Matthew Perry took final trip of a lifetime with childhood friends on the French Riviera just months before tragic death
MATTHEW Perry spent quality time with his childhood friends on the last trip of a lifetime just months before his tragic death, The U.S. Sun can reveal.
The 54-year-old actor, who played Chandler Bing in Friends, was found dead after allegedly drowning in his hot tub at his Los Angeles home on October 28.
His exact cause of death has not yet been released pending toxicology results, but he is believed to have been clean and sober after years of battling addictions.
Friends have revealed since his passing he had also quit smoking and was staying active with regular pickleball games, insisting he was the happiest and healthiest he’d been in years.
The U.S. Sun has now viewed private social media photographs showing Matthew beaming on a final vacation with childhood pals, brothers Brian and Christopher Murray.
He has spoken at length about his friendship with the pair after meeting them as a child in his native Canada, where they still live.
The brothers flew in for the star’s private funeral in Los Angeles at the weekend and were among those closest to him who carried his coffin into the service.
Despite Matthew’s global fame and struggles, they remained close for years and the actor was godfather to their children.
FOREVER FRIENDSHIP
The trio and another friend spent the summer in the Mediterranean, lapping up the sun while relaxing on a giant yacht.
Snaps show Matthew looking thrilled as he puts his arms around his friends standing beside a private plane before a helicopter ride to see the sights.
The men can also be seen jumping off a giant yacht and relaxing on lounge chairs suntanning on the boat as they appear to have had the time of their lives on the trip.
One pal wrote on social media: “Forgot to post about this bit of summer 2023! Great time on the Med with The Caucus!!”
Matthew also commented on one of the photographs just days before he died: “Nothing like 4 grown men, sailing down the French Riviera together.”
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Brian and Christopher for comment but did not hear back.
Photographs also show Matthew’s executive assistant, Kenny Iwamasa, who has worked with the star for many years, went with the men on vacation.
According to the Daily Mail, he is believed to be the assistant who found Matthew’s lifeless body after being sent to run errands and returning back to the home.
After his death, the brothers shared touching photographs and tributes to their friend and had a ‘crew dinner’ at Paloma restaurant in Venice after flying to LA.
The meet-up also included Matthew’s goddaughter Tara Murray, and longtime friends David Pressman and Roger Castillo who have supported the actor for years.
TOUCHING TRIBUTES
Brian wrote on social media: “Mourning the loss of our dear brother Matty. Funniest man I know, a heart of gold and a treasured friend. Words can’t describe how much we miss you pal. Forever in our hearts. Rest in peace Matty. Xo”
The star spoke about his friendship with the Murrays in his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, which detailed his career and battle with addiction.
He revealed his friends helped him develop his character Chandler’s unique way of speaking, which he called the “Murray-Perry Cadence.”
“I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to suggest that Chandler Bing transformed the way America spoke,” Matthew wrote.
“For the record: that transformation came directly from Matthew Perry, Chris Murray, and Brian Murray f***ing around in Canada in the 1980s. Only I got rich off of it, though. Fortunately, Chris and Brian have never busted me for that and are still my dear, hilarious friends.”
The brothers supported Matthew during his book tour and spoke fondly of their friendship during a piece with the New York Times to promote the memoir having known him since first grade.
“He’s gone through more than any human being I know and he’s come out on the good side of it,” Brian said back in October 2022.
“A lot of it was tough to understand,” Christopher added. “You wouldn’t wish that on anybody. Fundamentally, his personality and his heart are absolutely in the same place they were when he was a kid.”