Matthew Perry, the actor globally recognized for his role as Chandler Bing on the iconic TV show Friends, has tragically passed away at the age of 54.
The Los Angeles Police received a 911 call at 4:07 pm local time, treating the incident at Perry’s Pacific Palisades residence as a water rescue. No foul play is suspected, and the cause of death is still under investigation.
Perry rose to stardom in the ’90s with Friends, sharing the screen with Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, and David Schwimmer. The show, which aired for ten seasons from 1994 to 2004, followed a close-knit group of friends living in New York City. Perry’s character, Chandler, became famous for his sarcastic one-liners.
About a year ago, Perry went on a press tour for his memoir, “Friends, Lovers, And The Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir,” where he discussed his struggles with addiction. He even shared a near-death experience in 2019 due to opioid use, which led to his colon bursting.
Maggie Wheeler, who portrayed Chandler’s on-and-off girlfriend Janice on the show, was among those who paid tribute to Perry. She expressed her gratitude for the creative moments they shared. Selma Blair, an actor and author, also posted a heartfelt tribute, describing Perry as her “oldest friend” and stating she was “broken-hearted.”
Octavia Spencer and Piers Morgan were among other celebrities who paid their respects. Spencer noted that Perry’s contributions to the world would be remembered forever.
Born in Massachusetts and raised in Ottawa, Canada, Perry moved to Los Angeles at 15 to chase his acting dreams. He joined the Friends cast at 24 and received an Emmy nomination for his role. He also had two more nominations for his appearances on the political drama series The West Wing. Perry had other significant roles in films like “Fools Rush In” opposite Salma Hayek and “The Whole Nine Yards” alongside Bruce Willis.
In 2021, Perry reunited with his Friends co-stars for a special episode hosted by James Corden. The cast revisited old sets, re-enacted scenes, and discussed their characters’ ongoing storylines. Before his acting career, Perry was a top-ranked junior tennis player in Canada, practicing up to 10 hours a day.
Perry’s last Instagram was posted from the jacuzzi her was reportedly found dead in.
He captioned the photo: ‘Oh, so warm water swirling around makes you feel good? I’m Mattman’.
The loss of Matthew Perry is a significant blow to the entertainment world, and he leaves behind a legacy that will be cherished by fans for generations to come.