Matthew Perry, the actor best known for playing Chandler Bing on “Friends,” tragically passed away at 54 years old. Authorities found him dead at his Los Angeles area home.
According to a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson, “An adult male patient was deceased prior to first response arrival. The patient was found by a bystander who had repositioned the victim, where the head was out of water. Firefighters pulled the victim out of the jacuzzi and did a quick medical assessment to find he was deceased.” The L.A. County Medical Examiner’s Office lists the case as open, with the cause of death deferred pending additional investigation.
In a statement to People Magazine, his family said, “We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother. Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend. You all meant so much to him, and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love.” Warner Bros. also issued a statement about the star, saying, “We are devastated by the passing of our dear friend Matthew Perry. Matthew was an incredibly gifted actor and an indelible part of the Warner Bros. Television Group family.”
I’m heartbroken about the untimely death of my “son”, Matthew Perry. The loss of such a brilliant young actor is a shock. I’m sending love & condolences to his friends & family, especially his dad, John Bennett Perry, who I worked with on Flamingo Road & Falcon Crest. #RIPMatthew pic.twitter.com/QWMsBVJEAr
— Morgan Fairchild (@morgfair) October 29, 2023
The statement continues, “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.” Perry was born in 1969 in Williamstown, Massachusetts, but was raised in Ottawa, Canada, where he attended elementary school with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. As a teenager, Perry moved to Los Angeles. After landing some T.V. guest spots, he recurred as Chazz Russell on “Boys Will Be Boys” from 1987 to 1988.
Roles on “Sydney” and “Growing Pains” followed, but his big break came in 1994 with NBC’s beloved sitcom “Friends.” Perry played the sarcastic Chandler Bing for 10 seasons, landing an Emmy nomination in 2002. “Friends” was the most popular show of the 90s, with Perry and costars Courtney Cox, Jennifer Anniston, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, and Matt LeBlanc ultimately earning $1 million each per episode.
Despite his success, Perry struggled with addiction behind the scenes, seeking help 15 times over the years. In 2016, he told Britain’s BBC Radio 2 that he didn’t remember filming seasons 3 through 6 of “Friends.” The actor admitted to abusing alcohol and Vicodin, which a doctor prescribed him after a 1997 jet ski accident. He said, “I had a big problem with alcohol and pills, and I couldn’t stop. Eventually, things got so bad that I couldn’t hide it, and then everybody knew.” However, “something clicked,” and he founded Perry House, a men’s sober living facility in his old Malibu beach home.
The actor said, “The interesting reason I can be so helpful to people now is that I screwed up so often. It’s nice for people to see that somebody who once struggled in their life is not struggling anymore.” In 2015, he was honored for his advocacy by the treatment center Phoenix House, telling The Hollywood Reporter, “You can’t have a drug problem for 30 years and then expect to have it be solved in 28 days.”
When it comes to gratitude, Perry said he learned that “everything starts with sobriety. Because if you don’t have sobriety, you’re going to lose everything that you put in front of it, so my sobriety is right up there.”