Within moments of the news breaking that Matthew Perry had died on Saturday, social media was flooded with tributes to the Friends star.

Millions of these individuals shared their heartbreak over the loss of a person they had never met – but experts have revealed how people can grieve for a stranger.

Psychologists have found that mourning a celebrity’s death is likely due to people’s tendency to immortalize them through nostalgic life experiences – and an actor’s or musician’s death feels like a lost memory.

For those saddened by Perry’s death, it may stem from their love of the television show Friends – many individuals relied on his character, Chandler Bing, to comfort them during hard times.

Within moments of the news breaking that Matthew Perry had died on Saturday, social media was flooded with tributes to the Friends star, who drowned at the age of 54 at his home in Los Angeles

Within moments of the news breaking that Matthew Perry had died on Saturday, social media was flooded with tributes to the Friends star, who drowned at the age of 54 at his home in Los Angeles

Within moments of the news breaking that Matthew Perry had died on Saturday, social media was flooded with tributes to the Friends star, who drowned at the age of 54 at his home in Los Angeles

Therapist Aneisa Hanson, PhD told Psychology Today: ‘Our relationships with celebrities are different than our everyday relationships.

‘Our emotional bond with an influential person is based on what we need that person to be for us during influential moments of our lives. 

It’s the idea of that person we bond to, not necessarily the person themselves—since we didn’t come to know them in real life.

‘Because we bond to celebrities at a distance, we have a tendency to immortalize them through nostalgic life experiences.’ 

The actor, who shot to fame as the sarcastic Chandler Bing in the seminal 90s sitcom, was found dead at his house in Los Angeles on Saturday after emergency crews were called at around 4pm local time.

Friends, which followed the lives of six friends in their 20s living in New York, was a smash hit across the globe when it aired between 1994 and 2004, and re-runs still remain hugely popular years later.

Perry won a worldwide fanbase for his role as Chandler, earning him an Emmy nomination in 2002 – but behind the glitz and glamour, he secretly battled substance abuse for decades.

The news of his death flooded social media, with many users sharing heartfelt messages about their love for Perry and his iconic character, Chandler.

The actor, who shot to fame as the sarcastic Chandler Bing in the seminal 90s sitcom

The actor, who shot to fame as the sarcastic Chandler Bing in the seminal 90s sitcom

The actor, who shot to fame as the sarcastic Chandler Bing in the seminal 90s sitcom

Millions of these individuals shared their heartbreak over the loss of a person they had never met - but experts have revealed how people can grieve for a stranger

Millions of these individuals shared their heartbreak over the loss of a person they had never met - but experts have revealed how people can grieve for a stranger

Millions of these individuals shared their heartbreak over the loss of a person they had never met – but experts have revealed how people can grieve for a stranger

Fans have also left a sea of flowers outside the Friends ‘apartment’ in New York City.

Despite never filming at the location, the Bedford Street building served as the exterior shot in Friends and soon became an iconic tourist hotspot.

Many stood out in the pouring rain on Sunday to lay flowers and leave notes at the makeshift memorial for the much-loved actor. 

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, fans left bouquets of sunflowers and other tributes in front of the gates to Perry’s home, where he was found dead over the weekend. 

The mourning of a celebrity has also been linked to the notion that they are embedded in people’s youth.

Many people grew up watching Friends on NBC as six 20-somethings navigated the hustle and bustle of New York City.

‘Not only are celebrities infused into our developmental milestones, they oftentimes fill roles of a mentor or support person we were lacking,’ Hanson said. 

‘We turn to them for support and they become part of our lives. When they die, a little part of us dies too.’ 

Fans have also left a sea of flowers outside the Friends 'apartment' in New York City . Despite never filming at the location, the Bedford Street building served as the exterior shot in Friends and soon became an iconic tourist hotspot

Fans have also left a sea of flowers outside the Friends 'apartment' in New York City . Despite never filming at the location, the Bedford Street building served as the exterior shot in Friends and soon became an iconic tourist hotspot

Fans have also left a sea of flowers outside the Friends ‘apartment’ in New York City . Despite never filming at the location, the Bedford Street building served as the exterior shot in Friends and soon became an iconic tourist hotspot

Hearing about death may also make people think about our mortality, according to Choosing Therapy.

Psychotherapist Adam Koenig said: ‘In our culture, there is a notion that fame provides at least symbolic immortality.

‘When a famous celebrity then dies, it brings home the reality that no one can escape death.’

Koenig also explained that celebrities can offer people an identity, allowing them to meet others who enjoy the same actor or musician.

‘Our identity can then become attached to our favorite celebrities, so when they die, it leads to us mourning them and our identity as a fan because we must readjust how we view ourselves after their death,’ he shared.

‘We might even feel as if a part of us died when they did, possibly even creating an identify crisis.’

 

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk

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