Julia Roberts has opened up about the tragic death of her former partner, Matthew Perry.
Perry, who passed away in late October, was discovered in the hot tub at his Los Angeles home by first responders.
In their statement to PEOPLE, Perry's family shared their heartbreak: "We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother. Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend. You all meant so much to him, and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love."
According to PEOPLE, Perry had previously disclosed details of a "three-month-long courtship" with Julia Roberts during her appearance on the Friends episode 'The One After the Super Bowl' in 1996.
The actor recalled the exchange of feet-long faxes filled with romantic poetry and gifts between the two. However, Perry's own struggles with self-esteem led to the premature end of their relationship.
"Dating Julia Roberts had been too much for me," Perry wrote in his memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. "I had been constantly certain that she was going to break up with me. Why would she not? I was not enough; I could never be enough; I was broken, bent, unlovable. So instead of facing the inevitable agony of losing her, I broke up with the beautiful and brilliant Julia Roberts."
Roberts has spoken with Entertainment Tonight to express her heartbreak regarding Perry's death.
"The sudden passing of anybody so young is heartbreaking," she said. "I have all good thoughts and feelings. I think that, you know, it just helps all of us appreciate what we have and to keep going in a positive way as best we can."
Despite the separation, Roberts still holds the Friends cameo in high regard. "They were all so welcoming to me as just a kind of a one-off character, and it was a really fun time," she fondly recalled.
One month after Perry's passing, his family issued another statement to Entertainment Tonight, emphasizing the crucial work of the Matthew Perry Foundation.
"It is important to us as a family to honor Matthew's legacy. The potential that the Matthew Perry Foundation has to help those suffering with this disease is something we are proud to bring to the world."
The Matthew Perry Foundation is dedicated to carrying forward Perry's mission of assisting addicts in overcoming substance abuse while preserving his legacy.
While Perry's autopsy has concluded, the official cause of death awaits the results of toxicology tests, a process that may take several weeks.
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