RIP Matthew Perry: ‘Friends’ star dead by drowning

Actor Matthew Perry has died, reportedly from drowning. He was 54.

The actor, who was best known for playing Chandler Bing on Friends, was found dead in a Los Angeles residential property on Saturday, according to police.

Perry was found unresponsive in a jacuzzi at his home, and no drugs were found at the scene.

A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department said that officers responded to a call from Perry’s address regarding the death of a male in his 50s, but would not confirm the deceased’s identity at the time.

Investigators believe no foul play was involved, and sources say first-responders were called to the residence, initially for what appeared to be cardiac arrest.

Matthew Perry was born on August 19, 1969 in Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA, his family eventually moving to LA.

While still in high school, he performed improvisational comedy at the LA Connection in Sherman Oaks. His first credited role was in the drama 240-Robert in 1979, with small parts soon following in sitcoms Charles In Charge, Silver Spoons and sketch comedy The Tracey Ullman Show.

In 1993, Perry auditioned and got the part for the pilot of a series titled ‘Six Of One’. By the time the pilot had been completed, the series title had changed to ‘Friends’. At the time, Perry was the youngest of the main cast, aged 24.

Perry didn’t appear in too many films but those that spring to mind include 1997’s Fools Rush In, 2000’s The Whole Nine Yards, 2002’s Serving Sara, and 2009’s 17 Again.

The actor had only just published his memoir in 2022, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, in which he wrote in detail about his substance abuse issues, revealing that his struggles left him in need of 12 surgeries and saw him enter rehab 15 times.

Perry had no children, and at the time of his passing he was single after calling off his engagement to comedy literary manager Molly Hurwitz in 2021.

Antonino Tati

Note: Since this article was published, it has been reported Matthew Perry died of acute effects of ketamine in his system, leading to his drowning.