“Saturday Night Live” paid tribute to Matthew Perry just hours after his sudden death

Just a few hours after the news from the actor Matthew Perry’s death“Saturday Night Live” aired a card dedicated to the late actor in the early hours of October 29th.

The “Friends” actor was found dead on O. at the age of 54ct. 28 after an apparent drowning at his home, a representative for the actor and law enforcement confirmed to NBC News on Saturday. According to law enforcement authorities, no foul play is suspected in his death.

The October 28th episode of “SNL,” with comedian Nate Bargatze in his hosting debut, ended with a black and white card of Perry appearing on the screen just before the show’s final curtain.

NBC issued a statement following Perry’s death.

“We are incredibly saddened by the untimely death of Matthew Perry. With his pitch-perfect comedic timing and wry wit, he brought so much joy to hundreds of millions of people around the world. His legacy will live on for countless generations,” it said.

Perry hosted the sketch comedy show more than 26 years ago, on October 4, 1997. The appearance came in the middle of his memorable appearance on “Friends” as the cynical and sarcastic Chandler Bing. The show premiered in 1994 and aired on NBC until 2004.

In addition to friends, family and former co-stars, fans of the actor also paid tribute to his life and legacy on social media.

Many shared highlights from his “SNL” days, including the memorable “Sarcasm 101” sketch in which he played a college professor who teaches gullible students the art of not saying what you mean.

After Friends, Perry starred in a number of films and TV shows, including Aaron Sorkin’s Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, which the actor referenced in his film 2022 memoir as a story about trying to save an “‘SNL’-like show.”

The actor has been open about his drug and alcohol addiction throughout his career. In his book, published a year before his death, Perry said he spent up to $7 million on his efforts to get sober.

“I was in a mental institution, went to therapy twice a week for thirty years, and was on the verge of death,” Perry wrote.

He described how his colon ruptured in 2019 due to excessive opioid use and cited a 2% chance of survival after emergency surgery. He was in a coma for two weeks and in the hospital for five months.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com