Maggie Wheeler, Actress Who Played Janice on Friends, Mourns Death of Matthew Perry: 'The World Will Miss You'

Matthew Perry’s Friends costar Maggie Wheeler is mourning the actor, who died Saturday at age 54.

“What a loss. The world will miss you Mathew Perry,” she wrote in an Instagram tribute alongside a photo of them on the NBC series. “The joy you brought to so many in your too short lifetime will live on. I feel so very blessed by every creative moment we shared.”

Wheeler, 62, made several guest appearances throughout Friends’ 10-season run from 1994 to 2004. She played Janice Hosenstein, the fan-favorite on-and-off girlfriend of Perry’s character, Chandler Bing. 

She was known for her distinct nasal drawl as well as her catchphrase, “Oh. My. God.”

The actress previously praised Perry as a brilliant comedian who made her break character on set. In fact, in a 2016 interview on ITV’s This Morning, she credited creating her character’s cackle as a way to get through scenes with him.

"So the laugh happened organically in the first rehearsal, because I needed to find a way to laugh, because Matthew Perry is so funny," she said. "And working with him, I knew right away, I thought, 'This guy's gonna make me laugh on set, I've gotta be prepared. What am I going to do?' So I created Janice's laugh just as a safety measure for when Matthew made me laugh.”

In 2021, she appeared in a TikTok video with performer Jax and performed a parody of the Friends theme song, “I’ll Be There For You,” and changed the lyrics to reflect her desire to see Chandler leave Monica Geller (Courteney Cox) for Janice.

"Chandler, I'll wait for you when you and Monica get divorced," she sang. "I will wait for you, you know you always loved me more. You love me, Chandler Bing!”

Following Perry’s death, Warner Bros., the production company behind Friends, released a statement obtained by PEOPLE.

“We are devastated by the passing of our dear friend Matthew Perry. Matthew was an incredibly gifted actor and an indelible part of the Warner Bros. Television Group family,” the statement read. “The impact of his comedic genius was felt around the world, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of so many. This is a heartbreaking day, and we send our love to his family, his loved ones, and all of his devoted fans.”

Many of Perry’s other former colleagues have also expressed their sadness. Valerie Bertinelli, who played Perry's sibling on Sydney, a 1990 CBS sitcom, posted a tribute to the star on her Instagram Story, saying, "Rest in peace, sweet man.”

Laura Benanti, who costarred with Perry in the 2012 sitcom Go On, told PEOPLE in a statement, “Matty was a generous, brilliant man of unparalleled talent. I feel grateful to have known him."

Also in a statement to PEOPLE, Perry's Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip costar Timothy Busfield recalled a cherished memory he shared with the actor.

"Matty Perry was a gem. I had the great, good fortune to act with and also direct him on Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip. He was a good, good man and a sweet, funny soul who will be missed, desperately," Busfield said. "Not only by his millions of devoted fans, but by those co-workers and friends who he made crumble to the floor with his fast and searing wit."

"He told me that he once spent an entire evening entertaining a famous director. Taking him to one club after another, thinking to himself, 'he really likes me, maybe he’ll hire me.' It wasn’t until the following morning, after a great night, that he discovered it wasn’t the famous director at all. He was just some guy," he continued. "He told that story on himself. That’s what kind of man he was. Happy Trails, brother. I’ll miss you."

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Perry, a five-time Emmy nominee, was found dead at his home on Saturday, according to TMZ, which cited sources.

PEOPLE confirmed with a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson that officers responded to a call at Perry's address regarding the death of a male in his 50s. The representative would not confirm the deceased's identity.

Representatives for Perry did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.