Matthew Perry, renowned for his role as Chandler Bing on the iconic TV show "Friends," has sadly passed away, according to reports from US media. He was 54 years old.
Tragically, Perry was discovered lifeless at a residence in the Los Angeles area on Saturday, October 28. It was reported that he was found in a Jacuzzi, and no drugs were present at the scene.
Law enforcement sources, cited by the Los Angeles Times, indicated that he was found unresponsive at his home around 4 PM. The exact cause of his demise will be determined at a later date by the Los Angeles County coroner's office.
Matthew Perry, a Canadian actor, grew up in Ottawa, Canada, and notably attended elementary school with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Perry moved to Los Angeles as a teenager, where he secured guest roles on TV shows such as "Boys Will Be Boys," "Growing Pains," and "Sydney." However, his big break came in 1994 when he joined the cast of NBC's hit sitcom "Friends."
"Friends" was one of the most beloved sitcoms of the 1990s, featuring Perry alongside co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer. The cast famously earned a remarkable $1 million per episode.
Matthew Perry portrayed the commitment-phobe Chandler Bing for ten seasons and received an Emmy nomination in 2002.
Despite his professional success, Perry faced a long history of struggles with drug and alcohol addiction, seeking treatment in 1997 and 2001. In 2016, he revealed that he had no memory of filming seasons 3 through 6 of "Friends."
In his 2022 memoir, "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing," Perry candidly discussed his decades-long battle with addiction.
Perry underwent rehab 15 times and endured 14 surgeries to address damage to his stomach lining caused by alcohol and opioid use. In 2018, he faced a life-threatening gastrointestinal perforation and spent months in the hospital.
Despite the odds, Perry claimed he had conquered his addictions in recent years. He expressed his resilience and openness about his struggles in interviews and his memoir.
Matthew Perry's passing deeply affects the cast of "Friends," who view him as a beloved brother. Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, and Lisa Kudrow are preparing to release a joint statement in response to their co-star's passing.
The entire cast is heartbroken, as they had formed a close-knit bond during their time on the show, enduring both the best and worst of times together.
