By Melissa Duis
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29: The news of the death of Matthew Perry on Saturday, Oct 28, must have shocked not only his fellow actors, but more than a generation of television viewers who grew up on the diet of a television menu that had the hit sitcom as its main menu.
I spent my college years with Friends coping with my early adulthood angst. Friends made my early adulthood that more doable and pleasant.
I’ve even rewatched it present day 2023 when times haven’t been great which is a testament to the galvanising and balming power of Friends.
Losing one of them is like losing a personal friend. My only consolation is in the thought of Chandler, Chan Chan Man, my dear Matthew Perry having a brand new adventure of his own after having departed our world. Friends won’t ever be the same without Chandler even if he lives on in reruns and etc.
I know I am not alone, many messages have been exchanged between fans of Friends since the announcement of the actor’s death and here is how one Weekly Echo reader expressed it:
“My aunties practically baby sat me while watching the television series every week. I did not fully understand the show’s happenings as I was still in primary school but I did know it was a major show for my young aunties who tucked me in the sofa nicely to watch the series in peace every week when it played in our local television station. They laughed and cheered and I watched them.
“Then came university days and it was my turn to watch the reruns of the show with some friends. We became “addicted” and finished the entire series in a matter of weeks. All of us related to Friends in many ways. To know one of them has just died, and I know all of us are grieving just like we would a friend we have known all our lives.”
Thank you, Chandler; Matthew for all the years you’ve dedicated for the sake of our entertainment/delight. You were truly blessed and it was big of you to share that blessing with the rest of us.
Born in 1969 in the US, the American-Canadian actor and producer also won a Screen Actors Guild Award for his role in the Friends series.
–WE