The creators of Friends have released a joint statement following the tragic death of Matthew Perry.
The beloved 54-year-old, who was best known for playing the role of Chandler Bing in the long-running sitcom Friends, died at his Los Angeles home on Saturday (28 October).
Initial post-mortem are inconclusive - meaning Perry's cause of his death is yet to be determined.
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Further investigations have been requested, including a toxicology report.
In a statement, his devastated family said: "We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our 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 actor shot to fame after landing the role of Chandler in Friends, starring alongside David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc and Lisa Kudrow as the sitcom skyrocketed to become one of the most watched and beloved TV series of all time.
In a joint statement shared with Deadline, Friends co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane, along with executive producer Kevin Bright, described their shock at Perry’s death.
"We are shocked and deeply, deeply saddened by our beloved friend Matthew’s passing," they said.
"It still seems impossible. All we can say is that we feel blessed to have had him as part of our lives.
"He was a brilliant talent. It’s a cliche to say that an actor makes a role their own, but in Matthew’s case, there are no truer words.
"From the day we first heard him embody the role of Chandler Bing, there was no one else for us.
"We will always cherish the joy, the light, the blinding intelligence he brought to every moment – not just to his work, but in life as well.
"He was always the funniest person in the room. More than that, he was the sweetest, with a giving and selfless heart.
"We send all of our love to his family and friends. This truly is The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken."
Tributes have flooded in for the late actor, with his former on-screen partner Maggie Wheeler, who played Janice Hosenstein on Friends, shared a photo of the pair to Instagram, writing: "What a loss. The world will miss you Mathew Perry.
"The joy you brought to so many in your too short lifetime will live on.
"I feel so very blessed by every creative moment we shared."
In a statement NBC - the network which aired Friends - said: “We are incredibly saddened by the too soon passing of Matthew Perry.
“He brought so much joy to hundreds of millions of people around the world with his pitch-perfect comedic timing and wry wit. His legacy will live on through countless generations."
Topics: Matthew Perry, US News, Friends
Claire Reid