Matthew Perry’s extraordinary life in pictures after his death at age 54: From legendary Friends star to best-selling author who courageously chronicled his decades-long journey to sobriety

Beloved Friends star Matthew Perry died on Saturday at the age of 54.

The actor’s death has left fans and his friends in utter dismay after he recently released his memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” in which he recounted how he overcame his struggles with drugs and alcohol almost killed him.

Matthew, who rose to fame for his role as Chandler Bing in Friends, is believed to have drowned in a hot tub, while one of his close friends exclusively told that his inner circle is currently in a “total state of shock”.

Sources told that he reportedly played a two-hour game of pickleball and that paramedics were called to his home to respond to an apparent heart attack incident.

The Screen Actors Guild Award winner, who became a household name for his role as Chandler Bing on the NBC television sitcom Friends, was born in Williamstown, Massachusetts in 1969.

TV legend: The Screen Actors Guild Award winner, who became a household name after playing Chandler Bing on the NBC sitcom

TV legend: The Screen Actors Guild Award winner, who became a household name after playing Chandler Bing on the NBC sitcom “Friends,” was born in Williamstown, Massachusetts, in 1969 (pictured in 1994).

His mother, Suzanne Marie Morrison, worked as a Canadian journalist and was previously press secretary to former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, and his father, John Bennett Perry, separated before his first birthday

His mother, Suzanne Marie Morrison, worked as a Canadian journalist and was previously press secretary to former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, and his father, John Bennett Perry, separated before his first birthday

An athlete: His mother married broadcast journalist Keith Morrison and he was raised primarily in Ottawa, Ontario, aside from brief stints in Toronto and Montreal

An athlete: His mother married broadcast journalist Keith Morrison and he was raised primarily in Ottawa, Ontario, aside from brief stints in Toronto and Montreal

Clever: Perry attended Rockcliffe Park Public School with future Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau before going to Ashbury College

Clever: Perry attended Rockcliffe Park Public School with future Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau before going to Ashbury College

Impressive: The best-selling author not only mastered the creative arts, but was also one of the best junior tennis players in Canada, training up to 10 hours a day, according to Tennis Canada (seen in

Impressive: The best-selling author not only mastered the creative arts, but was also one of the best junior tennis players in Canada, training up to 10 hours a day, according to Tennis Canada (seen in

Born for show business: Perry (r.), seen during his sophomore year of high school while attending Buckley School in Sherman Oaks (seen in 1985)

Born for show business: Perry (r.), seen during his sophomore year of high school while attending Buckley School in Sherman Oaks (seen in 1985)

Handsome: The actor (seen above in his senior year of high school in 1987) was destined for Hollywood because of his luck and natural charisma

Handsome: The actor (seen above in his senior year of high school in 1987) was destined for Hollywood because of his luck and natural charisma

Before Friends: Perry portrayed Carol Seaver's friend Sandy, who dies in the hospital after a drunken accident (pictured 1989)

Before Friends: Perry portrayed Carol Seaver’s friend Sandy, who dies in the hospital after a drunken accident (pictured 1989)

A unique role: Matthew Perry (seen on the far right) played the famous role of Chandler Bing between 1994 and 2004

A unique role: Matthew Perry (seen on the far right) played the famous role of Chandler Bing between 1994 and 2004

Fast friends: Perry and co-star Jennifer Aniston became close while starring in Friends (pictured in 1995);  and he praised her over the years for being

Fast friends: Perry and co-star Jennifer Aniston became close while starring in Friends (pictured in 1995); and he praised her over the years for being “the one who tried the hardest amid his struggles with addiction and his journey to sobriety.”

Past Love: He briefly dated actress Julia Roberts after she guest-starred on the sitcom

Past Love: He briefly dated actress Julia Roberts after she guest-starred on the sitcom “Friends” in the mid-1990s; They finally broke up after two months of dating (seen in 1996)

Winner: Perry seen after accepting his first Screen Actors Guild Awards in 1996

Winner: Perry seen after accepting his first Screen Actors Guild Awards in 1996

Huge success: In 1999, the cast of Friends was on top of the world as they promoted their sixth season

Huge success: In 1999, the cast of Friends was on top of the world as they promoted their sixth season

On the big screen: In 2000, he starred in

On the big screen: In 2000, he starred in “The Whole Nine Yards,” which led to him landing roles in films like “Fools Rush In,” “Almost Heroes,” “The Ron Clark Story” and ” 17 Again” secured

Power couple: His character Chandler Bing and Monica Geller (Courteney Cox) married in the seventh season finale of their hit sitcom Friends in 2001

Power couple: His character Chandler Bing and Monica Geller (Courteney Cox) married in the seventh season finale of their hit sitcom Friends in 2001

In addition to starring in comedies, he also appeared in dramas such as Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (seen above in the role of Matthew Albie).

In addition to starring in comedies, he also appeared in dramas such as Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (seen above in the role of Matthew Albie).

Fame: He received a Screen Actors Guild Award for his leading role in “Friends” and was nominated for an Emmy in 2002 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his portrayal of Chandler Bing.  seen in 2001

Fame: He received a Screen Actors Guild Award for his leading role in “Friends” and was nominated for an Emmy in 2002 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his portrayal of Chandler Bing. seen in 2001

Athletic: Perry, pictured above, competed in the 2003 Merv Griffin Beverly Hills Country Club Celebrity Tennis Classic

Athletic: Perry, pictured above, competed in the 2003 Merv Griffin Beverly Hills Country Club Celebrity Tennis Classic

Multi-talented: Perry made his directorial debut in a 2004 episode of Scrubs (starring John Bennett Perry as Gregory Marks).

Multi-talented: Perry made his directorial debut in a 2004 episode of Scrubs (starring John Bennett Perry as Gregory Marks).

Matt LeBlanc, Perry and his friends' co-star, once starred in a celebrity hockey game together

Matt LeBlanc, Perry and his friends’ co-star, once starred in a celebrity hockey game together

Box Office Hit: His 2009 film 17 Again opposite Zac Efron and Leslie Mann was a box office hit, grossing $139.4 million worldwide on a production budget of $40 million

Box Office Hit: His 2009 film 17 Again opposite Zac Efron and Leslie Mann was a box office hit, grossing $139.4 million worldwide on a production budget of $40 million

An icon: The 17 Again star speaks onstage during the 64th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 2012

An icon: The 17 Again star speaks onstage during the 64th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 2012

Come on, Dodgers!  In 2013, Perry threw out the first pitch at a Dodgers vs. Padres game

Come on, Dodgers! In 2013, Perry threw out the first pitch at a Dodgers vs. Padres game

Perry promoted his TV series Go On during an interview with host Jay Leno in 2013

Perry promoted his TV series Go On during an interview with host Jay Leno in 2013

Doing good: Perry testified before a House Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing at the Capitol on the need to fund drug courts

Doing good: Perry testified before a House Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing at the Capitol on the need to fund drug courts

The Reunion: The cast of Friends reunited on camera for the first time in 25 years in 2021 for a special called “The One Where They Get Back Together,” hosted by James Corden

The Reunion: The cast of Friends reunited on camera for the first time in 25 years in 2021 for a special called “The One Where They Get Back Together,” hosted by James Corden

Raw and honest: Perry didn't hold back when describing his lifelong battle with addiction in his 2022 memoir

Raw and honest: Perry didn’t hold back when describing his lifelong battle with addiction in his 2022 memoir “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.”

Bestselling author: The star (seen April 22, 2023, introducing his memoir at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books) shared his story of sobriety, fame and a downward spiral of addiction

Bestselling author: The star (seen April 22, 2023, introducing his memoir at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books) shared his story of sobriety, fame and a downward spiral of addiction