Friends star Matthew Perry has died aged 54 after apparently drowning in his home hot tub.
The actor, who rose to fame as the sarcastic Chandler Bing in the groundbreaking 90s sitcom, was found dead after a 911 call was made to 911 at 4.07pm on Saturday.
Earlier in the day, he had reportedly played a two-hour game of pickleball – a sport similar to tennis but played on a smaller court – before sending his assistant on an errand. When the assistant returned, Perry was said to be unresponsive in his hot tub.
Paramedics attempted a “water rescue” but attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at the scene of an apparent drowning without being taken to hospital.
Officers from the LA Police Department’s Robbery and Homicide Unit were also dispatched to the Pacific Palisades home, but a source said no drugs or signs of crime were found at the scene.
Police are treating this as a death investigation and the Los Angeles County coroner is expected to conduct an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.
Tributes poured in for Friends star Matthew Perry after he was found dead yesterday
Perry has died at his home in LA at the age of 54 (pictured earlier this week when he was last seen in public).
Aerial photos show Perry’s pool and hot tub, where he was reportedly found dead yesterday
Perry became famous for his role as “Chandler Bing” on the hit 90s sitcom “Friends,” which ran for ten seasons
Matthew Perry’s father, John Bennett Perry, 82, was seen frantically arriving at his son’s LA home just hours after the Friends star died
The 82-year-old was later joined by Perry’s mother Suzanne (left) and stepfather Keith Morrison (right), who appeared sullen as they arrived at the house
Friends, which followed the lives of six 20-something friends living in New York, was a huge hit worldwide when it aired between 1994 and 2004, and reruns remain popular years later.
Perry gained a global fan base for his role as Chandler and received an Emmy nomination in 2002 – but behind the glitz and glamour, he secretly battled substance abuse for decades.
In his latest post on Instagram, which he shared earlier this week, the star shared pictures of himself in his pool and said, “Oh, that warm water swirling around makes you feel good? ‘I’m Mattman.’
Perry, who never married but dated a number of stars including Julia Roberts, has been open and public about his problems with drugs and alcohol after he first went into prison in 1997 due to an addiction to painkillers following a jet ski accident had gone to rehab.
After this first stay, he went to rehab again in 2001 and 2011. In an interview in 2016, he said that he didn’t remember filming three seasons of Friends.
Although Perry hid his demons from the public for years, he detailed his struggles in his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers And The Big Terrible Thing.
He began by writing: “Hello, my name is Matthew, although you may know me by another name.” My friends call me Matty. And I should be dead.’
He added: “People would be surprised to know that I have been sober for the most part since 2001. Apart from about sixty or seventy little mishaps over the years.”
A long-time friend of Perry’s who was in recovery with him told last night: “Everyone is in complete shock.” People are crying on the phone and struggling to accept the news.
“It’s no secret that he has struggled with drugs and alcohol for years, but the last time I spoke to him, which was a few weeks ago, he seemed to be doing well.”
“He was upbeat and sounded sober and positive.”
“He was in rehab 17 times and almost died from opioid abuse, but he was someone who was sincere about taking his own life and losing his sobriety every day.”
“This is such tragic news.” Everyone is praying that he doesn’t relapse. Matt was a really nice guy. He was always the first to welcome newcomers to the group and was always willing to help and assist.
“We are all finding it difficult to come to terms with this terrible news.”
Friends co-stars Maggie Wheeler and Morgan Fairchild remembered Perry for the joy he “brought to so many” following his “shocking” death.
In his latest post on Instagram, which he shared earlier this week, the star shared pictures of himself in his pool
A source told the outlet that there were no signs of crime and that Robbery and Homicide detectives are investigating his death after he was allegedly found in his hot tub
After Perry’s death, pictures emerged showing the pool and hot tub at the Friends star’s home
A coroner’s vehicle was also seen at the scene as family, friends and fans grappled with the loss of the beloved actor
Maggie Wheeler, who played Perry’s on-off girlfriend Janice Hosenstein in the show’s early seasons and often performed her catchphrase “Oh!” My! God!’ Perry acknowledged on Instagram
Chandler Bing’s “bromance” with his roommate Joey Tribbiani was hugely popular among fans
Perry’s Chandler Bing remains one of the most popular sitcom characters of all time
Perry as Chandler in a famous episode where he married Monica with Rachel and Phoebe as bridesmaids
“Friends” was a huge worldwide success as the series ran for ten seasons between 1994 and 2004
Perry’s character Chandler delivered the final line of the entire series when he jokingly asked, “Where?” They should go get a cup of coffee
Wheeler, who played Perry’s on-off girlfriend Janice Hosenstein in the first few seasons of Friends and often performed her catchphrase “Oh!” My! God!’ Perry acknowledged on Instagram.
“What a loss,” Wheeler captioned a photo of the couple.
“The world will miss you, Matthew Perry.” The joy you brought to so many in your too-short life will live on.
“I feel so very blessed by every creative moment we shared.”
Meanwhile, Fairchild, who played Perry’s mother and erotic novelist Nora Bing, said on Twitter: “I am heartbroken by the untimely death of my ‘son’ Matthew Perry.”
The 73-year-old US actress added: “The loss of such a brilliant young actor is a shock.”
“I send love and condolences to his friends and family, especially his father, John Bennett Perry, with whom I worked on Flamingo Road and Falcon Crest.”
The Inbetweeners star Blake Harrison said: “Matthew Perry was a huge inspiration to me as a child.”
“My friends and I came to school having memorized his sarcastic one-liners, speech patterns, and even Chandler’s dance.
“He brought me so much joy and without knowing it, he encouraged me to pursue acting. ‘Thank you very much.’
Warner Bros, which produced “Friends,” said in a statement: “We are devastated to learn of the death of Matthew Perry. “He was a true gift to all of us. Our condolences go out to his family, his loved ones and all his fans.”
American broadcaster NBC, which aired the series for almost a decade, added: “We are incredibly saddened by the untimely death of Matthew Perry.”
“With his pitch-perfect comedic timing and wry wit, he brought so much joy to hundreds of millions of people around the world.” “His legacy will live on for countless generations,” it said.
Perry was a natural fit for the role of Chandler, beloved for his sarcastic one-liners, and many of his mannerisms grew out of the actor’s own demeanor.
In his memoirs, he said: “It was as if someone had followed me for a year, stealing my jokes, copying my mannerisms, photocopying my world-weary but witty view of life.” One character in particular stood out to me: I didn’t think , that I could “play” Chandler. I ‘was’ Chandler.”
But when he was first cast on “Friends” at the age of 24, his alcohol addiction came to the fore. At the end of the 10th season of the hit series, he was “in big trouble,” as Perry revealed years later.
In an interview in 2016, he said that he didn’t remember filming three seasons of the series because he was “a little out of it” at the time.
At some point during his time on Friends, Perry said he was taking 55 Vicodin painkillers a day and had reduced his weight to 128 pounds (a little more than 9 pounds).
A long-time friend of Perry’s who was in recovery with him told last night: “Everyone is in complete shock.” People are crying on the phone and struggling to accept the news.
Last year he published his memoirs titled “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir.”
Perry and actress Julia Roberts hug on the set of “Friends”
Perry’s character Chandler has an awkward encounter with Phoebe in a memorable scene from Friends
Perry as Chandler in another memorable episode of Friends. Tributes poured in for the star
Chandler once spent Thanksgiving in a wooden box to prove his friendship to Joey
Chandler with the White Dog, which became a popular piece of furniture referenced in several episodes of the series
Perry became known for his role as Chandler, in which he displayed perfect comedic timing
Perry poses with his Friends castmates at the Emmy Awards night in LA in 2002
Perry, dressed in a bunny costume, wrestles Courteney Cox in a famous Friends episode
Perry, pictured in 2006, was one of the world’s most famous stars but struggled with substance abuse
Born in Massachusetts, Perry grew up in Canada, where he went to school with Justin Trudeau, now the country’s prime minister.
He also paid tribute, writing: “Matthew Perry’s death is shocking and sad.” I will never forget the schoolyard games we used to play and I know people around the world will never forget the joy he brought them has.
“Thanks for all the laughter, Matthew. “You were loved – and we will miss you.”
After moving to LA, Perry starred as Chazz Russell on Boys Will Be Boys and also had roles on shows like the sitcom Growing Pains before becoming a global superstar as Chandler.
“That was the only guy who played him,” Friends creator Marta Kauffman said in the 2021 reunion special.
In his memoir titled Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir, the star revealed the culmination of his horrific battle with drug and alcohol addiction that almost cost him his life.
Perry also revealed that his colon ruptured at age 49 as a result of his opioid addiction.
Doctors gave him only a two percent chance of survival and he was in a coma for two weeks, followed by months more in the hospital.
Perry required 14 surgeries to repair all abdominal damage, and he admitted to going to rehab 15 times over the years in hopes of kicking his drug addiction.
At one point during his Friends career, he admitted he was taking 55 Vicodin a day and was down to 128 pounds, but still “didn’t know how to stop.”
He told an interviewer in 2016 that he didn’t remember filming three seasons of Friends.
“I had this weird rule that I would never drink on set,” Perry said. “But in extreme cases I’ve gone to work with a hangover. “It’s so horrible to feel like that and have to work and be funny on top of that.”
Perry’s dream of widespread recognition came true with the NBC sitcom “Friends,” which followed the lives of six people in their 20s trying to make it in New York City
Pictured: (lr) Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay, Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing, Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green, David Schwimmer as Ross Geller, Courteney Cox as Monica Geller, Matt Le Blanc as Joey Tribbiani
Chandler’s relationship with Monica Geller was kept secret from the group for several memorable episodes
In one episode, Perry’s character was locked in a bank vestibule with model Jill Goodacre
Perry alongside Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox in an episode of Friends
Tributes have been pouring in for Perry (pictured posing for a portrait in 2015) from across the entertainment industry.
He even revealed that he would go to real estate open houses – not because he was interested in buying a property, but to see if he could steal drugs from medicine cabinets.
Chandler Bing – the most sarcastic and quick-witted, but occasionally awkward and insecure member of the group – quickly became a fan favorite.
Perry and his co-stars — Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer — have each negotiated $1 million per episode through the end of their wildly popular and zeitgeisty 236-episode series.
In a sign of the series’ continued appeal, the gang reportedly pocketed $2.5 million each for a reunion episode in 2021.
During this episode, Perry’s slurred speech caused concern among fans.
Perry also surprised his co-stars by admitting he suffered from severe anxiety “every night” while filming the sitcom.
Perry was born on August 19, 1969 in Massachusetts, raised in Ottawa and raised by his mother Suzanne Morrison, a Canadian writer and former press secretary to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
Morrison and Perry’s father were married from 1968 to 1970 and she married Canadian broadcast journalist Keith Morrison, who had been with Dateline for decades, in 1981.
In Canada, Perry was a top tennis player but moved to Los Angeles at 15 to be closer to his father, John Bennett Perry, an actor known for several shows including Falcon Crest and later Old Spice commercials.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Perry landed appearances on the most popular TV shows of the decades such as Charles in Charge, Who’s The Boss?, Growing Pains and Beverly Hills, 90210.
He also had a role in “A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon,” a 1988 film starring River Phoenix.
The film was “one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had, because I was 16 years old and all alone in Chicago with no parents around,” Perry told BuzzFeed. “I knew I wanted to act.”
He told The New York Times in 2002 that he was seeking fame. “I had steam coming out of my ears, I really wanted to be famous.”
Perry is seen here in 1987 while promoting his first network series, “Second Chance,” which aired on Fox
After moving to Los Angeles, Perry landed appearances on the most popular television shows in the 1980s and 1990s. Here he is in an episode of Who’s the Boss? which ran from 1984 to 1992
Perry (left) as Fred Roberts in the film “A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon,” released in 1988 and starring River Phoenix (right).
“You want the attention, you want the money and you want the best seat in the restaurant. “I didn’t realize the impact that would have.”
Perry’s dream of widespread recognition came true with the NBC sitcom “Friends,” which followed the lives of six people in their 20s trying to make it in New York City.
Audiences adored the show throughout its ten-year run and continue to do so today, even though the show ended over 15 years ago.
One of his main storylines in Friends was his initially secret romance between his character and Monica Geller, which developed into a marriage and the couple’s adoption of twins.
Perry also appeared in several films, including “17 Again” with Zac Efron, “Fools Rush In” with Salma Hayek and “Getting In” with comedian Dave Chapelle.
He starred in “The Whole Nine Yards” and “The Kid” with Bruce Willis, who was a guest star in the sixth season of “Friends.”
His television credits included the short-lived film “Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip” and two Emmy nominations for his role as Joe Quincy on “The West Wing” – both from creator Aaron Sorkin.
In 2007, Perry also received an Emmy nomination for his role as Ron Clark in “The Ron Clark Story,” about a restless but gifted young teacher.
Perry never married and ended his engagement to Molly Hurwitz, a talent manager, in 2021.
He dated several well-known actresses, including Julia Roberts and Lizzy Caplan.