Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his deep sorrow upon hearing about the passing of his childhood acquaintance, the actor Matthew Perry, best known for his portrayal of Chandler Bing in the renowned American sitcom 'Friends'.
Taking to Twitter, Trudeau, who shared his elementary school years with Perry, shared his profound sadness at the actor's demise. He emphasized that the news was both shocking and saddening. Trudeau fondly reminisced about the schoolyard games he and Perry used to enjoy together, underscoring the indelible memories they had crafted.
In his heartfelt message, Trudeau conveyed, "Matthew Perry’s passing is shocking and saddening. I’ll never forget the schoolyard games we used to play, and I know people around the world are never going to forget the joy he brought them. Thanks for all the laughs, Matthew. You were loved – and you will be missed."
It is worth noting that long before Matthew Perry ventured into the world of acting and gained acclaim for his talent, he and Justin Trudeau were classmates at Rockcliffe Park Public School in Ottawa, Canada.
An interesting facet of this connection was the involvement of Perry's family in politics. His mother, Suzanne Morrison, served as the press secretary to the former Canadian Prime Minister, and Trudeau's father, Pierre Trudeau. Furthermore, Perry's father, John Bennett Perry, an American by nationality, also had a career in the acting industry.
Notably, there is an amusing anecdote associated with their childhood interaction. In a guest appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live in March 2017, Perry disclosed a humorous incident from their shared past. Perry and a friend had, in their fifth-grade years, engaged in a playful scuffle with young Trudeau, an action Perry later regretted. The reason for the skirmish, as Perry explained, stemmed from a hint of jealousy. He quipped, "We both beat him up. I think he was excelling in a sport that we weren’t, so it was pure jealousy."
Perry went on to reflect, "I think he was the only kid in school that we could beat up. ... I’m not bragging about this. This is terrible. I was a stupid kid. I didn’t want to beat him up." With a light-hearted tone, Perry humorously speculated that his actions might have inadvertently fueled Trudeau's determination to achieve greatness. He jestingly proposed, "I think I was rather instrumental in him going to such great heights in becoming the Prime Minister. I think he said, 'I'm going to rise above this and become the Prime Minister.'"
Trudeau responded to this anecdote with a playful comment, expressing his interest in a "re-match" with Perry. His tweet, which he shared in April 2017, carried a hint of humor: "I've been giving it some thought, and you know what, who hasn't wanted to punch Chandler? How about a re-match @MatthewPerry?"
Tragically, the news of Matthew Perry's demise was met with shock and sadness. According to reports from TMZ, he was found in a jacuzzi at his Los Angeles residence, and there is a belief that he may have drowned, as indicated by law enforcement sources. The incident occurred shortly after Perry had returned home following a two-hour pickleball game, during which he had dispatched his assistant on an errand. Upon the assistant's return, Perry was discovered unresponsive, prompting a call to 911.
The initial responders at Perry's home encountered a situation indicative of cardiac arrest. It is important to note that there was no evidence of foul play associated with the circumstances of Perry's passing, according to TMZ.
