LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Maggie Wheeler, recognized for her vibrant portrayal of Janice alongside Matthew Perry's Chandler Bing, stands among the first of the 'Friends' cast members to pay tribute after the actor's sudden death.
According to TMZ's report on October 28, Perry was found dead in the jacuzzi of his Los Angeles residence after authorities responded to a call reporting a cardiac arrest emergency at the location.
Maggie Wheeler feels 'blessed' to work with Matthew Perry
On an Instagram post, Maggie Wheeler wrote, "What a loss. The world will miss you Mathew Perry. The joy you brought to so many in your too short lifetime will live on. I feel so very blessed by every creative moment we shared," and attached a picture of them from the show.
Perry gained prominence through his role on 'Friends', spanning from 1994 to 2004, where he brought the character Chandler Bing to life alongside Courteney Cox as Monica Geller, Jennifer Aniston as Rachel, Matt LeBlanc as Joey, David Schwimmer as Ross, and Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe.
In 2002, Perry even received an Emmy nomination for his performance as Chandler.
Wheeler, a recurring presence on 'Friends', portrayed the character Janice, recognized as an on-again, off-again love interest of Chandler, even though Perry's character ultimately tied the knot with Monica.
'Friends' fans react to Maggie Wheeler's tribute to Matthew Perry
Soon after Maggie Wheeler took to her Instagram to pen a tribute to Matthew Perry after the actor's death came to light, 'Friends' fans flocked to show their love.
One wrote, "Jan and Chan forever."
Another stated, "You two together were magic, so sorry for your loss. I always rooted for him and I am heartbroken 💔 for me, for his family, his friends, for the world. 😢."
"There will never be anyone else like him, whenever i had a bad day or if i was down id turn on friends & he would always cheer me up.. my heart goes out to you Maggie & his friends co-stars right now 😢❤️❤️🙌🙌 (im so heartbroken😢💔)," expressed a fan.
A comment read, "I’m just shattered by his loss. Maggie thank you SO much for all the joy you both gave us GenXers. Chan&Jan live on ❤️❤️."
How old was Matthew Perry?
Born in 1969, Matthew Perry was 54 years old at the time of his death.
Although the specific cause of his demise remains unknown, Perry was reportedly found in a jacuzzi.
Earlier this week, the actor posted a photo of himself swimming alone at night, captioning it with, "Oh, so warm water swirling around makes you feel good? I'm Mattman," and it went viral after the announcement of his death.
The 'Birds of America' actor had previously revealed his struggles with substance abuse and addiction, a subject he delved into in his 2022 memoir, 'Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing'.
In 2019, Perry confronted a critical health crisis when his colon ruptured due to the excessive use of opioids.
His memoir recounted a seven-hour surgery, with hospital personnel informing friends and family that he had less than a 2% chance of "making it through the night."
Post-surgery, Perry entered a two-week coma and endured a five-month hospital stay. Additionally, he relied on a colostomy bag for nine months.
