Matthew Perry has passed away, aged 54.
The beloved actor, widely known for his role as Chandler Bing on Friends, was found dead in a Los Angeles area home in an apparent drowning, according to TMZ.
Law enforcement sources reportedly told the outlet that first-responders rushed over on a call for cardiac arrest, while other sources told them he was found in a jacuzzi. This has not been confirmed publicly at this stage.
Perry’s tragic death is a blow to fans of hit sitcom ‘Friends’, where he starred as Chandler Bing for 10 seasons. He was known for his humour, deadpan lines delivered in perfect time and on-screen romance with Monica Geller, played by Courteney Cox.
While he is well known for his time on the 90s show, his acting career spans many other successful films and televisions series, including ’17 Again’, ‘Fools Rush In’, ‘The Whole Nine Yards’, ‘Beverly Hills 90210’, and ‘The Ron Clark Story’. His last acting role was in 2017.
While Perry was known for his boy-next-door comedy, he battled addiction to drugs and alcohol over the years, having admitted to using Vicodin while he was on ‘Friends’ after he was prescribed it following a 1997 jet ski accident.
The actor sought help through rehab programs, and did an interview with Diane Sawyer last year talking about his battle and thanking friend Jennifer Aniston for her support throughout the journey.
Perry was 54, having been born in Massachusetts in August 1969. His family settled in Canada, where he went to school with future Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (his mother was the press secretary to Trudeau’s father when he was Prime Minister). His father was an actor and model.
Leaving Canada behind, Perry moved to Los Angeles as a teenager, picking up a series of roles in ‘Boys Will Be Boys’ from 1987 to 1988, before finally clinching ‘Friends’ in 1994.
He would go on to play Chandler Bing until 2002, and it was the role that made his fortune. The key ‘Friends’ actors were reportedly paid $1 million an episode toward the end.
Following his battle with addiction, Perry went on to be an advocate for better services for those struggling with it, earning him an award from treatment centre Phoenix House.
Emergency Services Update Mourners On Perry’s Cause Of Death
A spokesperson for Perry confirmed the actor’s death to NBC, the network that carried Friends throughout it’s 10 seasons.
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department elaborated, telling People that first responders arrived at a residence in Blue Sail Drive, Pacific Palisades, at 4:07pm on Saturday, PDT.
“An adult male patient was deceased prior to first response arrival,” the spokesperson said, adding that the patient had been found by a bystander. The male was pulled from the water of the jacuzzi tub, according to the spokesperson, but was already deceased.
Reports say that the autopsy has been completed but is, at this stage, inconclusive. Toxicology reports may take a few weeks to come through. At this stage the death is not being treated as foul play.
Some US outlets are reporting that Perry had returned home from a game of pickleball before his passing. The LA Times reports that his family have arrived on the scene, including his mother Suzanne and her partner, broadcaster Keith Morrison.
Warner Bros Television Group released a statement that they were “devastated” by his loss.
“Matthew was an incredibly gifted actor and an indelible part of the Warner Bros. Television Group family. 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.”
