Matt LeBlanc pays a heartbreaking tribute to Matthew Perry

Matt LeBlanc is honoring his roommate and on-screen best friend of a decade, Matthew Perry, following his sudden death.

The cast starred best friends Joey Tribbiani and Chandler Bing friends. In the wake of Perry’s death last month, LeBlanc, 56, shared an emotional and touching tribute. On Instagram It shows photos of the pair on the set of the NBC sitcom.

“Matthew. I say goodbye with a heavy heart. The times we spent together are honestly among the favorite times of my life,” he wrote. “It was an honor to share the stage with you and to call you my friend.”

He continued: “I will always smile when I think of you and I will never forget you. Never.” “Spread your wings and fly bro, you’re finally free. Lots of love.”

At the conclusion of the post, LeBlanc jokingly said: “And I think you will keep the $20 that you owe me.”

LeBlanc and Perry have long been viewed as one of the best-loved duos on television, and when the cast reunited in 2021 to film the HBO Max series Friends: Reunion special — and chatting with PEOPLE for an exclusive look at the reunion — they were their usual silly self.

Thinking about where they envision their characters in 2021, nearly two decades after the hit sitcom ended, LeBlanc told PEOPLE that Joey “would probably open a chain of sandwich shops,” to which Perry added that — he could have been a friend. The screen has “eat all the sandwiches”.

LeBlanc then added to his answer that it would be a “dinosaur-themed sandwich shop” based on his colleague’s joke. “Bronto Burger.”

As for his character’s fate, Perry said he thinks Chandler “will make a great father” and “a great comedy writer.”

Later, he joked again when Perry called the chemistry between the actors “magical,” and LeBlanc deadpanned, “I’d say it’s awkward.”

“It’s weird magic,” Perry added.

During their conversation with PEOPLE, LeBlanc also talked about what it’s like to have everyone in the same room again.

“It’s funny, when we get together, it’s like no time has passed,” he said. “We continue where we left off.”

He talked about how connected he felt to Perry and the rest of the cast — Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, and David Schwimmer — saying of their enduring bond, “I think everyone has a relationship like that in their life. You know that when you have a conversation with that person, “They’re really honest and open. You know there’s no ulterior motive. These are relationships that matter.'”

In 2016, LeBlanc also showed his support for his TV best friend while attending a screening of Perry’s stage debut, The end of longingWhich premiered in London’s West End in 2016.

he subscriber A photo with Perry after the show, praising his former co-star for his performance. “He and the cast were great. Well done bro,” LeBlanc captioned the photo.

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Days after Perry’s sudden death at his home in Los Angeles on October 28, LeBlanc and his bandmates issued a statement to PEOPLE, breaking their silence about the loss of their dear friend.

“We are all absolutely devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just castmates. We are family,” the joint statement read. “There is so much to say, but now we will take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.”

“In due course we will say more, when we are able. For now, our thoughts and love are with Matty’s family, friends and everyone who loved him around the world,” they concluded.

LeBlanc, Aniston, Cox, Kudrow, and Schwimmer later attended Perry’s funeral in Los Angeles, which was held one week after his death.