He was known for his iconic role in the series about one of the most famous friend groups in the world. He was found dead in his hot tub without emergency responders being able to revive him.
The group of friends has lost one of its friends: actor Matthew Perry, who played the character Chandler Bing in the hit sitcom “Friends”, was found dead in his home at the age of 54, American media reported on Saturday.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the actor was found unconscious in the hot tub of his Los Angeles home by his assistant. The first responders were unable to revive him. A spokesman for the Los Angeles police told AFP that they intervened at 4:10 p.m. without confirming the name of the deceased.
No evidence was found to suggest a crime was committed, according to anonymous sources cited by the Los Angeles Times and TMZ, which first reported the death.
In a statement, television studio Warner Bros., which produced the cult series, said it was “devastated” by the news of his death. “He was a true gift for all of us. Our thoughts are with his family, his loved ones and all his fans,” the studio writes.
Matthew Perry was best known for playing the prankster and clumsy Chandler Bing in the hugely popular series “Friends,” which aired on NBC for ten seasons from 1994 to 2004, totaling more than 230 episodes.
The actor had struggled with his addiction to painkillers and alcohol for years and had been to rehabilitation clinics several times. During a recent television appearance, Perry surprised audiences by admitting that he suffered from severe anxiety “every night” while filming Friends.
In a memoir published last year, he confessed to undergoing 65 drug treatments and spending more than $9 million.
According to TMZ, no drugs were found at the actor’s crime scene on Saturday.
Also read the very touching speech by Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow to Courteney Cox, their “sister” from Friends, in the video
“I should be dead”
He had undergone several surgeries related to his drug addiction issues, including a seven-hour colon surgery in 2018, to the point where he said one day, “I should be dead.”
Alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry ensured the success of this television series beloved by American youth and beyond.
It tells the adventures of a group of happy friends – Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Ross and Chandler – in New York, punctuated by romantic relationships, including between Monica and Chandler.
The series “Friends” celebrated great success with audiences and left its mark on a generation of viewers. Releasing on Netflix allowed the series to attract new audiences, confirming the enduring popularity of the sitcom, a genre that many said was in decline.
Following the news of the death, there were strong reactions on social media in Hollywood. “Oh no!!! Matthew Perry!! This tender, restless soul,” writes actress Mina Sorvino, who starred with Perry in the 1994 TV movie “Parallel Lives.”
Also Read: Matthew Perry Reveals He Spent $9 Million Getting Sober
Matthew Perry was born in Massachusetts (Northeast) in 1969 to Canadian and American parents. He grew up between Montreal and Los Angeles. His mother is a Canadian journalist who worked for former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, while his father is an actor.
He played small roles before being cast as the final star in Friends, where he delighted fans with his acerbic humor, sarcasm and lack of self-confidence.
He was never married and, despite five nominations, did not win an Emmy, the prestigious American television award.