David Schwimmer’s tribute to Matthew Perry strikes at the heart of their friendship and Perry’s legacy

Matthew Perry’s passing on Oct. 28, 2023 was a blow to the heart for the entertainment world, his fans, and most importantly his loved ones. His Friends family have been navigating their grief publicly, honoring Perry’s legacy whilst paying tribute to the work they created together on the NBC sitcom that’s cemented in television history.

A part of this expression of love, which has no choice but to continue to pour out as the people whose lives Perry touched reconcile with their loss, are celebrations of his life shared on social media. On Nov. 15, 2023, David Schwimmer shared such a tribute on his Instagram. Below you’ll find the full transcript of his post but, in short, the actor hailed Perry’s comedic timing and line delivery. Perry had a gift for taking a piece of dialogue and twisting it to make it zing, produce a chuckle, or make you belly laugh in unexpected and delightful ways.

Schwimmer thanked his friend for the ten years they spent creating and collaborating as Ross Butler and Chandler Bing. The photo the actor used was from the filming of “The One with All the Thanksgivings,” the eighth episode of season 5 where their characters are wearing suits inspired by Miami Vice. They’re giving their best Sonny Crockett and Rico Tubbs impression and channeling 1988. Schwimmer described the picture as “one of my favorite moments with you. Now it makes me smile and grieve at the same time.”

In his post, the actor also spoke to Perry’s heart. It’s been a common refrain since his passing. The outpouring of love for Perry has consistently mentioned the way he would pour into others, the way he’d give of his time, how important it was to him to be generous and to be there for people. His legacy isn’t solely comprised of his acting credits and the role that made him a household name. It’s met by, and equal to, his generosity and philanthropy.

Beginning when he was just 14 years old, Perry struggled with substance abuse. It’s a fact of his life that he’d spoken openly about including the 30 years he’d been reaching toward recovery. He knew that sometimes what someone needs is understanding and a place to keep trying and striving toward the person they want to be rather than what addiction had transformed them into. It’s why he opened Perry House, it’s why he continued to help his fellow addicts, and it’s why the Matthew Perry Foundation has been launched in his name.

Closing out his tribute, David Schwimmer imagined Matthew Perry in the same white suit pictured in his post, gazing at his surroundings in Heaven stating, “Could there BE any more clouds?” still making us laugh unexpectedly.

Full tribute:

"Matty,Thank you for ten incredible years of laughter and creativity.I will never forget your impeccable comic timing and delivery. You could take a straight line of dialogue and bend it to your will, resulting in something so entirely original and unexpectedly funny it still astonishes.And you had heart. Which you were generous with, and shared with us, so we could create a family out of six strangers.This photo is from one of my favorite moments with you. Now it makes me smile and grieve at the same time.I imagine you up there, somewhere, in the same white suit, hands in your pockets, looking around—“Could there BE any more clouds?”"