Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford in ‘Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip’.Photo:Mitchell Haaseth/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
Mitchell Haaseth/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
On Tuesday, Whitford, 64 — who played Danny Tripp inStudio 60 on the Sunset Stripalongside Perry’s Matt Albie from 2006 to 2007 — penned a sweet tribute to his late castmate, whodied on Saturday at the age of 54.
“Matthew Perry made me laugh. Hard,” Whitford wrote in his caption as heshared a throwback videoof the pair joking around together during a press interview for their NBC show.
“You have not lived until you have witnessed one of his in-between-the-takes confidential riffs on the absurdity of show business and the idiocy of male confidence," he added, “wrapped up perfectly with the sudden realization that we were both grown men who wear makeup for a living.”
Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford.Frederick M. Brown/Getty
Frederick M. Brown/Getty
Whitford then added that Perry “had a huge, open heart and a pyrotechnical, joyous brain,” and that the actor’s “most beautiful parts” made him “the most vulnerable to the monster that he would have to fight for the rest of his life.”
He went on to describe Perry’sstruggles with addictionas “heroic,” adding “They don’t have award shows for that. They should.““Matt was full of contradictions,” he continued. “He was hilariously self deprecating and insecure and wildly self confident. He was a fountain of light with a huge capacity for darkness. He was profoundly blessed and terribly cursed.“I want his parents to know that Matt was kind. Not just to his costar. To everyone.”
“I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to work with Matt, to spend some precious time with him, and most of all, to be his friend,” Whitford wrote as he finished his post.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Perry died after an apparent drowning at his Los Angeles home on Saturday.
In a statement, hisfamily saidthat they were heartbroken over the passing of their “son and brother,” adding that Perry “brought so much joy to the world.” They then thanked everyone for their “outpouring of love.”
Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford hug on ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’.Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
“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,” the statement continues. “For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.”
source: people.com
