who passed away last month.
Cox, who portrayed Perry’s on-screen wife Monica, posted a video clip on Instagram, expressing gratitude for every moment they spent working together.
Matt LeBlanc, who played Chandler’s roommate Joey, had previously shared his first tribute.
“It was an honour to call you my friend,” he wrote.
Le Blanc, 56, said: “It is with a heavy heart I say goodbye. I’ll never forget you.”
Last month, Matthew Perry was discovered deceased at his Los Angeles residence at the age of 54, leading to an overwhelming expression of grief from fans globally.
In a collective statement, Courteney Cox and Matt Le Blanc, along with their fellow Friends cast members Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, and David Schwimmer, characterized Perry’s passing as an “unfathomable loss.”
“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew,” the statement said. “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.”
Image caption,Matt LeBlanc said he would never forget Matthew Perry
LeBlanc became the first to post an individual tribute, sharing pictures of him on set with Perry, as he said on Instagram: “The times we had together are honestly among the favourite times of my life.
“It was an honour 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.”
Within hours, Cox added her tribute on Instagram, writing alongside her chosen clip: “When you work with someone as closely as I did with Matthew, there are thousands of moments I wish I could share. For now here’s one of my favourites.”
She also revealed a behind-the-scenes story as she said: “Chandler and Monica were supposed to have a one-night fling in London. But because of the audience’s reaction, it became the beginning of their love story.
“In this scene, before we started rolling, he whispered a funny line for me to say. He often did things like that. He was funny and he was kind.”
Earlier this month, Matthew Perry’s funeral occurred, reportedly attended by his Friends co-stars. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of his death.
In his memory, a new foundation has been established, pledging to carry on his dedication to “assisting others grappling with the disease of addiction.” This commitment stems from Perry’s well-documented struggles with alcohol and drugs.
Matthew Perry’s death was not caused by fentanyl or methamphetamine, according to preliminary tests conducted after the “Friends” star’s sudden passing over the weekend.
He died of an apparent drowning in a hot tub at his Pacific Palisades residence at the age of 54.
It is still uncertain whether Perry had lethal levels of prescription medications, as numerous prescription drugs were discovered at his residence, or if he had any illicit substances in his system.
A complete toxicology report is anticipated to take a minimum of six weeks, with a more probable range of 4 to 6 months, and an official cause of death has not yet been established.
The Los Angeles County medical examiner had classified his autopsy status as “deferred” on Sunday, with no indications of foul play.
Authorities discovered prescription anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medications, and medication for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at Perry’s home, which affects breathing. No illegal substances were found.
If the toxicology report eventually reveals narcotics, the Robbery Homicide Division of the Los Angeles Police Department will continue the investigation.
Perry, the author of “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” passed away alone at home after playing pickleball earlier on Saturday and sending his assistant on an errand. Law enforcement sources reported to TMZ that Perry’s body was not waterlogged when paramedics arrived at the scene, indicating that he had not been submerged for an extended period.
People close to the actor, who had been open about his struggles with substance abuse and alcoholism, mentioned that he had been sober in recent weeks and was feeling happier than ever.
The cause of Matthew Perry’s death remains uncertain, and it has been “deferred” pending further investigation.
Reports from the LA Times and TMZ, which initially broke the news of the Friends actor’s passing, indicated that he was discovered unresponsive in a hot tub at his residence on Saturday.
Although a post-mortem examination yielded inconclusive results, officials are awaiting the outcome of toxicology tests.
An LA Police spokesperson confirmed to CBS News that there were no apparent signs of trauma.
This usually means that the post-mortem is complete but more detail is needed.
On Sunday, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department informed the BBC that first responders had been dispatched to an address in the Pacific Palisades area due to a “water emergency” of an unspecified nature but did not disclose Matthew Perry’s name.
Matthew Perry, the renowned actor who portrayed the wisecracking Chandler Bing on the immensely popular ’90s TV sitcom Friends, passed away at the age of 54.
Friends, a show that followed the lives of six young friends living in New York City, was broadcast from 1994 until 2004. Its final episode attracted 52.5 million viewers in the United States, making it the most-watched TV episode of the 2000s.
Despite his fame, Perry grappled with addiction to painkillers and alcohol during that time and sought treatment in rehabilitation centers on several occasions.
In a 2016 interview with BBC Radio 2, he disclosed that he could not recollect three years of filming Friends due to issues related to alcohol and drugs.
US actor Matthew Perry, renowned for his iconic portrayal of Chandler Bing in the beloved ’90s TV series Friends, has passed away at the age of 54.
Law enforcement sources in Los Angeles have disclosed that the actor was discovered lifeless at his residence.
Friends, the show that chronicled the lives of six close-knit friends residing in New York City, ran from 1994 to 2004.
The series’ final episode captured the hearts of 52.5 million viewers in the United States, cementing it as the most-watched TV episode of the 2000s.
The LA Times and TMZ, the first to break the news of Perry’s demise, reported that he was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his residence.
A spokesperson from the Los Angeles Fire Department informed the BBC that emergency responders were dispatched to an address in the Pacific Palisades area, responding to a “water emergency” of an unspecified nature, but refrained from confirming Perry’s identity.
Warner Bros. TV, the production company behind Friends, expressed profound sorrow at the loss of their cherished friend, Matthew Perry.
“Matthew was an incredibly gifted actor and an indelible part of the Warner Bros. Television Group family,” the statement read.
“The impact of his comedic genius was felt around the world, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of so many. This is a heartbreaking day, and we send our love to his family, his loved ones, and all of his devoted fans.”
Image caption, Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston and Matthew Perry in a scene from Friends
Matthew Perry, born in Massachusetts in 1969, spent his formative years in Ottawa, Canada, where he attended elementary school alongside Justin Trudeau, who would go on to become the Canadian prime minister.
As a teenager, Perry relocated to Los Angeles, where he made his acting debut as Chazz Russell in Boys Will Be Boys and took on various roles in TV shows, including Growing Pains.
However, it was his role on Friends that catapulted him to international stardom. The show chronicled the lives of six New Yorkers as they navigated the complexities of dating, careers, and friendship. Co-starring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, and Lisa Kudrow, Friends became one of the most iconic and successful television series of all time.
Matthew Perry portrayed the endearingly awkward Chandler Bing, renowned for his sharp-witted one-liners, earning him a Primetime Emmy nomination in 2002.
Throughout his life, Perry grappled with addiction to painkillers and alcohol, seeking help through rehabilitation clinics on multiple occasions. In a 2016 interview with BBC Radio 2, he disclosed that he could not recollect three years of filming Friends due to the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Image caption, Perry (far left) with the other stars of Friends in 1997
In a more recent interview last year, he shared that he chose not to watch the show.
“I didn’t watch the show, and haven’t watched the show, because I could go, ‘Drinking, opiates, drinking, cocaine,’” he said. “I could tell season by season, by how I looked. That’s why I don’t wanna watch it, because that’s what I see.
“But I think I’m going to start to watch it because it’s been an incredible thing to watch it touch the hearts of different generations.”
Perry also appeared in several films, including Fools Rush In, Almost Heroes and the Whole Nine Yards.
Maggie Wheeler, who played Janice in Friends, was the first of Perry’s co-stars to publicly pay tribute to the actor.
Ms Wheeler said the joy Perry brought to “so many” in his “too short lifetime will live on”.
“I feel so very blessed by every creative moment we shared,” she wrote on Instagram.
Morgan Fairchild who played Perry’s on-screen mother and erotic novel writer Nora Bing, said: “I’m heartbroken about the untimely death of my ‘son’, Matthew Perry.”
“The loss of such a brilliant young actor is a shock,” she added.
Cruel Intentions actress Selma Blair said Perry was her “oldest boy friend”, adding: “All of us loved Matthew Perry, and I did especially. Every day. I loved him unconditionally. And he me.
Kardashynka, Maryna and Valentyna’s southern Ukrainian hamlet, is a quiet area.
A charming group of cottages on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River, occupied by Russia.
Even with the liberation of Kherson city last November, the neighbours hadn’t been able to cross the river to go there because of bridges being destroyed.
In a chain of events few could predict, they finally made that journey this week, while being rescued from the recent catastrophic floods.
“A boat was passing, we started shouting and waving,” says Maryna.
Much of her surrounding area has been devoured by the Dnipro since the destruction of the Khakovka dam upstream.
Their homes sit close to this watery front line which separates Ukrainian-controlled and Russian-occupied territory.
“We’ve been waiting for help,” says Maryna. “Valentyna is 86, I’m 76 but with many illnesses.
“It’s been very difficult. There was no power, no reception, it was like we were on an uninhabited island.”
She becomes emotional and begins to weep.Image caption,
Viktor Kovalenko’s wife was killed by shelling a few days ago
They’re joined by their friend Viktor Kovalenko, whose wife was killed by shelling across the river a few days ago.
Before being rescued, he had to collect her death certificate from the Moscow-installed officials who now rule his neighbourhood.
“I buried her next to my mother. I told her to wait for me,” he says.
The pain he’s experiencing is visceral.
“I kept cursing the Russians in their faces. I don’t know how they didn’t kill me. If only you knew how great our life was together. Now I have no wife, no house, nothing.”
The eastern bank has seen the worst of the flooding, and it’s clear Maryna, Valentyna and Viktor are the lucky ones.
Hundreds of people there have been posting on the Telegram app asking to be rescued from there.
“Help me please!” writes Svitlana, who says there are 35 trapped people at an address. “They’re all on a nearby roof, children are screaming and crying,” she says.
“Three days without food and water, we are dying slowly. Please, please.”
On one local list, published on Friday, we’ve seen the names of 150 people who are reportedly missing.
Aliona posts: “Asking urgently! There is a 1939-born grandmother and 1958-born disabled woman. They need to be evacuated! Help!”
Our team called several numbers of people who said they were stuck on the Russian side, but there was no answer.Image caption,
Viktor has been helping to evacuate people
Dozens of people across Ukraine have responded with their addresses and an offer to provide accommodation after their rescue.
Ukraine’s military says it has been co-ordinating rescues from the eastern bank, but claimed “fearless volunteers” were carrying out some of the evacuations.
On board one rescue boat, as we weave through the vast expanse of Kherson’s flooded port, volunteer Viktor tells us he came under Russian fire while attempting such a trip.
“The problem is, Russian soldiers are waiting there and waiting for volunteers or soldiers to arrive so they can shoot them,” explains Viktor as he offers a lift to people trapped in their apartment blocks.
The BBC has not been able to independently verify these claims.
“Even now, working is difficult. At this very moment, Kherson is under attack. There was also shelling on the island, a rocket struck 30m away from us.”
In the last few days of reporting from Kherson, the city has come under increased shelling and the military administration has advised volunteers not to venture out on to the water.
But that hasn’t deterred people like Viktor, who continues to search for those trapped, still in need of help.
A government official in India who drained a reservoir to retrieve a phone he dropped while taking a selfie has been suspended from his job.
More than 2 million liters of water were pumped out of the Paralkot reservoir, over a period of four days, in an effort to retrieve the Samsung handset belonging to Rajesh Vishwas, a local food inspector.
Vishwas had been out with friends last Sunday afternoon when it slipped from his grasp at the scenic spot in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarhwith.
In a video statement shared by the Indian Express, Vishwas said he rented a diesel pump to ādrain some water into a nearby canalā in an effort to retrieve the phone and that he did this after asking for permission from a sub-divisional officer.
He also said that he had asked others at the reservoir to try to retrieve the phone, but they had been unable to reach it as there was too much water.
His version of events is at odds with that of his employer, who suspended him on the grounds of misusing his position ā noting he had wasted millions of liters of water at a time of severe heat.
His suspension order, seen by CNN, also claims that Vishwas did not receive permission to drain the water.
In his video statement, however, Vishwas insists the water he drained was from the overflow section of the dam and ānot in usable conditionā anyway.
A Nigerian singer, Iyanya, has opened up on why he hasn’t yet married a woman yet.
The 36-year-old claims that he is still single because of his fear of marriage stemming from his early experiences.
He made this known in a recent chat with popular media personality, Chude Jideonwo.
Iyanya said: āTo be real here, I pray to God for a beautiful home. Itās not easy because my experiences as a child have made it difficult for me to just settle for anything.
āItās not that I donāt want to get married or be in a serious relationship, but marriage is scary for me. At the end of the day, you just have to do it, but I donāt stop praying for a beautiful marriage and a beautiful home.ā
He added that he jokes with his friends that one day someone will come out and say he has a baby somewhere.
A very wise man once said, āShow me your friends, and Iāll show you who you are.ā The longer I live, the more I realize that this old saying is preaching the truth.
Statistically, we are theĀ average of the five people we spend the most time with. You are who you hang out with ā and thereās nothing wrong with judging someone by their entourage.
Believe it or not, you can learn a lot about the guy youāre dating by meeting your boyfriendās friends.
A manās entourage can tip you off to his real personality.
Here are 12 things you can learn just by meeting your boyfriendās friends.
1. His likelihood of cheating.
Do you know if his buddies have side pieces? If they do, donāt date him!
Studies show thatĀ one of the biggest predictors of cheatingĀ is whether his friends are currently having affairs on their wives and girlfriends.
2. His attitude toward women in general.
Birds of a feather tend to flock together, especially when it comes to attitudes on women. Misogynistic men tend to hang out with other misogynistic men.
If you hear his friends talking about how women ādonāt function on logicā or anything else like that, you can assume heās not much better and that itās time to bail.
3. His chances of being a creep.
Most guys worth dating will have at least one female friend around them, and thereās a reason for this. Women are open toĀ just being friends with men, but not when men are creeping them out.
If guys canāt even keep a female friend around them, itās a sign that they are doing something seriously wrong.
4. How compatible his lifestyle really is with yours.
You might like him, but letās just be real, liking isnāt enough. On a similar note, if all hisĀ friends come from a very different backgroundĀ than yours and have a lifestyle thatās basically your polar opposite, chances are high that he lives the same type of life.
If you canāt match with that, you probably arenāt compatible in terms of lifestyle.
5. How likely it is that his parents will accept you.
A good rule of thumb is to take a look at his entourage. In most cases, parents like the friends their kids have or want their friends to be a bit more conservative.
If you are the āodd one out,ā then you may have disapproving parents to deal with if you get serious.
6. If heās actually serious about you.
Donāt know his friends? Never got introduced to them, except by accident? Havenāt met them unless you badgered the ever-loving hell outta him?
Well, this is a sign that heās not serious about you, especially if youāve been dating for more than six months.
7. If something is wrong with the relationship that you might not notice.
Iāve learned this from personal experience. If you notice that his friends are shooting you sympathetic, confused, or pitying looks, then you should be worried.
Itās a sign heās cheating on you or otherwise doing something sketchy.
8. If heās talking smack about you behind your back.
Another thing Iāve learned is to be wary if you notice his friends acting unusually cruel, mean, or icy towards you. In many cases, this is a sign that heās saying pretty awful things about you behind your back or that you might be theĀ unwitting other woman.
Either way, see this as grounds for breaking up.
9. If you would want to be with him long-term.
His friends are going to be part of his life, with or without you in it. If you legitimately canāt stand being around any of his friends, you should not consider being around him long-term.
These things can and doĀ cause rifts between couples, and thatās not good for the health of the relationship.
10. His chances of being successful in life.
If the five friends he has around him all the time donāt have jobs, he probably will not have much going on in his life eitherā¦ unless he changes his life.
11. His core values.
His friends will likely haveĀ the same valuesĀ as he does. If his friends are highly religious, chances are that heāll begin to skew towards religiosity as he gets older, too, even if he doesnāt seem religious right now.
Similarly, if his friends donāt value education, he probably wonāt either. Look at his friends and ask if you have similar values to them. If you donāt, you might want to rethink your relationship with him.
12. If heās ready to settle down.
People who have a bunch of friends who are married are far more likely to get married and look for long-term commitment than people whose friends are still single.
If you see a lot of wedding rings on his friends, thatās a good sign that he wants to get married to someone sooner rather than later.
Here are some tips to help you when meeting your boyfriendās friends for the first time.
1. Be yourself.
It is important to show up as your authentic self. No one likes a brown-noser. Be who you are everyday, and his friends will appreciate that just like he does.
You donāt have to memorize sports stats or the latest car models to impress his friends. Make casual conversation. Besides, people can see right through the fake-nice girl act really quickly.
Of course his friends are coming with an arsenal of questions. Wouldnāt your friends? They want to know about you just as much as you are wondering about them.
Set boundaries, and be prepared to do some talking.
3. Be presentable.
Now, you donāt have to go out and spend thousands, but make sure you look good. You represent your man, and you want him proud to introduce you as his lady.
When you look good, you feel good and feeling good will make you more relaxed.
Men like toĀ show off what they value, and girl you are the prize!
Source: your tango
DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author’s, and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana
