Oscars viewers were overcome with emotion as the ceremony paid tribute to Matthew Perry during their In Memoriam segment.
The actor, who was best known for playing Chandler Bing in Friends, died last year from the “acute effects of ketamine”.
Perry was found “unresponsive in the pool at his residence” on October 28 before he was pronounced dead at the age of 54.
On Sunday, the American actor was remembered along with other Hollywood stars Tina Turner, Robbie Robertson, Michael Gambon and Julian Sands during the 96th Academy Awards on Sunday night as Andrea and Matteo Bocelli sang Time to Say Goodbye.
Taking to social media after Perry’s name and image appeared on screen, one fan wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Matthew Perry. Knew it was coming. Still hurts #Oscars.”
“The oscars paying homage to matthew perry. i’m SOBBING #oscars,” another shared. A third added: “I was so afraid they wouldn't add him. I shed tears when he popped up.”
A fourth commented: “That moment in the people who we have lost when Matthew Perry was mentioned got me man.”
“I wasn’t ready for Matthew Perry in the in Memoriam section. I mean I should have been, but I wasn’t #Oscars,” another penned.
Echoing many fans’ sentiments, another remarked: "Matthew Perry popping up on the screen oh I’m emotional."
During his life, Perry was open about his battle with substance abuse and addiction – and also set up a sober living facility for men with similar issues.
Following his death, a foundation was set up in his name to help those struggling with addiction.
Last month, it was revealed that Perry will be honoured at Baftas TV awards in May after he was not featured in the in memoriam segment at the organisation’s film awards ceremony.
Ted Lasso actress Hannah Waddingham performed a pared down version of Cyndi Lauper’s Time After Time in memoriam segment, which featured tributes to stars including Jane Birkin, Glynis Johns, Carl Weathers, and Tom Wilkinson.
However, Perry, who died in October at the age of 54, was not mentioned.
In response to a user on X questioning Perry’s absence from the segment, the organisation’s official account said: “Matthew Perry will be remembered in this year’s TV Awards ceremony.”
The account also linked to the in memoriam section on the Bafta website, which said Perry’s Friends fame “brought film opportunities, including Fools Rush In (1997), The Whole Nine Yards (2000) and its sequel, The Whole Ten Yards (2004), and 17 Again (2009)”.
