Burrows, who directed more than a dozen episodes of Friends<\/em>, told TODAY<\/strong> Thursday that Perry was “incredibly inventive.”<\/p>\n “He was inventive with how he did a line,” Burrows, who directed the first four episodes of beloved sitcom, added.<\/p>\n Burrows said he knew early on that Perry, who portrayed the sarcastic and always lovable Chandler Bing on the hit show, was gifted.<\/p>\n “Wow. The reading around the table. Matthew had a certain way of turning a line,” he added.<\/p>\n Burrows, who is known for directing legendary shows like Cheers<\/em>, Frasier<\/em>, Will & Grace<\/em> and Taxi<\/em>, also said that Perry mirrored Chandler in a lot of ways.<\/p>\n “He was really funny. He was a little awkward, too. Chandler was awkward. And Matthew was awkward. So it was a perfect, perfect meld,” Burrows remarked, before reflecting on perhaps one of Chandler’s most memorable on-screen moments — the ATM vestibule episode with Victoria’s Secret model Jill Goodacre.<\/p>\n “His facial expressions were amazing and Matthew could always cut to his face,” he said. “He was always aware that even though he wasn’t speaking, he was on camera.”<\/p>\n The longtime director’s praise of Perry come just days after the actor’s tragic passing. Perry died late last month after suffering an apparent drowning. He was only 54.<\/p>\n His death came as a shock to Burrows, who said he had to let it sink in for a few days before really processing it.<\/p>\n “I had to have a couple of days to just let it soak in. He was part of a family and he was the first one to not be part of that family anymore,” Burrows said.<\/p>\n He also commented on the cast’s reaction, telling the outlet that he reached out to Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow and Courteney Cox, after hearing the news.<\/p>\n “I had texted the girls the day we found out,” he shared. “They were destroyed. It’s a brother dying.”<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/images.toofab.com\/image\/ed\/5by4\/2023\/10\/31\/edef6229df804256b3f212936b8192a7_xs.jpg\")
<\/p>\n Kate Hudson Remembers Friend Matthew Perry Following Actor's Death: 'To Know Him Was to Adore Him' <\/h4>\n
![](\"https:\/\/images.toofab.com\/image\/54\/5by4\/2021\/05\/13\/545ac93eb6694546b1151cafbfc578cd_xs.jpg\")
<\/p>\n Matthew Perry's 'Devastated' Friends Costars Release Joint Statement After His Death <\/h4>\n
![](\"https:\/\/images.toofab.com\/image\/69\/5by4\/2023\/10\/30\/695d97d2afe54f618f3b4b8196cc08b2_xs.jpg\")
<\/p>\n Salma Hayek Shares 'Profound Sadness' Over Matthew Perry Death <\/h4>\n
![](\"https:\/\/images.toofab.com\/image\/d7\/4by3\/2012\/11\/29\/d7d9f7989d5b56f19a6c72be2db26564_md.jpg\")