Matt LeBlanc has paid tribute to his beloved friend and co-star Matthew Perry.
The entertainment world was rocked by the tragic news that Perry had passed away at his Los Angeles home last month, leaving millions of his fans around the world devastated. He was just 54 years old.
Law enforcement sources have informed TMZ that there were no drugs or signs of suspected foul play at the scene. The coroner’s office has since confirmed that Perry's cause of death had been "deferred" at this time. This essentially means that an autopsy has been completed, but the examiner is now awaiting pending toxicology reports, a process that may take several weeks.
Best known for his role in the hit 90s sitcom Friends, Perry brought joy to millions of viewers - especially in his hilarious scenes with roommate Joey Tribianni - played by Matt LeBlanc.
Now, LeBlanc has taken to Instagram to share a personal heartfelt tribute to his late co-star.
Sharing snaps of the pair from the show, LeBlanc addresses his late friend as "Matthew", before writing: "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."
He then ended this post with a joke, adding: "And I guess you’re keeping the 20 bucks you owe me."
The post has quickly racked up a number of comments from grieving fans within minutes of it being uploaded. One fan wrote: "This just broke my heart all over again. I'm sorry you lost your friend, but I'm happy he's pain free."
Another added: "I’m so sorry for your loss, he was an incredible actor and person. He’ll always be with you, watching over and taking care. Much love, Matt! May your heart heal."
A third commented: "So sorry for your loss, @mleblanc ... Feels like ours, too, though. Matthew will be dearly missed by millions. But you got to be his friend, and I'm sure it aches too much. We are with you. Be at peace, now, Matty."
Perry's funeral was held in Los Angeles on November 3, with the star being buried a Forest Lawn cemetery, which is symbolically opposite the Warner Brothers studios where Friends was filmed for ten years.
The ceremony was private, with invites only extended to close family and friends - a total of approximately 20 were said to be at the function.
All five lead actors from the Friends cast - Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer - came to the funeral wearing black while sharing their grief for their friend.
Perry's family, devastated by his untimely death in late October, expressed their gratitude for the overwhelming support from fans across the globe.
In a statement to People, they 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."
Our thoughts continue to go out to all of Perry's fans, family, and friends at this time.
