Canadian PM Trudeau mourns school buddy Mathew Perry’s death: “Will never forget schoolyard games we played”

The sudden demise of 'Friends' star Matthew Perry left Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau extremely saddened. Not many know but Perry was Trudeau's school buddy.

After learning about the passing of Perry, Trudeau took to X and paid his heartfelt tribute to him.

"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," Trudeau tweeted.


Prior to relocating to the United States and gaining fame for his acting skills on the renowned American TV show 'Friends,' Perry resided in Canada.

Earlier during a chat show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Perry had revealed that Trudeau had gone to the same school where he went, and he (Perry) used to be his senior, People reported.


Perry also recalled how he and a friend "beat up" the future Prime Minister when the actor was in fifth grade.

"We both beat him up. I think he was excelling in a sport that we weren't, so it was pure jealousy," Perry explained then, adding, "I think he was the only kid in school that we could beat up. ... I'm not bragging about this. This is terrible. I was a stupid kid. I didn't want to beat him up."

He went on to joke, "I think I was rather instrumental in him going to such great heights in becoming the Prime Minister. I think he said, 'I'm going to rise above this and become Prime Minister.'"

Trudeau, to his credit, expressed a sense of humour about the childhood experience following Perry's appearance, tweeting nearly two weeks later: "I've been giving it some thought, and you know what, who hasn't wanted to punch Chandler? How about a rematch @MatthewPerry?"

Perry was found dead and unresponsive on October 29, in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home and could not be resuscitated, the LA Times citing law enforcement sources reported.