Matthew Perry’s close friend shares heartbreaking details of actor’s funeral

Hank Azaria has shared an insight into late star Matthew Perry's funeral service, after it took place on 3 November in Los Angeles.

Matthew, famed for portraying Chandler Bing in hit US sitcom Friends, was laid to rest at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park cemetery in the Hollywood Hills after he tragically died at his home on 28 October aged 54.

Actor Hank, 59, who played Phoebe Buffay's love interest David in Friends, was a close friend of Matthew and in attendance at the funeral, alongside fellow Friends stars Lisa Kudrow, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox and Matt Le Blanc.

"I was at the funeral last weekend. You know, sad. He was a hilarious man, so we would sort of [be] alternately laughing and crying remembering him," Hank said.

He also paid tribute to his late friend, telling The Messenger: "We’ve all had people we’ve lost. The world really lost him. In a way, it’s nice to have the world sort of sharing with you."

Hank and Matthew shared a close friendship and Hank previously credited the Chandler Bing star for helping him to get sober. He's now said he hopes to continue to spread awareness of addiction in his late friend's memory.

Hank said: "Whatever I can do to continue his mission, of spreading the word of recovery, and helping folks, I’ll do whatever I can."

The actor previously remembered his late pal in a piece for The New York Times, and told how Matthew took him to his first Alcoholic Anonymous meeting in 2005 and helped him take the first step in getting sober.

He penned: "Matthew Perry said that he wanted to be remembered as someone who helped people get sober, even more than he wanted to be remembered as a very funny, famous Friend.

"I think he’ll be remembered as both. I know that I will always think of him that way. We met almost 40 years ago, and he was, by far, the funniest friend I ever had. He also was the person who helped me get sober."

Matthew had been open and honest about his struggles with addiction over the years, most notably in his autobiography, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, released in November 2022.

Following his passing, The Matthew Perry Foundation has been set up, which aims to continue his work in helping those struggling with addiction.

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