The tragic passing of Friends actor Matthew Perry was mourned by fans and friends around the world. In fact, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was one of the closest friends to give a tribute to the late actor.
Perry passed away this Saturday at the age of 54 due to apparent drowning. He was known for his iconic portrayal of Chandler Bing in the sitcom Friends.
Matthew Perry Revealed He Beat Up Justin Trudeau In School
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mourned the death of his former schoolmate Matthew Perry, posting a tribute message via X/Twitter:
“Matthew Perry’s passing is shocking and saddening. I’ll never forget the schoolyard games we used to play, and I know people around the world are never going to forget the joy he brought them. Thanks for all the laughs, Matthew. You were loved – and you will be missed.”
Perry and Trudeau both attended Rockcliffe Park Public School in Ottawa, Canada. Perry once shared on Jimmy Kimmel Live how he once beat up Trudeau in school out of jealousy. He revealed:
“I was reminded of this by my friend Chris Murray, who was also in the fifth grade in Canada. He reminded me we actually beat up Justin Trudeau. We both beat him up. I think he was excelling in a sport that we weren’t, so it was pure jealousy. And we beat him up.”
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Perry admitted Trudeau was the only kid in the school that he could easily take on, but the soon-to-be Prime Minister probably used this experience to excel even more. The late actor continued:
“I think he was the only kid in school that we could beat up. I’m not bragging about this. This is terrible. I was a stupid kid. I didn’t want to beat him up. I think I was rather instrumental in him going to such great heights in becoming the Prime Minister. I think he said, ‘I’m going to rise above this and become Prime Minister.’”
When Perry’s interview was released, Trudeau reacted to it and said on social media:
“I’ve been giving it some thought, and you know what, who hasn’t wanted to punch Chandler? How about a rematch?”
The authorities have reported that Perry was found in his hot tub in Los Angeles with the cause of death being drowning. No foul play was suspected.
Friends Creators Remember Matthew Perry
Friends co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane, together with executive producer Kevin Bright, released a statement on Sunday commemorating Matthew Perry. Their message reads (via CNN):
“It still seems impossible. All we can say is that we feel blessed to have had him as part of our lives. He was a brilliant talent. It’s a cliché to say that an actor makes a role their own, but in Matthew’s case, there are no truer words. From the day we first heard him embody the role of Chandler Bing, there was no one else for us.”
Other friends from the industry have also shared their tributes on social media and outpouring of love and support for the late actor.
