Friends TV Show Star Matthew Perry, Dies at 54
Matthew Perry, the actor best known for his role as Chandler Bing in the popular sitcom Friends, has passed away at the age of 54.
Law enforcement sources in Los Angeles reported that Perry was discovered unresponsive in a hot tub at his home on Saturday.
Perry’s portrayal of Chandler Bing on the Friends TV series earned him widespread acclaim and made him a household name.
“We are devastated to learn of Matthew Perry’s passing. He was a true gift to us all. Our hearts go out to his family, loved ones, and all of his fans,” Warner Bros. said via Instagram.
He appeared in 234 episodes of the series from 1994 to 2004 and received an Emmy nomination for his work in the ninth season.
The actor was nominated for Emmys five times in total, including for his participation in the 2021 HBO Max Friends reunion special.
Matthew Perry, the son of actor John Bennett Perry, had a strong desire to achieve fame in Hollywood before landing his iconic role on Friends at the age of 24.
“There was steam coming out of my ears; I wanted to be famous so badly. You want the attention, you want the bucks, and you want the best seat in the restaurant. I didn’t think what the repercussions would be,” Perry said.
Despite his success on Friends, Perry faced a lifelong battle with addiction, which he candidly documented in his 2022 memoir titled Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.
In an interview, he revealed his struggle to rewatch the show, explaining, “I was taking 55 Vicodin a day; I weighed 128 pounds; I was on Friends getting watched by 30 million people—and that’s why I can’t watch the show, ’cause I was brutally thin.”
Last year, Perry estimated that he had spent around $9 million in his efforts to stay sober, having been to rehab 15 times.
His addiction to opioids and alcohol resulted in 14 surgeries on his stomach, including a life-threatening incident when his colon burst at the age of 49.
Perry was placed in a coma for two weeks and had to use a colostomy bag for the next nine months.
“The doctors told my family that I had a 2 percent chance to live. 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,” he said.
Perry’s passing marks the end of an era for the entertainment world, as his portrayal of Chandler Bing continues to be celebrated by fans around the globe.
