Matthew Perry: Friends actors Matt LeBlanc and Courteney Cox pay tribute

Courteney Cox revealed that her character's marriage to Chandler was not the writers' original plan

Friends stars Courteney Cox and Matt Le Blanc have both paid their first individual tributes to co-star Mathew Perry, following his death last month.

Cox, who played his on-screen wife Monica, shared a clip of her with Perry's character Chandler on Instagram and said she was "so grateful for every moment" they worked together.

Matt Le Blanc, who played room-mate Joey, posted his first tribute earlier.

"It was an honour to call you my friend," he wrote.

Le Blanc, 56, said: "It is with a heavy heart I say goodbye. I'll never forget you."

Perry was found dead at his Los Angeles home last month at the age of 54, sparking an outpouring of grief from fans across the world.

In a joint statement last month, Cox and Le Blanc were joined by their fellow cast members Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer in describing Perry's death as an "unfathomable loss".

"We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew," the statement said. "We will always cherish the joy, the light, the blinding intelligence he brought to every moment - not just to his work, but in life as well.

"He was always the funniest person in the room. More than that, he was the sweetest, with a giving and selfless heart."

Matt LeBlanc said he would never forget Matthew Perry

LeBlanc became the first to post an individual tribute, sharing pictures of him on set with Perry, as he said on Instagram: "The times we had together are honestly among the favourite times of my life.

"It was an honour to share the stage with you and to call you my friend.

"I will always smile when I think of you and I'll never forget you. Never.

"Spread your wings and fly brother you're finally free."

Within hours, Cox added her tribute on Instagram, writing alongside her chosen clip: "When you work with someone as closely as I did with Matthew, there are thousands of moments I wish I could share. For now here's one of my favourites."

She also revealed a behind-the-scenes story as she said: "Chandler and Monica were supposed to have a one-night fling in London. But because of the audience's reaction, it became the beginning of their love story.

"In this scene, before we started rolling, he whispered a funny line for me to say. He often did things like that. He was funny and he was kind."

Perry's funeral took place earlier this month with his Friends co-stars reportedly in attendance. Authorities are still investigating the cause of his death.

A new foundation has been set up in his name promising to continue his commitment to "helping others struggling with the disease of addiction" following his public battles with alcohol and drugs.