Beloved actor Matthew Perry, renowned for his portrayal of Chandler Bing on the popular television series Friends, has passed away, as reported by various media sources. Perry was 54 years old.
Reports indicate that Perry was discovered deceased, presumably due to drowning, at his residence in Los Angeles on Saturday. The Los Angeles Times, along with the celebrity outlet TMZ and other sources, have shared this tragic news.
In response to inquiries regarding the police’s involvement at the location noted as Perry’s residence, LAPD Officer Drake Madison informed the Associated Press that authorities had been dispatched to the area “for a death investigation of a male in his 50s.”
Perry’s breakthrough role in Friends, the sitcom that propelled him to stardom, came when he was 24 years old.
Throughout the show’s ten-season duration, he portrayed Chandler, a witty yet warm commitment-phobe who ultimately found love with the organized and driven Monica Geller, played by Courteney Cox.
“In an interview with Diane Sawyer on ABC News Nightline last year, Perry expressed his affection for both Chandler and the show, stating, ‘I loved Chandler, I loved the show, and I also knew: Remember this, because it’s going to be the best time of your life.’
However, Perry’s personal life was marred by his battle with addiction, a struggle he candidly revealed in his memoir, ‘Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing,’ which was published last year.
Dedicated to those grappling with similar issues, the book chronicles Perry’s prolonged dependence on alcohol and pills, chronicling his enduring challenges with substance abuse and the resulting health complications.
Perry disclosed that he had spent a significant portion of his life in rehabilitation, undergone approximately 65 detoxifications, and endured 14 surgeries.”
“When confronted with sensitive matters, I preferred to keep to myself; my motivation stemmed from the thought of aiding others,” the actor shared with The New York Times in the previous year.
During filming, Perry confessed to concealing his struggles with addiction and outlined his detrimental reliance on his career.
“I believed my very existence hinged on the laughter of the live audience, and that mindset was undoubtedly unhealthy,” Perry recounted in his memoir. “There were instances when my lines fell flat, prompting me to sweat and even experience convulsions.
If the anticipated laughter didn’t materialize, I would panic. This persistent pressure left me in a precarious state. Additionally, among the six individuals involved in the show, I knew that only one of us was grappling with illness.”
In a segment of Nightline, close friend and fellow cast member Lisa Kudrow shared, “Matthew Perry was consistently the one striving to ensure everyone else’s happiness.”
For his portrayal on Friends, Perry garnered an Emmy nomination, and he secured two more for his compelling performance as an associate White House counsel on The West Wing.
Perry’s acting repertoire extends to various films, encompassing titles such as Fools Rush In, The Whole Nine Yards, 17 Again, and the TV series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.
Hailing from Massachusetts, the actor spent his formative years shuttling between different parts of Canada, balancing time between the households of his separated parents in Los Angeles and Montreal. During this time, he achieved national recognition as a junior tennis player.
Later on, the actor transitioned to pickleball, with the Times noting that he even had a court constructed at his new residence in the Pacific Palisades.
