Justin Trudeau, Friends, Actors and Fans Mourn Matthew Perry

 Mourners stand outside the home of actor Matthew Perry, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. Perry, who starred as Chandler Bing in the hit series "Friends," has died. He was 54. (AP)
Mourners stand outside the home of actor Matthew Perry, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. Perry, who starred as Chandler Bing in the hit series "Friends," has died. He was 54. (AP)
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Justin Trudeau, Friends, Actors and Fans Mourn Matthew Perry

 Mourners stand outside the home of actor Matthew Perry, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. Perry, who starred as Chandler Bing in the hit series "Friends," has died. He was 54. (AP)
Mourners stand outside the home of actor Matthew Perry, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. Perry, who starred as Chandler Bing in the hit series "Friends," has died. He was 54. (AP)

Matthew Perry was mourned on social media by friends, co-stars and some very famous fans, including his childhood classmate, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his “Friends” mom Morgan Fairchild and even Adele.

Perry, who played Chandler Bing on NBC’s “Friends” for 10 seasons, was found dead at his Los Angeles home on Saturday. He was 54.

Trudeau, who attended elementary school with Perry while their parents worked together, wrote a tribute on X, formerly Twitter.

“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,” Trudeau wrote. “Thanks for all the laughs, Matthew. You were loved — and you will be missed.”

Perry’s mother served as press secretary to Trudeau's father, Pierre Trudeau, during his time as prime minister.

Adele took a moment to talk about him during her show in Las Vegas on Saturday night. She recalled how his work made her laugh and said that even though she’d never met him, there is a strange thing that happens sometimes when an entertainer dies that makes you feel personally sad.

“I just want to say how much I love what he did for us,” she said to the cheering crowd.

Saturday Night Live also showed a tribute card for Perry during the weekend’s episode. Perry once hosted the show, in 1997, which featured one sketch where he played Matt LeBlanc’s character Joey and Colin Quinn played Chandler.

Fairchild, who played Chandler’s mother on “Friends” wrote on X, that she was “heartbroken about the untimely death of my ‘son’.”

“The loss of such a brilliant young actor is a shock. I’m sending love & condolences to his friends & family, especially his dad," Fairchild wrote.

She had also worked with Perry’s father, actor John Bennett Perry, on several television series.

Another frequent “Friends” co-star, Maggie Wheeler, who played his girlfriend Janice, wrote: "The joy you brought to so many in your too short lifetime will live on. I feel very blessed by every creative moment we shared.”

Selma Blair, who also appeared on an episode of “Friends,” posted on Instagram that she was “broken hearted.”

“My oldest boy friend,” Blair wrote. “All of us loved Matthew Perry, and I did especially. Every day. I loved him unconditionally. And he me. And I’m broken. Broken hearted. Sweet dreams Matty. Sweet dreams.”

Many Hollywood actors crossed paths with Perry, who had worked steadily on screen since he was a child.

Wendell Pierce, who worked with Perry on “The Odd Couple,” wrote on X that for two years, “Matthew Perry was my boss, my colleague, and a giving, kind, funny man. I pray and hope he is at peace.”

Shannen Doherty shared a photo on Instagram and reflected on their friendship, which extended back to an appearance on “Beverly Hills 90210,” and included a Valentine's Day date in Malibu once.

“We were a gang way back. We all grew up together going to the Formosa ... We played dare and Matt had to say ridiculous things to girls at the bar. We just always had fun and supported each other. You would always find us all together in a booth speaking in our own made-up language. And yes, Matt always had THAT sense of humor,” Doherty wrote.

"Our friendship spanned a long time. A lifetime really. I know many are hurting, especially our little gang. He will be missed by many and definitely by us. Yes. I could be more poetic or say things better but right now, shock and sadness prevail.”



Jackie Chan, Ralph Macchio Join Martial Arts Forces in 'Karate Kid: Legends' 

Jackie Chan speaks onstage during the 30th Annual Critics Choice Awards, in Santa Monica, California, US, February 7, 2025. (Reuters) 
Jackie Chan speaks onstage during the 30th Annual Critics Choice Awards, in Santa Monica, California, US, February 7, 2025. (Reuters) 
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Jackie Chan, Ralph Macchio Join Martial Arts Forces in 'Karate Kid: Legends' 

Jackie Chan speaks onstage during the 30th Annual Critics Choice Awards, in Santa Monica, California, US, February 7, 2025. (Reuters) 
Jackie Chan speaks onstage during the 30th Annual Critics Choice Awards, in Santa Monica, California, US, February 7, 2025. (Reuters) 

Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio blend fighting techniques to train a new karate kid in the latest instalment of the martial arts movie franchise.

"Karate Kid: Legends", released this week, stars Ben Wang as Beijing kung fu whizz Li Fong who moves with his mother to New York, where he befriends pizza restaurant owner and retired boxer Victor and his daughter Mia.

When that friendship irks a local karate champion, Li enters a karate tournament and begins training with his old kung fu teacher Mr. Han, played by Chan, and Macchio's Daniel LaRusso, the protagonist of the original 1984 film "The Karate Kid" who learned karate from mentor Mr. Miyagi.

"They presented the concept to me ... connecting the Miyagi to the Han family and how that made sense ... I was like 'That's kind of clever. Okay, so how do we maintain this connective tissue into Li Fong's story that is organic and truthful'," Macchio told Reuters in a joint interview with Chan and Wang.

"That was the challenge at first and figuring that out. Working with Jackie was like, 'Woohoo sign me up - when, where?' And then who's the kid? If we don't love this kid, then you have no movie. So all those, like it happens with 'The Karate Kid' universe, is magic dust that comes down and somehow it continues to resonate. So I'm excited for the next generation version."

The movie is Macchio's fourth "Karate Kid" film playing LaRusso, a character he also portrayed in the "Cobra Kai" television series.

Chan reprises the role of Mr. Han, a character he first played in the 2010 film "The Karate Kid" opposite Jaden Smith.

"Now we've both become a Miyagi," Chan said, referring to both his and Macchio's characters becoming mentors.

"I remember when I saw the first one. Why him (Macchio)? Why not me? ... I want to be 'The Karate Kid'. (Now) We work together."

Wang, 25, said Chan's 2010 film introduced him to the franchise.

"Stepping into it, it's a terrifying thing in a certain way because it's a beloved franchise and ... the fans love it so much, so I want to do right by them," he said. "But it's also a great honor because a lot of people auditioned for this part, so I know how special and lucky it is that I get to do this with the two of them."