Getty Matthew Perry has died at the age of 54.
Former “Friends” star Matthew Perry died at the age of 54.
According to TMZ, Perry died at his home in Los Angeles, California, where authorities found him in a jacuzzi on Saturday, October 28.
The outlet reported that Perry had played a “2-hour round of pickleball” in the morning “and that he sent his assistant out on an errand shortly thereafter.” When the assistant returned, he found Perry unresponsive, according to TMZ’s sources.
Perry was known best for the decade he starred as Chandler Bing on the series “Friends.” In his real life, he frequently struggled with drug addiction issues. He was in and out of rehab several times over the years.
Matthew Perry Wrote a Memoir in 2022
In 2022, Perry released a memoir — “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir“– that delved into his addiction issues and health challenges.
As People reported, Perry’s book covered both the ups and downs of his life. He explained, “I wanted to share when I was safe from going into the dark side of everything again. I had to wait until I was pretty safely sober — and away from the active disease of alcoholism and addiction — to write it all down.”
When he was 49, Perry experienced a gastrointestinal perforation. The issue led to two weeks spent in a coma along with a months-long stay in the hospital. He also required a colostomy bag as he recovered, for about nine months.
The issue developed due to opioid overuse, he acknowledged. “The doctors told my family that I had a 2 percent chance to live,” Perry explained. “I was put on a thing called an ECMO machine … and that’s called a Hail Mary. No one survives that,” he added.
The ‘Friends’ Star’s Career Spanned Decades
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People reported that Perry was born in Williamstown, Massachusetts, but grew up in Ottawa, Canada. When he was a teenager, Perry moved to California and started acting. According to Perry’s IMDb page, his first role was in one episode of the series “240-Robert” in 1979.
Perry also starred in one episode of “Charles in Charge,” which starred Scott Baio, in 1985. Bit parts came for several years after that, including one episode of the Rick Schroeder series “Silver Spoons” and several episodes of “Growing Pains” in 1989.
Although Perry worked somewhat consistently in the early years of his career, it was not until “Friends” debuted in 1994 that he became a star.
After running for 10 years, “Friends” ended in 2004. In 2006, he launched the series “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” with “The West Wing” star Bradley Whitford. Unfortunately, the series was canceled after 22 episodes.
Perry Had Not Acted in Several Years
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Perry starred in several other short-lived series before stepping back from acting. From 2012 to 2013, he played Ryan King in “Go On,” which also ran for 22 episodes. There was also the 2011 series “Mr. Sunshine,” which aired 13 episodes.
The last significant series Perry starred in was the reboot of “The Odd Couple.” He played Oscar Madison and Thomas Lennon portrayed Felix Unger. Other cast members included Teri Hatcher, Lindsay Sloane, Yvette Nicole Brown, Geoff Stults, and Wendell Pierce. The series ran for 38 episodes.
The last acting credit listed on Perry’s IMDb page was the 2017 television mini-series “The Kennedys After Camelot.” He portrayed Ted Kennedy in the series.
In addition to acting, Perry took on executive producer roles for “Mr. Sunshine,” “Go On,” “The Odd Couple,” and “The Kennedys After Camelot.” He was also listed as the creator or developer for “Mr. Sunshine” and “The Odd Couple.”