Passing of F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Actor: Matthew Perry

image courtesy of PageSix.com

WGHS students and staff express their feelings about the passing of Mathew Perry. 
by Nevaeh Patrick and Cheyenne Seagraves

​Algebra teacher, Coach Williams is saddened by the news. He states, “He’s had a rough life, he's overcome alcohol abuse and drug abuse.” Despite Joey being his favorite character on the show, he says Matthew Perry’s character, Chandler, was funny, very funny. 

Shannon Hayes (Junior) says Chandler was her favorite, she says he was the funniest, most relatable and had the best story line. Shannon was extremely hurt to hear the news, “I was in the car and I went home and cried for an hour…like actual tears, I was so upset.” She continued, “Because now you won’t be able to watch the show without thinking [of it] in the back of your mind.” 

She loved how his humor was really funny and it was really timeless, you can watch it now and it’s still relevant, his storyline was just amazing. 

Alyssa Baldwin (Freshman) is also an avid watcher of this show and was extremely fond of Matthew Perry’s character like Shannon. Like most, she also loved how sarcastic and funny he was. She states “I think they were devastated ‘cause they were all [still] friends.” She felt sad because she watched him play on Friends for a long time, and…he died so young. 

Coach Emily Smith expressed her memories of the Tv show “...when it first came out, i was in college, and we’d sit around, me and my friends would watch friends” Even though Joey was her favorite character in the show, she still has some kind words for the latest character. She expresses how she feels about Mathew’s character, “He was quirky and just quick witted, you know, everybody in that friend group brought some kind of sarcasm.”  

Thinking from the cast's point of view during this hard time, she explains that because they were together for so long, that his death could feel like their own family dying. Further elaborating on what she was saying “I felt sad, just simply because, he was funny as well, he made a lot of people laugh..” 

His death also caused some to put life into perspective, “He was my age, he was actually a year younger than I am,” Coach Smith adds. She has not been informed on his cause of death. However, she also had prior knowledge about the actor's past struggles. “I know he struggled with addiction... when you succumb to that, if that’s what happened, it’s pretty sad.” 

On People.com, the other five cast members made a statement about this unfortunate event. "We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family. There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss. In time we will say more, as and when we are able. For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world."