News/Commentary

‘Friends’ star Matthew Perry dead at 54 – found in hot tub: ‘The one where we lost a friend’

October 29, 2023 | | Print Article

Matthew Perry, who soared to stardom as “Chandler Bing” on “Friends,” was found dead in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home on Saturday.

The 54-year-old was discovered unresponsive by authorities who responded to his home on Blue Sail Drive in Pacific Palisades at approximately 4 p.m. While no cause of death has been cited, sources tell the Los Angeles Times that no drugs were found at the scene, and law enforcement sources say no foul play is suspected.

Perry’s mother, Suzanne, and his stepdad, “Dateline” correspondent Keith Morrison, arrived on the scene just after 7 p.m., but declined to comment.

Tributes from heartbroken friends and fans, however, are pouring in on social media.

Warner Bros. Television Group, producers of “Friends,” called it “a heartbreaking day.”

“We are devastated by the passing of our dear friend Matthew Perry,” Warner Bros. said in a statement to The Times. “Matthew was an incredibly gifted actor and an indelible part of the Warner Bros. Television Group family. The impact of his comedic genius was felt around the world, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of so many. This is a heartbreaking day, and we send our love to his family, his loved ones, and all of his devoted fans.”

All 10 seasons of the iconic “Friends” sitcom aired on NBC, which released a statement on X.

“We are incredibly saddened by the too soon passing of Matthew Perry,” the network said. “He brought so much joy to hundreds of millions of people around the world with his pitch perfect comedic timing and wry wit. His legacy will live on through countless generations.”


Growing up in Canada, Perry’s mom worked as a press secretary to former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. In his memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” Perry shared a story about how, while in grade school, he beat up the future Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau.

On Saturday, Trudeau paid tribute to his childhood friend, calling the news “shocking.”

“Matthew Perry’s passing is shocking and saddening. I’ll never forget the schoolyard games we used to play, and I know people around the world are never going to forget the joy he brought them,” he wrote. “Thanks for all the laughs, Matthew. You were loved – and you will be missed.”

Perry detailed his long battle with alcohol and opiates in his memoir, revealing that he had nearly died when his colon burst from the opioid abuse at the age of 49. The incident put him in a coma for two weeks. He spent another five months in the hospital and endured a colostomy bag for nine months.

“The doctors told my family that I had a 2 percent chance to live,” he wrote. “I was put on a thing called an ECMO machine, which does all the breathing for your heart and your lungs. And that’s called a Hail Mary. No one survives that.”

But he did survive, ultimately going on to help others.

Writing “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” he said, connected him connected him to “all the sufferers out there,” The Times reports.

“I had a story to tell, a story that could really help people,” Perry wrote in his book. “And helping others had become the answer for me.”

Morgan Fairchild, who played Chandler Bing’s mom on “Friends,” said she is “heartbroken” by the news of Perry’s death.

“I’m heartbroken about the untimely death of my ‘son’, Matthew Perry,” she wrote on X. “The loss of such a brilliant young actor is a shock. I’m sending love & condolences to his friends & family, especially his dad, John Bennett Perry, who I worked with on Flamingo Road & Falcon Crest. #RIPMatthew”

Meredith Salenger, who starred with Perry in the 1988 drama “A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon,”  said she had “no words” to describe the loss.

“Oh no no no no no! Matty! Oh man. My heart breaks. Matty…” she wrote. “Matthew and I have known each other since were were 16 years old. Oh man. No words. Rest in peace sweet @MatthewPerry.”

Just six days ago, Perry posted on Instagram a photo of him relaxing in his hot tub.

“Oh, so warm water swirling around makes you feel good?” he wrote. “I’m Mattman.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Matthew Perry (@mattyperry4)

When asked by The Times in April how he would like to be remembered, Perry said, “As a guy who lived life, loved well, lived well and helped people. That running into me was a good thing, and not something bad.”

Here are more early tributes to Perry, as seen on X:

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Melissa Fine
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