Matthew Perry's heartbroken family issue statement after sudden death of Friends star

The family of Matthew Perry have issued a statement following his tragic death.

Matthew's father, John Bennett Perry, 82, his mother Suzanne, and stepdad Keith Morrison all arrived at the scene at his apartment just hours after his body was found. The family highlighted in a statement how "heartbroken" they were by his loss.

The statement read: "We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother. Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend.

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"You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love." John Bennett Perry and writer Suzanne Morrison were said to have divorced a year after Matthew was born, the Mirror reports.

It is understood they have four children together, while Matthew has a stepbrother through Keith. John later married Debbie Boyle, with whom he had a child. Following his death, tributes from across the showbiz world have poured in for the actor, who struggled with alcohol and drug addictions during his stint on Friends and previously opened up on his demons.

Emergency services arrived at Perry's home in the early hours of Saturday after his aide returned to the property to find him unresponsive. First responders rushed to the scene and attempted a 'water rescue' but efforts to save the actor were unsuccessful and he was declared dead in an apparent drowning.

Officers from the LA Police Department's robbery-homicide division were also sent but a source said no drugs or signs of foul play were found at the scene. An investigation