Jenn Carno, the widow of James Michael Tyler – who famously portrayed Gunther in Friends – has paid a heart-rending tribute to Matthew Perry, claiming her late husband will take care of him in heaven. 

Perry, who brought joy to viewers around the world as the wise-cracking Chandler Bing, was found dead in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home on Saturday, sparking an outpouring of tributes from fans and celebrities.

Carno said she was left ‘stunned and devastated’ by the news, which came just four days after she had held a gathering for Tyler, who died in 2021 following a three-year battle with stage four prostate cancer. He was 59.

She encouraged fans to continue to find comfort in the thought of the former co-stars being reunited, after some suggested Tyler was waiting to welcome Perry to the afterlife with a coffee in hand, in a nod to Gunther’s job in the beloved sitcom.

‘I had just gathered a few close friends of Michael’s at Hollywood Forever Cemetery to visit his grave on the two-year anniversary of his passing,’ she told DailyMail.com. ‘The sudden loss of Matthew Perry – only four days later – has left us stunned and, quite frankly, devastated. 

Friends fans have been finding comfort in the thought that Matthew Perry will now be reunited with his late co-star James Michael Tyler in heaven

The pair brought joy to viewers across the globe as their characters Chandler Bing and Gunther during all 10 seasons of the smash hit sitcom – pictured with Jennifer Aniston

‘Michael was very spiritual and spoke openly during his last few months about what he was starting to see on the other side. He told me one morning: “I am going to be very busy over there. I have work to do.” So, Matt, he’s got you. You’re going to be okay. He’s setting up a tennis match right now.’

She finished: ‘We send our condolences to your family, friends, and fans. Keep making tributes. I can say from my own experience, we see those tributes and we love you.’

Her statement came as fans paid tribute to Tyler and Perry, taking comfort in the thought of them being reunited at a ‘Central Perks up in the heavens’. 

One fan tweeted: ‘Rest in peace, Matthew Perry AKA Chandler Bing. He’s having a coffee with Gunther in the heaven now I guess.’ 

Another wrote: ‘Matthew Perry is in good company up there in Heaven though. I’m sure James Michael Tyler was there to greet him. Chandler and Gunther will save everyone else a seat at Central Perk.’

‘I’m pretty sure that Matthew Perry went to heaven,’ one sad fan mused. ‘I hope he got to meet Gunther back there , I hope they’re having fun . I just can’t believe that he’s gone.’

Another fan wrote: ‘This doesn’t feel real I can’t believe Chandler and Gunther are both gone rip Matthew Perry and James Michael Tyler I really hope there’s a central perk up in the heavens and [they are] having a cup of coffee… I wish him and James were still here.’

One fan wrote: ‘Gone to soon…Gunther will at least have a funny bloke to keep him company in heaven now. God bless Matthew Perry.’

‘I picture Gunther and Chandler at Central Perk, catching up over a cup of coffee. Just waiting for the rest of their Friends to arrive,’ another added. ‘But that’s ok, they’re in no rush to catch up. Enjoy your coffee and rest Matthew Perry, you will be sorely missed.’

Tyler, who played Gunther on the hit series throughout its 10 series run, died at his Los Angeles home in October 2021.

‘The world knew him as Gunther (the seventh “Friend”), from the hit series “Friends,” but Michael’s loved ones knew him as an actor, musician, cancer-awareness advocate, and loving husband,’ his family said in a statement at the time.

Many devastated fans claimed that the the Gunther actor would have been waiting to welcome Perry to the afterlife with a coffee in hand

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The continued: ‘Michael loved live music, cheering on his Clemson Tigers, and would often find himself in fun and unplanned adventures. If you met him once you made a friend for life.’

The actor was initially diagnosed with cancer in 2018 and didn’t publicly reveal his battle until months before his passing.

Friends ran from 1994 to 2004 with Perry, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox and Matt LeBlanc starring in the lead roles.

In the past, Perry called the program ‘an incredible ride’ and stated: ‘It’s been an incredible thing to watch it touch the hearts of different generations. 

‘It’s become this important, significant thing and I, you know, I would watch that again. It was really funny, and all the people were nice.’

Alongside appearing in the hit show, Perry starred in a number of movies including 1997’s Fools Rush In, 2000’s The Whole Nine Yards and 2009’s 17 Again. 

On Saturday, TMZ reported that first responders had been summoned to Perry’s home to deal with a cardiac arrest. Foul play was not suspected, sources told the outlet. 

Perry was found dead in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home on Saturday. He was 54

The star had prescription drugs including anti-depressants and anti-anxiety pills at his home at the time of his death – but no illegal medications, a police source claims. 

The LA County coroner’s office currently lists the case status of the actor’s death as ‘open’ and an autopsy has been scheduled. 

The following day, Matthew’s family spoke out in a brief statement which 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. You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love.’

His blended family included his mother, father, two step-parents and five step-siblings.

Perry famously starred opposite Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, Courteney Cox , Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer in the show, which he previously described as ‘an incredible ride’

Perry was a smoker and had also battled an addiction to alcohol as well as opiates, but claimed to have been clean shortly before his suspected drowning. 

Matthew’s memoir Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing: A Candid, Darkly Funny Book exposed his struggles with addictions. In 2018, aged 49, he suffered a gastrointestinal perforation as a result of his extreme opiate usage.

He was given just a two percent chance of living after being comatose for two weeks and had to use a colostomy bag while his colon healed.

The actor admitted that at the peak of his addictions he was consuming about 55 Vicodin pills a day and weighed just 128 pounds.