Renowned actor Matthew Perry, famous for his enduring role in “Friends,” has passed away at the age of 54.
Perry was discovered lifeless at a residence in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles after authorities responded to a 911 call for a water rescue on a Saturday afternoon. TMZ was the first to report Perry’s demise.
According to police reports on Sunday, the actor was found unresponsive in his jacuzzi, with no evident signs of injury, yet the cause of death remains unexplained. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office stated that an autopsy has been conducted, awaiting toxicology results.
Matthew Perry, best known for his portrayal of Chandler Bing in the hit series “Friends,” captivated audiences with his idiosyncratic charm and distinctive personality, making him a beloved figure during the show’s 10-season run.
In 2015, Perry reflected on his time on “Friends,” saying, “It’s wonderful, it’s a fantastic phase in my life. People approach me who I’m certain were not born when we were filming the show. And they are amazed at how much older I appear.”
His performance earned him an Emmy nomination in 2002 for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series.
Warner Bros. Television Group, the production company behind “Friends,” expressed their profound sorrow over Perry’s passing and hailed him as an exceptionally talented actor whose comedic brilliance had a global impact.
Colleagues, friends, and fans took to social media to share messages of grief and to honor Perry’s talent, humor, and kindness.
Perry’s extensive career included roles in various television series and films, including “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” “Growing Pains,” “Ally McBeal,” “17 Again,” “The Whole Nine Yards,” “The West Wing,” and a revival of “The Odd Couple.”
He garnered Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for his part in the 2007 miniseries “The Ron Clark Story.”
In his 2022 memoir, “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing,” Perry candidly discussed his struggles with substance abuse and his journey in the entertainment industry. He sought treatment multiple times for drug and alcohol addiction.
Perry, born in Massachusetts in 1969, spent his formative years in both the United States and Canada. His father was actor John Bennett Perry, while his mother was journalist Suzanne Marie Langford, who served as a press secretary to former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, the father of the current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
John Bennett Perry and Matthew Perry portrayed father and son in the 1997 romantic comedy “Fools Rush In” and later reunited in a 2004 episode of “Scrubs,” directed by Matthew Perry.
Perry and Trudeau, who were childhood friends and schoolmates, shared a profound connection. Trudeau expressed his shock and sorrow at Perry’s untimely death, recalling the games they used to play as kids and acknowledging the laughter Perry brought to people worldwide.
