The Friends star shared an eerie final post just days before his death.

GWYNETH Paltrow has revealed she had a “magical” summer fling with Matthew Perry while paying a heartfelt tribute to the actor.

The actor’s body was found in a Los Angeles home on Saturday after he reportedly drowned in a jacuzzi.

Matthew Perry met Gwyneth Paltrow while they were doing theatre in Massachusetts

Gwyneth Paltrow had a brief affair with the Friends star in 1993

Gwyneth Paltrow paid a touching tribute to Perry on her Instagram pageCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk

His Friends co-stars are yet to commentCredit: Getty
The American actress and businesswoman, 51, said she was “super sad” after hearing about the death of the Friends actor.

In an emotional post on Instagram, the star of The Talented Mr Ripley wrote: “I met Matthew Perry in 1993 at the Williamstown Theater Festival in Massachusetts.

“We were both there for most of the summer doing plays.

“He was so funny and so sweet and so much fun to be with.

“We drove out to swim in creeks, had beers in the local college bar, kissed in a field of long grass.

“It was a magical summer. He had shot the pilot of Friends but it had not aired yet.

“He was nervous, hoping his big break was just around the corner. It was.

“We stayed friends for a while until we drifted apart, but I was always happy to see him when I did.

“I am super sad today, as so many of us are. I hope Matthew is at peace at long last. I really do.”

Perry touched upon the relationship in his memoirs Friends, Lovers And The Big Terrible Thing.

He wrote: “We slipped off into a broom cupboard and made out.

“This was the last summer of my life when I could make out at a party with a beautiful young woman called Gwyneth and no one, save Gwyneth and I, cared.”

During his career, Perry dated a number of stars including, Julia Roberts as well as Carrie Fisher’s half-sister, Tricia Fisher.

He was also linked with Jamie Tarses and former fashion student Rachel Dunn and Natasha Wagner, the daughter of Natalie Wood and Richard Gregson.

Perry is also said to have been “set up” with actress Cameron Diaz and also dated actress Lizzy Caplan for six years.

Matthew posted a picture of himself enjoying a night time swim just days before his tragic death at age 54.

It comes as a host of TV personalities, actors and former colleagues have raced to social media to pay tribute to the talented actor.

TalkTV star and Sun Columnist Piers Morgan said Matthew was “a great actor, but by his own admission, a very tormented guy. His recent autobiography about his addiction-ravaged life was one of the most powerful, honest and revealing I’ve ever read. Such sad news.”

Maggie Wheeler, the actress who played Janice Hosenstein on Friends and starred alongside Perry, posted a tribute to him on Instagram.

“What a loss. The world will miss you Mathew Perry. The joy you brought to so many in your too short lifetime will live on,” she wrote.

“I feel so very blessed by every creative moment we shared.”

Wheeler’s character on Friends was a longtime on-and-off girlfriend of Perry’s character, Chandler Bing.

Actress Morgan Fairchild, who played Matthew mum in the US sitcom, said she was in “shock” and “heartbroken” at the death of her “son”.

She penned a heartfelt caption which read: “I’m heartbroken about the untimely death of my “son”, Matthew Perry.

“The loss of such a brilliant young actor is a shock. I’m sending love & condolences to his friends & family, especially his dad, John Bennett Perry, who I worked with on Flamingo Road & Falcon Crest.”

Hollywood star Selma Blair posted a photograph of the two of them on Instagram following the tragic news.

“My oldest boy friend. 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,” she wrote.

The actor Wendell Pierce, who starred alongside Perry in the remake of The Odd Couple, wrote: “Damn. For two years Matthew Perry was my boss, my colleague, and a giving, kind, funny man. I pray and hope he is at peace.”

Actress Paget Brewster, who played Chandler’s girlfriend Kathy in season four of Friends, said his legacy will live on through his laughter.

She wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “He was lovely to me on Friends and every time I saw him in the decades after. Please read his book. It was his legacy to help. He won’t rest in peace though. He’s already too busy making everyone laugh up there.”

The official Friends X account has paid tribute to late star.

“We are devastated to learn of Matthew Perry’s passing. He was a true gift to us all. Our heart goes out to his family, loved ones, and all of his fans,” they wrote on the platform.

NBC, the network that aired Friends, said: “He brought so much joy to hundreds of millions of people around the world with his pitch perfect comedic timing and wry wit. His legacy will live on through countless generations.”

Warner Bros Television Group, which produced Friends for its entire run from 1994 to 2004, said it was a “heartbreaking day” in a statement.

It read: “We are devastated by the passing of our dear friend Matthew Perry. Matthew was an incredibly gifted actor and an indelible part of the Warner Bros Television Group family.

“The impact of his comedic genius was felt around the world, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of so many. This is a heartbreaking day, and we send our love to his family, his loved ones, and all of his devoted fans.”

Mira Sorvino, who starred with Perry in the 1994 TV ensemble movie “Parallel Lives,” reflected on his “singular” humor.

“Oh no!!! Matthew Perry!! You sweet, troubled soul!! May you find peace and happiness in Heaven, making everyone laugh with your singular wit!!!” Sorvino wrote on X.

Oscar winner Octavia Spencer took to Instagram to pay her tributes to the star.

“I’m incredibly saddened to hear of Matthew Perry’s passing today,” she wrote.

“His gift to the world will be remembered forever.

“Sending love to Matthew’s family, friends, co-stars and millions of fans around the world.”

Pop juggernaut Adele stopped her show abruptly when she learned the news.

“He was so open with his struggles with addiction and sobriety, which I think is incredibly, incredibly brave,” she told the crowd.

“I just wanna say how much I love what he did for all of us.”

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, who knew Matthew when the two were kids from when Perry’s mother worked as press secretary to his father, Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau, also described his death was “shocking and saddening.”

He said: “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.

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

During her Las Vegas show, singer-songwriter Adele took a moment to honor the late actor and his performance as Chandler.

“I’ll remember that character for the rest of my life,” she said on stage, according to the Los Angeles Times.

“He’s probably the best comedic character of all time.”

While Adele said she never met Perry, she commended him on his recent memoir.

“He was so open with his struggles with addiction and sobriety, which I think is incredibly, incredibly brave,” Adele said.

Former footballer David Beckham paid tribute to Perry via Instagram, sharing two photos of the late actor.

“It’s just so sad. We will miss this smile,” Beckham wrote.

“Heartbreak. Thank you for all the laughs Chandler Bing.”

Fellow sitcom actor Rainn Wilson, who played Dwight on The Office, also remembered Perry in an Instagram post, calling him “always sharp and kind.”

“He was, and I use this term rarely, a genius. Chandler was one of the all-time great characters and his ability to spin a slightly funny line into absolute comedy gold was unsurpassed. Soar with the comedic angels, Matthew Perry. R.I.P,” Wilson wrote.

Although Perry had a long history of addiction, no drugs were found at the scene, police told TMZ. No foul play is suspected.

The actor’s final Instagram post on Monday showed him taking a late night dip.

In the image, the star best known for his beloved character Chandler Bing can be seen relaxing in the water with a pair of headphones on.

“Oh, so warm water swirling around makes you feel good?” the star wrote in the description.

“I’m Mattman.”

In the months and years leading up to Perry’s death, many fans were worried about him.

At times he appeared upset and disheveled.

The actor seemed downcast during his final public sighting at The Apple Pan, a popular Los Angeles restaurant, even though he was out with friends at the time.

This excursion came after Perry wrapped up the whirlwind tour for promoting his new memoir Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing: A Candid, Darkly Funny Book.

In the memoir, he shared details about his battle with addiction.

At one point, the star said he was taking 55 Vicodin pills a day and weighed just 128 pounds.

The star’s habit also caused him to lose all of his top teeth at one point.

Perry’s book also detailed how he nearly died from gastrointestinal perforation caused by his extreme opiate usage in 2019.

Doctors said he had just a two percent chance or surviving after he was in a coma for two weeks.

Perry was forced to wear a colostomy bag and said he woke up covered in his own feces between 50 and 60 times while he was hospitalized for five months.

Maggie Wheeler, who played Janice in Friends, took to Instagram to pay tribute to the actorCredit: Getty – Contributor

Singer Adele temporarily stopped her show to remember the actorCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Oscar-winning actress Octavia Spencer also paid a heartfelt tributeCredit: Getty

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who went to school with Matthew, paid tribute to the ‘loved’ actorCredit: Reuters

Matthew shared this final photo of him just days before his deathCredit: Facebook

The actor had been open about his addiction battle over the yearsCredit: PA