The spokesperson for the LA Fire Department disclosed that first responders were dispatched to Perry’s home around 4 p.m. in response to an unspecified “water emergency,” without initially identifying the actor. Tragically, upon their arrival, they found Perry’s lifeless body. They noted the absence of any drugs at the scene, and no suspicions of foul play have arisen at this time.
As of now, there have been no official statements from a representative of the actor.
The investigation into the circumstances of Perry’s passing is ongoing, and the cause of death will be determined at a later date by the Los Angeles County coroner’s office.
In a statement to The Times, Warner Bros. Television Group, the production company behind “Friends,” expressed profound grief at the loss of their dear friend Matthew Perry. They hailed his exceptional acting talent and his enduring impact on audiences worldwide, pledging their love and support for his family, loved ones, and dedicated fans.
NBC, the network that aired the series for its entire 10-season run, also expressed deep sorrow over Matthew Perry’s untimely passing. They celebrated his ability to bring joy to countless people with his impeccable comedic timing and wry humor, noting that his legacy will endure for generations to come.
On Saturday evening, the LAPD placed yellow-and-black crime scene tape to restrict access to Blue Sail Drive, an upscale street nestled just off the Pacific Coast Highway, atop a hill boasting panoramic vistas of the Pacific Ocean.
Shortly after 7 p.m., with multiple helicopters buzzing overhead, Suzanne Perry, the mother of Matthew Perry, and her husband, broadcaster Keith Morrison, arrived at the scene, joining journalists and LAPD officers. Morrison chose not to provide any comments. An LAPD officer present stated that he had no information and was uncertain when any would be available.
Peter, a resident of Bluesail Drive and a neighbor of Perry’s, who preferred not to disclose his last name on Saturday evening, mentioned that he had a brief five-minute conversation with the actor and found him to be “very pleasant” and a “nice guy.”
“It’s shocking,” Peter expressed as he awaited approval from the LAPD, who had cordoned off journalists from crossing the police tape. “He’s been renovating this house for a long time, and he seemed perfectly fine. It’s very disheartening.”
Leo, another neighbor who chose to withhold his full name, mentioned that he was at home when an ambulance arrived at Perry’s residence on Saturday afternoon. He declined to disclose whether paramedics attempted resuscitation or if a body was taken from the property.
“I was shocked,” he said. “It was very disturbing and sad after all these years.”
Perry was one of his favorite actors, Leo said, and the funniest member of the “Friends” cast.
“I encountered him once and he was very, very friendly. More so than I thought,” Leo said. “It’s definitely a tragedy, especially at such a young age,” he added. “I was very heartbroken to see what happened.”
Born in 1969 to actor John Bennett Perry and Suzanne Marie Langford, who served as the press secretary of Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau at one point, Perry spent his formative years shuttling between Montreal and Los Angeles. This transcontinental lifestyle came about after his parents’ separation when Perry was just one year old.
He embarked on his acting journey as a child, securing guest appearances on “Charles in Charge” and “Beverly Hills 90210,” along with a role alongside River Phoenix in the movie “A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon” during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
However, his breakthrough came when he was chosen for the cast of “Friends,” originally titled “Friends Like Us.” This sitcom, which revolved around the lives of six single New Yorkers navigating the complexities of adulthood, made its debut on NBC in 1994.
The show quickly transformed into a cultural phenomenon, becoming the linchpin of NBC’s coveted Thursday-night “Must-See TV” lineup. It catapulted Perry and his co-stars, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer, into the stratosphere of stardom virtually overnight. During its zenith, particularly for a 1996 Super Bowl episode and the series finale in 2004, the show could draw over 50 million live viewers. By the end of its run, the cast members were each earning over $1 million per episode.
In the role of Chandler Bing, the handsome and quick-witted roommate of LeBlanc’s Joey Tribbiani and, later, the love interest of Cox’s meticulous Monica Geller, Perry stood out in a dynamic ensemble cast. With his deadpan delivery, he crafted a catchphrase with just a subtle shift in intonation, based on banter he had shared with childhood friends: “Could he be any more Chandler?”
Soon, he found himself paired with A-list stars like Julia Roberts and featured in prominent films, including the 1997 romantic comedy “Fools Rush In,” co-starring Salma Hayek, and the 2000 ensemble mob comedy “The Whole Nine Yards” alongside Bruce Willis.
Nevertheless, there existed a shadowy aspect to the life of one of television’s most cherished comedians. In his 2022 memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” Perry openly shared his enduring battle with addiction to alcohol and opioids. He revealed that he took his first drink at the age of 14 but didn’t discern the signs of alcoholism until he was 21. From that point onward, he approximated that he had expended over $7 million in attempts to achieve sobriety, which encompassed multiple stays in rehabilitation centers. His substance abuse also precipitated a series of severe health problems, culminating in a harrowing five-month hospitalization in 2018, stemming from a colon rupture that he believed left him with only a 2% chance of surviving through the night. How long does crack stay in urine? Check out the half-life of crack-cocaine here.
He candidly acknowledged that the pressure to deliver laughter in front of a live studio audience night after night, as shared during a “Friends” reunion special in 2021, was a driving force behind his struggles.
“Nobody wanted to be famous more than me,” Perry told The Times in April, discussing “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing” at the Festival of Books. “I was convinced it was the answer. I was 25, it was the second year of ‘Friends,’ and eight months into it, I realized the American dream is not making me happy, not filling the holes in my life. I couldn’t get enough attention. … Fame does not do what you think it’s going to do. It was all a trick.”
Perry was remembered on Saturday by friends and collaborators such as Selma Blair, Paget Brewster, Morgan Fairchild and Mira Sorvino as a singular comic talent and kind soul.
Perry’s “Friends” co-star Maggie Wheeler, who played his on-again, off-again girlfriend Janice on the hit show, shared a sweet tribute on Instagram.
“What a loss. The world will miss you Mathew Perry,” she wrote. “The joy you brought to so many in your too short lifetime will live on. I feel so very blessed by every creative moment we shared.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the son of Pierre Trudeau and a childhood friend of Perry, also paid tribute to the actor’s memory.
“Matthew Perry’s passing is a shocking and sorrowful loss,” Trudeau expressed in a heartfelt message. “I’ll always remember the schoolyard games we used to play, and I know people around the world will never forget the joy he brought them. Thanks for all the laughs, Matthew. You were loved, and you will be missed.”
Despite Perry’s admission that he had experienced “60 or 70” relapses since his initial sobriety in 2001, he continued to be a prominent presence on American television. He played pivotal roles in the backstage drama “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” and the therapy sitcom “Go On,” while also making frequent guest appearances on acclaimed series like “The West Wing” and “The Good Wife.”
Following his near-death experience in 2018, Perry found comfort in the company of friends, regular games of pickleball, and, above all, his writing. While producing “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing” required him to revisit his darkest moments, it also connected him with “all the sufferers out there.” Perry explained, “I had a story to tell, a story that could really help people. And helping others had become the answer for me.”
Indeed, despite his achievements as an actor and his recent success as a bestselling memoirist, Perry revealed in an interview with The Times in April that his work was not the core of what he aspired to leave as his legacy.
When asked how he wished to be remembered, he replied, “As a guy who lived life, loved well, lived well, and helped people. That encountering me was a positive experience, not a negative one.”
Rest in Peace.
