Tragic news reached us from Hollywood last night. On Saturday, unexpectedly at the age of 54, Matthew Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing in the iconic comedy series “Friends,” passed away.
Matthew Perry: Circumstances of Death
The actor’s body was found in a jacuzzi at his Los Angeles home around 4:00 PM local time. According to the police, there were no signs of foul play, and no drugs were found.
An official statement has already been issued by Warner Bros. Television, responsible for the production of “Friends.” It reads: “We are devastated by the loss of our dear friend Matthew Perry. He was an incredibly talented actor and an integral part of the Warner Bros. Television Group family. His comedic genius was known worldwide, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of many. It’s a sad day. We send our love to his family, loved ones, and all devoted fans.”
Matthew Perry: Early Career
Matthew Perry was born on August 19, 1969, in Plymouth, Massachusetts. His parents were Canadian journalist Suzanne Marie Morrison and former model and actor John Bennett Perry. After their divorce, the future star moved with his mother to Ottawa, Canada.
At the age of 15, Perry decided to return to the USA to live with his father in Los Angeles. In 1987, shortly after high school, he landed his first screen role, portraying Chazz Russell in the series “Second Chances,” which was canceled by Fox after just 13 episodes.
A year later, Perry made his film debut, starring alongside River Phoenix in the youth drama “A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon.” In the following years, he appeared in productions such as “She’s Out of Control,” “Sydney,” “Boys Will Be Boys,” and “Beverly Hills, 90210.”
Matthew Perry: “Friends” and Chandler Bing
A turning point in his career came in 1994 when he, along with Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, and Matt LeBlanc, was cast in the new NBC comedy series “Friends.” Perry played the role of Chandler Bing, a sarcastic expert in “statistical analysis and data reconfiguration.” The sitcom about the adventures of the six title singles in New York quickly became an international phenomenon and continues to enjoy enormous popularity. The lead actors, who initially earned $22,500 per episode, could boast million-dollar salaries in the final two seasons.
“Friends” was my sanctuary, a symbol of peace. It was the reason I got out of bed every morning and the reason I tried not to overdo it in the evenings. Those were the best moments in each of our lives. We felt like we heard wonderful news every day. Even I realized that only a madman – which I often turned out to be in many situations – would want to ruin something like that,” Perry admitted years later.
Matthew Perry: Life After “Friends”
In his portfolio, you’ll also find titles like the two-part action-comedy “The Whole Nine Yards,” “Fools Rush In,” “The Whole Ten Yards,” Aaron Sorkin’s TV series “Studio 60,” “17 Again,” “Mr. Sunshine,” and “The Odd Couple.” Perry was nominated for an Emmy Award four times (interestingly, only once for “Friends”), twice for the People’s Choice Award, and once for the Golden Globe.
For many years, Perry openly spoke about his battle with depression and addiction to alcohol, drugs, and painkillers. In 2022, he published a bestselling autobiography, “Friends, Lovers, and That Big Scary Thing,” in which he detailed his long and often challenging journey to sobriety. He revealed that the battle with addiction cost him $9 million.
The actor was never married and did not have any children.
A few years ago, in an interview with US Weekly, he stated: “I lived life to the fullest, and that’s why I occasionally got into trouble.”
