Friends star Matthew Perry has tragically died aged 54.
Renowned US actor Matthew Perry, celebrated for his portrayal of the quick-witted Chandler Bing in the beloved ’90s TV series Friends, has passed away at the age of 54.
Many fans have offered tribute to the much-loved star.
Now, we were first introduced to the Friends gang in 1994.
Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Monica, Phoebe, and Joey burst onto our screens in September 1994.
It was an instant hit.
The comedy followed the friends, who live in the same New York apartment block, as they navigated through their mid-twenties.
We got to know the ins and outs of their everyday life…
And in a way, they became our own friends… It’s corny, but it’s true.
The show navigated some serious topics…
Ross and Rachel were not on a break. Period.
There were many iconic moments throughout the show’s ten seasons.
Rachel’s English trifle, Chandler’s nubbin, the time Joey got a Thanksgiving turkey stuck on his head…
The list could go on.
Despite the show coming to an end in 2004, it stands as one of the most-watched shows on Netflix, and its fanbase is as strong as ever.
They all embodied their characters completely.
And none of us can quite see them in anything else.
The gang earned a lot of money during those 10 years…
Allegedly, the cast was each on an eye-watering $1 million salary per episode in the later seasons of the show – a history-breaking figure.
Everyone’s love for the show will be unmatched, and the loss fans feel with Perry’s passing will be immense.
Matthew Perry, who played the lovable Chandler Bing, will always be remembered.
News of Perry’s passing, initially reported by the TMZ stated that he was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his home.
According to a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson, first responders were dispatched to an address in the Pacific Palisades area, responding to a “water emergency” of an unspecified nature They didn’t name Perry.
Born in Massachusetts in 1969, Perry grew up in Ottawa, Canada, where he attended elementary school alongside Justin Trudeau, who would later become the Prime Minister of Canada.
Trudeau expressed his shock and sorrow over Perry’s passing, recalling the fond memories of their schoolyard games and acknowledging the profound joy Perry brought to people worldwide.
Perry relocated to Los Angeles during his teenage years, initially gaining recognition for his role as Chazz Russell in Boys Will Be Boys and subsequently appearing in shows like Growing Pains.
However, it was his role in Friends that catapulted him to international stardom. Perry portrayed the socially awkward Chandler Bing, renowned for his humor and childlike antics with his roommate Joey Tribbiani. He was perfect.
Despite his peak of fame, Perry grappled with addiction to painkillers and alcohol, resulting in multiple stints in rehabilitation clinics.
In 2016, he revealed that he had no memory of three years of filming during Friends due to substance abuse. It broke fans’ hearts.
Perry’s health woes, stemming from his drug use, included a burst colon in 2018, necessitating several surgeries.
In Los Angeles, the news of Perry’s passing has generated shock and disbelief. Entertainment reporter Sean Mandell emphasized Perry’s pivotal role in Friends’ success, highlighting his character’s unique blend of wit and heart.
While Perry appeared in several films, including Fools Rush In, Almost Heroes, and The Whole Nine Yards, he never found a project that rivaled the immense success and fame of Friends.
His later TV work, notably in Aaron Sorkin’s The West Wing, Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip, and his own creation, Mr. Sunshine, earned critical acclaim.
His final significant TV endeavor, a reboot of The Odd Couple, lasted for three seasons.
Perry discovered its cancellation when he arrived on set and found his image painted over with green paint.
Maggie Wheeler, who portrayed Chandler’s ex-girlfriend Janice in Friends, was the first of Perry’s co-stars to publicly honor the actor.
Others, like Morgan Fairchild and Selma Blair, shared heartfelt tributes, expressing their profound sorrow over his untimely passing.
Matthew Perry is survived by his parents, John Bennett Perry and Suzanne Perry, who separated when he was a baby, as well as five half-siblings.
He never married and had no children, and he cited his father’s influence as an actor as a source of inspiration.
John Bennett Perry even made a guest appearance on Friends in 1997 as Mr. Bergin, the father of Rachel’s love interest, Josh.
Perry’s last Instagram post, published just days ago, depicts him relaxing in a rooftop pool, drawing an outpouring of affection from his devoted fans.
The coroner has since updated Perry’s cause of death.
His cause of death has now been listed as “deferred.”
This is to allow the full results of Perry’s toxicology report to come in.
However, his body has now been released to his family to allow them to make funeral preparations.
The police have revealed what was found at the scene.
They have confirmed that there were prescription medications found at the scene.
These included anti-depressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and a medication used for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
However, the coroners are waiting on the toxicology results to confirm whether any of these drugs played a role in Perry’s tragic passing.
The last photos Perry posted before his death have resurfaced.
They showed Perry looking happy and healthy.
A source told People: “He was having fun.”
“He was incredibly happy,” the source adds.
Take a look at Perry’s Instagram right here.
Perry’s pickleball partner Billy Bush has also revealed the warning signs from Perry that he ignored.
Writing: “He played every day and sometimes twice. It regulated his days. I spoke to the woman he played with this morning and every morning. She is in shock, adored Matt…she said he had been fatigued today and over the past week. A little more than usual. He played for one hour then went home.”
You can see Bush’s full Instagram post here.
Perry’s assistant has also offered insight into the actor’s final moments.
Following the game, Perry had sent his assistant out to run errands.
Including picking up a new iPhone and pair of prescription glasses for Perry.
Perry was reportedly in good spirits in the moments leading up to the tragedy.
In the wake of Perry’s death, a heartbreaking past internet clip has gone viral.
Perry spoke out about the legacy he wants to leave behind in an interview last year.
In an interview, Perry sat down with Tom Power at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema in Toronto to reflect on his life.
Power asked the actor how he would ‘like to be remembered’.
“I would like to be remembered as somebody who lived well, loved well, was a seeker and his paramount thing is he wants to help people. That’s what I want.”
Watch the clip right here.
Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Courtney Cox, and Matt LeBlanc have released a joint statement.
“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family,” they said.
“He was a true gift to us all. Our heart goes out to his family, loved ones, and all of his fans.”
You can see the tribute on the official Friends Instagram account.
Another old co-star of Perry’s has also opened up.
Ione Skye, who worked with Perry in the 1988 movie A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon, has revealed the final text Perry sent to her.
It began “Hi! I hope all is well.”
Perry continued: “I was meditating (I meditate now) and ‘In Your Eyes’ started playing. And I instantly thought of you and how beautiful you are.”
Skye responded: “Awe. I love that. Xo.”
“My last exchange a week ago,” she wrote, adding: “Loved this guy.”
Salma Hayek is another past co-star of Perry’s to share a heartbreaking tribute.
“Two days ago, I woke up to the shocking news that Matthew Perry is no longer with us. It’s taken me a couple of days to process this profound sadness,” Hayek wrote.
“There is a special bond that happens when you share dreams with someone, and together you work towards them.”
“I was very moved last year when Matthew shared on his Instagram stories how much he loved ‘Fools Rush In,’ and how he thought that that film we did together was probably his best movie.”
“Throughout the years, he and I found ourselves reminiscing about that meaningful time in our lives with a deep sense of nostalgia and gratitude. My friend, you are gone much too soon, but I will continue to cherish your silliness, your perseverance, and your lovely heart.”
“Farewell, sweet Matthew, we will never forget you.”
Take a look at the post right here …
Hank Azaria has also offered his tribute.
“Matthew was the first friend I made in Los Angeles when I moved there. I was 21, he was 16,” he shared.
“Matthew and I became really good friends and we were really more like brothers for a long time. We drank a lot together, we laughed a lot together, we were there for each other in the early days of our career.”
“I really loved him,” he continued. “A lot of us who were close to him felt like we lost him to drugs and alcohol a long time ago because — as he documented in his autobiography — there was so much suffering.”
“I’m a sober guy for 17 years, and I wanna say that, the night I went into AA, Matthew brought me in,” Azaria went on. “The whole first year I was sober, we went to meetings together. He was so caring and giving. He totally helped me get sober. And I really wish he could’ve found it in himself to stay with the silver life more consistently.”
“Most nights you spent with Matthew you were crying laughing by the end,” he concluded. “As an actor, he was so brilliant. I just wish we could have gotten what the rest of his career would’ve been.”
Watch the emotional video right here …
In the wake of this tragedy, there’s been a major update.
Perry’s death is being investigated by robbery homicide police.
This is in spite of there being no signs of foul play.
It is standard procedure for the LAPD’s Robbery Homicide Division to investigate high-profile cases including famous actors, as per TMZ.