Matthew Perry honoured with funeral opposite 'Friends' filming site
SYDI ALIF
Matthew Perry's funeral was held at a cemetery opposite the Friends filming location, in touching tribute to the star's stellar TV career.
As expected, his Friends co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer were present all dressed in black to bid their farewell to the late actor.
The intimate memorial reportedly took place at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles near the Warner Bros. Studios lot where the iconic NBC sitcom was shot for 10 years.
The resting ground had also notably laid a galaxy of Hollywood stars including Carrie Fisher, Bette Davis, Stan Laurel, Buster Keaton, Michael Hutchence, Paul Walker, Brittany Murphy and Marilyn Monroe.
An onlooker had told US media that Aniston was one of the first to arrive and had kept to herself at the high-profile gathering on Friday.
His tearful mother, Suzanne, 84, and Dateline journalist stepfather Keith Morrison, 76, who was one of the pallbearers, were both at the private event, as was his father John Perry, 82.
The sombre ceremony eventually came around nearly a week after the 54-year-old who played Chandler Bing on the 10-season TV series was found unconscious in a hot tub at his home in Los Angeles last Oct 28.
First responders later declared him dead at the scene after a "rapid medical assessment."
As results from an initial autopsy were inconclusive, his cause of death has been deferred after pending a toxicology report, according to authorities.
In a joint statement, Perry's both on and off-screen buddies since the 90s including Aniston, 54, Cox, 59, Kudrow, 60 and Schwimmer, 57, said they were all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew.
"We were more than just cast mates. We are a family," the statement read.
Meanwhile, his family released a statement expressing their heartbreak at the tragic loss of their 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," the statement reportedly said.
Other celebrity friends such as Salma Hayek, Gwyneth Paltrow and Adele had also paid tribute to their unexpectedly gone, yet eternally unforgettable, dear friend.
