Matthew Perry, Iconic 'Friends' Actor, Passes Away at 54

Matthew Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing on the hit sitcom Friends, died at the age of 54 on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. According to law enforcement sources, Perry was found dead in a jacuzzi at his home in Los Angeles, and no drugs were found at the scene. The cause of death is still under investigation, but TMZ reported that it was an apparent drowning.

A Star on Friends

Matthew Perry shot to fame as one of the six primary cast members of Friends, a popular television series that ran for a decade, from 1994 to 2004. He portrayed Chandler Bing, a clever and cynical guy who used humor to deal with his issues and those of his troubled family.

For his work on the show, which became a worldwide success and paid Perry and his co-stars $1 million for each episode in the show's final seasons, he was nominated for an Emmy in 2002.

Chandler was the most challenging character to cast, but Friends creator David Crane claimed that Perry was a wonderful fit for the role. At the time, Crane and her co-creator Marta Kauffman "were thinking Chandler is just poorly written," as she explained in a 2019 interview. And then Matthew walked in, and you said, "Oh well, there you go." It is completed. That's him!'"

Perry also worked as an executive producer on the spin-off series Joey, which starred Matt LeBlanc as Perry's closest friend from the show Friends.

Other Roles & Projects

Besides Friends, Perry also appeared in several movies and TV shows throughout his career. He starred in romantic comedies such as Fools Rush In (1997), The Whole Nine Yards (2000), and 17 Again (2009), as well as dramas such as The Ron Clark Story (2006), for which he earned another Emmy nomination, and Mr. Sunshine (2011), which he also co-created and co-produced.

From 2003 to 2006, Perry had a recurring role on The West Wing as attorney Joe Quincy, for which he was nominated for two more Emmys. Later, from 2015–2017, he portrayed Oscar Madison in the revival of The Odd Couple, which he co-created and co-produced.

Perry also tried his hand at the theater, making his debut in 2003 in London's West End with the play Sexual Perversity in Chicago. In addition, he created and starred in the 2016 London premiere and 2017 New York run of the dark comedy The End of Longing.

Personal Life & Struggles

The late actor was born on August 19, 1969, in Williamstown, Massachusetts. His father was American and his mother was Canadian. They split up when he was a baby, and he moved to Ottawa, Canada, with his mother, who worked as Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's press secretary. Trudeau's son Justin went to grade school with Perry. Justin later became prime minister.

Perry went back to Los Angeles when he was a teenager to try to become an actor and get back in touch with his acting and modeling father. At age 10, he got his first TV part on his dad's show, 240-Robert.

In addition, he had a lot of problems with drugs and alcohol for a long time, especially when he was on Friends. He told them he was hooked on prescription drugs and booze, like Vicodin and methadone, which made his memory and weight worse. He went to rehab twice, in 1997 and 2001. Afterward, he spoke out strongly for people who are recovering from addiction.

Perry wrote a best-selling autobiography called Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing (2022), in which he talked about his sadness, addiction, and anxiety. He also said that he had been diagnosed with pancreatitis and bipolar illness.

The Friends star was in a lot of public relationships with famous people, like Julia Roberts, Yasmine Bleeth, and Lizzy Caplan, but he never got married or had kids. An event planner named Molly Hurwitz was his most recent girlfriend. They got engaged in November 2020 but broke up in June 2021.

Tributes from Fans & Colleagues

Perry's death shocked and saddened fans and coworkers all over the world. They used social media to share their sadness and honor him. Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer, who all worked with him on Friends, wrote touching messages on Instagram and shared pictures and memories of their time.

Several famous people who knew Perry or respected him also sent their condolences and thanks. Olivia Munn said in a tweet that Perry "brought a lot of joy to people," and George Takei said he was "a brilliant actor and a wonderful person." His daughter on The Whole Nine Yards, Rumer Willis, called him "one of the kindest souls" she had ever met."

Fox, which made Friends, said in a statement that they were "devastated by the passing of our dear friend Matthew Perry" and that his "comedic genius was felt around the world." NBC, which showed Friends, also said in a statement that they were "heartbroken" by the news and that Perry was "a beloved member of the NBC family."

Fans also shared clips and quotes from Perry's famous parts to honor his memory and express their sadness over his death. They also thanked him for making them laugh and smile. Some fans said Perry's death was caused by the Covid-19 vaccine he got earlier this year. They spread false information and plot theories about how safe and effective the vaccine was.

Perry will be remembered as one of the most skilled and charismatic actors of his time. His unforgettable roles made millions of people happy and laugh. His family, friends, and fans will miss him a lot. Matthew Perry, please rest in peace.

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