“His facial expressions were amazing and Matthew, [we] could always cut to his face,” James Burrows recalled

Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing June 15, 1994. PHOTO: REISIG & TAYLOR/NBCU PHOTO BANK/NBCUNIVERSAL VIA GETTY

Friends director James Burrows remembers Matthew Perry as an “inventive” actor and comedian.

The longtime TV director and producer, who directed the pilot episode of the popular sitcom, recalled in an interview with TODAY that Perry had a certain comedic spark with the way he would play his character, Chandler Bing.

Burrows said that his first impression of the actor was, “Wow.” The director continued, “We were reading around the table. Matthew had a certain way of turning a line.”

“He was inventive with how he did a line,” Burrows added of Perry.

“The One with the Football” Episode 6 — Pictured: (l-r) Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing, Courteney Cox Arquette as Monica Geller.GARY NULL/NBCU PHOTO BANK

Burrows, who also directed episodes of Will & Grace and Frasier and co-created and produced Cheers, told TODAY that Perry “was really funny” and a “little awkward” on the set — something very similar to how his character was also portrayed on the show.

“It was a perfect, perfect meld,” he noted.

Burrows said one of his favorite Friends episodes with Perry was “The One with the Blackout,” in which Chandler was stuck in an ATM vestibule with model Jill Goodacre. In one scene, Chandler appeared to get increasingly desperate as he tried to tell his friends his predicament.

“His facial expressions were amazing and Matthew, [we] could always cut to his face,” Burrows said of directing the season 1 episode. “He was always aware that even though he wasn’t speaking, he was always on camera.”

Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani, Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing, Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay, Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green, Courteney Cox Arquette as Monica Geller, David Schwimmer as Ross Geller pictured in the episode “The One with Phoebe’s Dad.”.ALICE S. HALL/NBCU PHOTO BANK/NBCUNIVERSAL VIA GETTY

The director recalled that Perry had such a talent, which is why his death hurts all the more.

“It’s so sad,” an emotional Burrows shared. “We were so proud of him these last couple of years that he was making a remarkable recovery.”

He described Perry’s loss as similar to losing a family member. “I texted the girls the day we found out and they were destroyed,” he said. “It’s a brother dying.”

However, Burrows said that he ultimately hoped Perry would be remembered “as a wonderful actor, a funny man and a dear friend to a lot of people.” He added, “I wish he was here.”

Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay, Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani, Courteney Cox Arquette as Monica Geller, Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing, Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green, David Schwimmer as Ross Geller in ‘Friends’.REISIG & TAYLOR/NBCU PHOTO BANK/NBCUNIVERSAL/GETTY

The actor was found dead at the age of 54 at his Los Angeles-area home on Saturday. TMZ reported that sources said first responders were called to the residence for cardiac arrest, and that no illicit drugs were found at the scene.

In addition, the outlet obtained 911 dispatch audio in which “drowning” is referenced.

His Friends co-stars — Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer — released a statement on Tuesday saying: “We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family. There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.”

“In time we will say more, as and when we are able,” the statement continues. “For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.”

Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani, Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay, David Schwimmer as Ross Geller, Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing, Courteney Cox as Monica Geller, Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green pictured in the first season of “Friends.”.REISIG & TAYLOR/NBCU PHOTO BANK/NBCUNIVERSAL VIA GETTY

Series co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane as well as executive producer Kevin Bright also issued a joint statement on Sunday.

“We are shocked and deeply, deeply saddened by our beloved friend Matthew’s passing,” they wrote. “It still seems impossible. All we can say is that we feel blessed to have had him as part of our lives. He was a brilliant talent.”

Kaufman, Crane and Bright’s statement continued, “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.”