Matthew Perry, best known for his role on the TV series ‘Friends,’ was found dead in his hot tub Saturday at his Los Angeles home, according to law enforcement sources. Authorities found him unresponsive after receiving a call around 4 p.m. Sources who chose to remain anonymous due to an ongoing investigation did not reveal the cause of death. However, there was no evidence of foul play. The Times did not receive a response from Perry’s representative.
Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department are investigating the circumstances of his death. Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office will determine the exact cause of death later.
Perry was born in 1969 to John Bennett Perry, an actor, and Suzanne Marie Langford (a former press secretary for Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau). His parents split when he turned one. He spent his childhood growing up between Montreal, Canada, and Los Angeles, California.
Perry began his career as a child actress, making guest appearances in shows such as ‘Charles in Charge,’ ‘Beverly Hills 90210’, and in the film ‘A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon,’ starring River Phoenix, in the 1980s and 1990s.
His breakthrough came in the form of the iconic TV show ‘Friends,’ originally called ‘Friends Like Us.’ The sitcom premiered in 1994 on NBC and followed six New Yorkers who were navigating adulthood. Perry and his co-stars Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox were overnight stars after the show became a huge success. The show was a huge success in 1996. It attracted more than 50 million viewers.
Perry’s dry humor and catchphrases became famous in his role as Chandler Bing. He was the sarcastic flatmate of Joey Tribbiani and then the love interest for Monica Geller. In 1997, Perry also made his film debut alongside Julia Roberts and Salma Hayek.
Perry’s struggle with alcoholism and opioid addiction was well documented in his memoir, “Friends, Lovers, And The Big Terrible Thing”, published in 2022. Perry’s battle with addiction resulted in multiple rehab stints and numerous health issues. One of these was a potentially life-threatening rupture of the colon in 2018.
Perry’s life was also marked by intense pressure from performing live in front of an audience at the “Friends” show. He said that he did not believe fame would bring him happiness.
Perry acknowledged that he had relapsed many times. However, despite this, he continued to appear in American television series such as ‘Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip’ and “Go On.” Perry made guest appearances in acclaimed series such as “The West Wing” and “The Good Wife.” Perry has found comfort in writing, playing pickleball, and friendships since his near-death encounter in 2018.
Perry, despite his success as a best-selling author and actor, said in April that his legacy wasn’t solely based upon his work. Perry said that he wanted to be remembered as someone who loved well, lived well, and helped others. Meeting me was not a negative experience but a positive one.