Entertainment
Friends Star Matthew Perry Laid to Rest at Private Funeral, Co-Stars in Attendance
Actor Matthew Perry laid to rest at Forest Lawn cemetery in Los Angeles following a private funeral attended by Friends co-stars and family. The cause of death is unknown. A foundation to help those struggling with addiction was launched in his name.
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Originally published by www.nationnews.com (opens in new tab)
Actor Matthew Perry has been laid to rest at a Los Angeles cemetery following a private funeral on Friday, according to US media reports.
All five of his co-stars from hit sitcom Friends attended the service alongside Perry’s family, it was reported.
The funeral service at the Forest Lawn cemetery, near Warner Bros Studios, is said to have lasted two hours.
Perry was found dead at his LA home last weekend at the age of 54.
His cause of death has not been confirmed. A post-mortem examination was inconclusive and officials are awaiting the results of toxicology tests.
The star played wise-cracking Chandler Bing on Friends from 1994 to 2004, with his death generating an outpouring of grief from fans and fellow celebrities.
Forest Lawn Memorial Park is the resting place of numerous Hollywood stars including Carrie Fisher, Paul Walker and Stan Laurel.
US media shared long-distance and aerial photographs from outside the service, where Perry’s Friends co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer could be seen.
His mother, father, and stepfather were also there. About 20 people dressed in black attended in total, according to TMZ.
Perry’s death came one year after the publication of memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, which chronicled his decades-long struggle with addiction to prescription painkillers and alcohol.
On the same day as his funeral, a new foundation was launched in Perry’s name to help those struggling with addiction.
The website for the Matthew Perry Foundation leads with a quote from Perry that says: “When I die, I don’t want Friends to be the first thing that’s mentioned – I want helping others to be the first thing that’s mentioned.”
Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman said she spoke to Perry two weeks ago, telling NBC’s Today programme he was “happy and chipper” and seemed “in a really good place”. (BBC)
