The “Friends” Director Behind That Infamous Vegas Trip Has Said That The Cast Has Been Left “Destroyed” By Matthew Perry’s Death Because It’s Like “A Brother Dying”

A cause of death is yet to be determined, with an initial postmortem coming back inconclusive. Following toxicology tests, TMZ reported that law enforcement had ruled out both fentanyl and meth. 

No drug paraphernalia or illegal substances were found in Matthew’s home, and the only drugs on the property were prescription medication. 

In tribute to Matthew, Friends fans have created a memorial outside the New York City building that is featured as an exterior shot for Chandler’s apartment in the show. 

Many of his costars have also come forward to share their heartbreak over Matthew’s death, as well as Friends’ creators, Marta Kauffman and David Crane.

Matthew starred alongside David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, and Jennifer Aniston on the show, and the six actors were still incredibly close almost two decades after Friends ended. 

On Monday, the fivesome issued a joint statement in response to Matthew’s death, where they said that they will “say more” as soon as they are “able.”

"We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family,” the statement began. "There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.

“In time we will say more, as and when we are able," it went on. "For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world."

During an appearance on NBC's Today show on Thursday, James said of Matthew’s death, “I had to have a couple of days to just let it soak in. He was part of a family, and he was the first one to not be part of that family anymore.”

When asked how the others were coping, he shared, “I texted the girls the day we found out and they were…they were destroyed. It’s a brother dying.”

James went on to say that in recent years, everybody had been “so proud” of Matthew for “making a remarkable recovery” amid his well-publicized addiction struggle. 

She concluded, "And then he handed us each a couple hundred bucks and said, 'Now go into the casino and go gamble because this is the last time you'll be able to walk into a casino anonymously.’ We had no clue what he was talking about, and sure enough, that was the last time we were able [to do that]."

Matt also detailed this trip in a conversation with the Hollywood Reporter, per Vanity Fair. He said, “Jim Burrows took us all to Vegas. None of us had any money and he gave us all $500 to gamble with. We went to Spago and we sat in the main room at Spago, at the very center — a big, round table.

"The seven of us, six cast members and Jim Burrows, and he said, while we were sitting there eating dinner, he said, 'Look around,' he said. 'You see that?' And we all looked around, like, ‘What?’” Matt continued. "And he said, ‘Take a good look, because that's the last time you're going to be able to do this, the six of you together.’ And he was right!"

When asked how he hoped Matthew would be remembered, James said, “As a wonderful actor, a funny man, and a dear friend to a lot of people.”

Matthew had always been incredibly open about his own addiction battle, and told the New York Times last year that he’d spent an estimated $9 million in his efforts to get sober. 

During a joint interview on Today earlier this week, Friends’ creators, Marta and David, said that Matthew’s death seemed particularly “unfair” because “he was in a really good place” and appeared to be “happy and chipper” during their last conversation. 

Marta shared, “He seemed better than I had seen in a while. I was so thrilled to see that. He was emotionally in a good place. He looked good. He quit smoking. Yes, he was sober. He learned things throughout this, and what he learned more than anything is that he wants to help other addicts, and it gave him purpose.”

In 2013, Matthew turned his home into a sober-living facility for men, called the Perry House. He also wrote the play The End of Longing, which he said was a “personal message to the world, an exaggerated form of me as a drunk.” He added, “I had something important to say to people like me, and to people who love people like me.”

After his death, a clip from the star’s live interview on the Q With Tom Power podcast last year resurfaced online, where Matthew told the crowd, “The best thing about me, bar none, is if somebody comes up to me and says, ‘I can’t stop drinking, can you help me?’ I can say yes and follow up and do it.

“It’s the best thing. And I’ve said this for a long time: When I die, I don’t want Friends to be the first thing that’s mentioned. I want that to be the first thing that’s mentioned, and I’m going to live the rest of my life proving that,” he added.

In a press release, the organization said, “In the spirit of Matthew Perry’s enduring commitment to helping others struggling with the disease of addiction, we embark on a journey to honor his legacy by establishing the Matthew Perry Foundation, guided by his own words and experiences, and driven by his passion for making a difference in as many lives as possible.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, you can call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) and find more resources here.