‘Friends’ actor Matthew Perry died Saturday. He was 54
Tributes started pouring in on Saturday following the sad news of Matthew Perry’s passing at his home in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. He was 54 years old.
Perry, who first portrayed the iconic character Chandler Bing on the beloved sitcom “Friends” when he was just 24 years old, reportedly passed away due to an apparent drowning incident in a hot tub, as confirmed by law enforcement sources to Fox News Digital. There were no drugs found at the scene, and no foul play is suspected.
In a statement to People, the star’s family expressed their grief, saying, “We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother. Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend. You all meant so much to him, and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love.”
Gwyneth Paltrow, who was mentioned by Perry in his memoir as someone he had shared a moment within the early ’90s, posted a photo of the actor on Instagram. She accompanied the image with a heartfelt caption: “I met Matthew Perry in 1993 at the Williamstown Theater Festival in Massachusetts. We both spent most of the summer there doing plays. He was incredibly funny, sweet, and a joy to be around. We went on trips to swim in creeks, had beers at the local college bar, and shared a kiss in a field of tall grass. It was a magical summer.”
“At that time, he had filmed the pilot for ‘Friends,’ although it hadn’t aired yet. He was nervous but hopeful that his big break was on the horizon. And it was. We remained friends for a while, even though we eventually grew apart. But whenever we crossed paths, I was always happy to see him. Today, like many of us, I’m feeling incredibly sad. I hope Matthew has found peace at long last. I truly do.”
Valerie Bertinelli, with whom Perry had a brief romantic encounter, shared a photo of him on her Instagram story along with the message, “Rest in peace, sweet man.”
‘Jordan Love can be the next Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers,’ says Green Bay legend
Shannen Doherty, who co-starred with Perry during his appearance on “Beverly Hills 90210,” posted an old photo of him on Instagram and wrote, “We were part of a close-knit group back then… We engaged in dares, and one time, Matt had to say the most ridiculous things to girls at a bar. We always had fun and supported each other. You could often find us all together in a booth, speaking in our own unique language. And Matt always had THAT sense of humor.”
She continued, “Matt and I once went on a date, and it happened to be on Valentine’s Day. He wanted to secure a reservation at a Malibu restaurant, but when he couldn’t, my dad arranged it for him. During the evening, he kept talking about my dad’s Irish persuasiveness. Our friendship spanned a long time – a lifetime, really. I know many people are hurting, especially our close-knit group. Matt will be dearly missed by many, and certainly by us. Right now, the predominant feelings are shock and sadness.”
Timothy Busfield, who co-starred with and directed Matthew Perry in “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” shared his thoughts with People, saying, “Matty Perry was a treasure… He was a kind, exceptional man, and a warm, humorous spirit who will be deeply missed. Not just by his countless devoted fans, but also by those colleagues and friends who found themselves doubled over with laughter due to his quick and incisive humor.”
Actress Mira Sorvino expressed her grief on X (formerly known as Twitter), writing, “Oh no!!! Matthew Perry!! You sweet, tormented soul!! May you find peace and happiness in Heaven, where your unique wit will continue to bring laughter to everyone”.
Octavia Spencer posted on Instagram, saying, “I’m incredibly saddened to hear about the passing of Matthew Perry today. His contributions to the world will be eternally remembered. My heartfelt condolences go out to Matthew’s family, friends, fellow actors, and countless fans around the globe.”
Selma Blair, also on Instagram, expressed her deep feelings, writing, “My oldest and dearest friend. All of us cherished Matthew Perry, and I adored him especially. Every single day. I loved him unconditionally, and he loved me in the same way. Now I’m shattered. My heart is broken. Rest in peace, Matty. Sweet dreams.”
Maggie Wheeler, known for her role as Janice, Chandler Bing’s on-again, off-again girlfriend on “Friends,” expressed her sadness, saying, “What a tremendous loss. The world will miss you, Matthew Perry. The happiness you brought to so many during your all too brief life will continue to shine. I am profoundly grateful for every creative moment we shared.”
The official “Friends” show, in collaboration with Warner Bros. TV, shared on Instagram, “We are heartbroken to hear about Matthew Perry’s passing. He was a genuine gift to all of us. Our thoughts are with his family, loved ones, and his countless fans.”
NBC expressed deep sorrow at the untimely passing of Matthew Perry, sharing on X, “We are incredibly saddened by the premature departure of Matthew Perry. He brought immense joy to hundreds of millions of people worldwide with his impeccable comedic timing and dry humor. His legacy will endure through countless generations.”
Morgan Fairchild, who portrayed Chandler’s mother, Nora Tyler Bing, on the show, posted a tribute on X, saying, “I’m heartbroken by the untimely loss of my ‘son,’ Matthew Perry. The loss of such a brilliant young actor is a shock. I send my love and condolences to his friends and family, especially his father, John Bennett Perry, with whom I had the pleasure of working on ‘Flamingo Road’ and ‘Falcon Crest.'”
Rumer Willis, the daughter of Matthew Perry’s “The Whole Nine Yards” co-star Bruce Willis, expressed her sadness on her Instagram story, saying, “I’m deeply saddened to hear about Matthew Perry’s passing. When I was a child and I was on set while he and my dad were filming ‘The Whole Nine Yards’ and ‘The Whole Ten Yards,’ he was incredibly kind, funny, and sweet to my sisters and me. I still find his physical comedy in that movie absolutely hilarious.”
“I’m aware that he faced numerous challenges in his life, yet he brought immense joy to people through his comedy. I hope he can now find peace.”
Olivia Munn expressed her sorrow with a broken heart emoji and wrote, “Oh no,” alongside an image of the late actor. She added, “He battled addiction bravely and was open and honest about it. My heart goes out to his family and friends who are receiving this devastating news today. It’s truly heart-wrenching. Rest in love, Matthew Perry.”
Tom Green, a fellow Canadian, shared on X that he was “shocked and saddened” by the news of Perry’s passing. He continued, “He is one of the many talented and incredible success stories from my hometown of Ottawa, Canada. Rest in peace, Matthew.”
Matthew Perry faced a long and arduous battle with substance abuse and sobriety, spending over $9 million over the years. In his 2022 memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” he revealed that at one point, he was consuming an alarming 55 Vicodin pills daily.
His struggle led him to undergo 15 rehab stints and endure 14 surgeries to address medical issues related to his addiction. Perry even found himself on life support for a brief period and in a coma for two weeks.
Writing the memoir served as a significant part of his recovery process, allowing him to express his intense emotions, including the painful experiences in hospitals and rehab facilities. Perry described how these emotions flowed out of him rapidly.
In an interview with the New York Times in October 2022, Perry revealed that he had achieved sobriety since early 2021, marking a significant milestone in his journey toward recovery.