Justin Trudeau condoles Matthew Perry's death: 'I'll never forget the schoolyard games'

Actor Matthew Perry’s sudden death at the age of 54 has led to an outpouring of tributes and condolence messages from the entertainment industry and fans and also his old schoolmate Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Trudeau took to Twitter to express his condolences, saying, "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."
In an interview with Jimmy Kimmel, Perry had shared an anecdote of his times with Trudeau at school in Canada who was a couple of years his junior and had recalled that as children, he and his friend had beat Trudeau up “out of jealousy” because he was excelling in some sport. Trudeau’s father was the prime minister of Canada then.

“I am not bragging. It was terrible,” Perry had said prompting Trudeau to joke about the incident saying in a tweet: "I have been giving it some thought, and you know what, who hasn’t wanted to punch Chandler? How about a rematch?”
Perry's death was confirmed on Saturday with local reports saying that the actor was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his residence in Los Angeles. His final Instagram post, shared just days ago, featured Perry relaxing in a rooftop pool, and it has since become a tribute wall filled with heartfelt messages from fans, illustrating the profound impact he had on people's lives.

Perry’s role as Chandler Bing on the iconic television series "Friends" catapulted the actor to international stardom. The show, which aired from 1994 to 2004, is considered one of the greatest sitcoms of all time. Perry's impeccable comedic timing and distinctive wit endeared him to audiences around the world. His portrayal of Chandler earned him critical acclaim and an Emmy nomination.

He also worked in several other TV shows and movies. The cast of “Friends” are reportedly “reeling” from the death of their “brother” Matthew Perry, a source told Page Six.

Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc are preparing to release a joint statement on Perry’s sudden demise.