Matthew Perry, best known for his iconic portrayal of Chandler Bing in the beloved ’90s TV sitcom “Friends,” has passed away at the age of 54.
The news of Matthew Perry’s tragic demise unfolded when emergency responders discovered him unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles residence. Despite their efforts, they were unable to revive him, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
“Friends,” a show that followed the lives of six young friends living in the heart of New York City, graced our screens from 1994 to 2004. Its final episode, watched by a staggering 52.5 million viewers in the US, remains one of the most-watched television episodes of the 2000s.
Warner Brothers, the production company behind “Friends,” released a heartfelt statement: “Matthew was an incredibly talented actor and a cherished member of the Warner Brothers TV Group family. His comedic brilliance touched hearts worldwide, and his legacy will endure in the hearts of countless fans. This is a somber day, and we extend our love to his family, loved ones, and dedicated fans.”
Find the perfect fit with Prime Try Before You BuyBorn in Massachusetts in 1969, Perry was raised in Ottawa, Canada, where he attended primary school alongside Justin Trudeau, who would later become the Prime Minister of Canada. Perry’s journey to stardom led him to Los Angeles as a teenager, where he embarked on his career with roles in productions like “Can’t Keep Those Rowdy Boys Down” and “Growing Pains.”
His international stardom was cemented with his role on “Friends,” where he portrayed the witty and sarcastic Chandler Bing. Matthew Perry’s masterful portrayal of Bing earned him an Emmy nomination in 2002.
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During his time on the show, Perry grappled with addiction and anxiety, which he candidly detailed in his 2022 memoir, “Friends, Foes, and the Big Bad Thing.”
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In a 2021 “Friends” reunion, viewers expressed concern over Perry’s slurred speech, which hinted at his ongoing battles with anxiety.
Perry stunned his co-stars by admitting to suffering from severe anxiety “daily” during the show’s production. In his own words, “I loved everything about the show, but I was battling my addictions, which only added to my sense of shame. If I didn’t conquer it in the end, I thought I would go crazy. I felt that every single night. This pressure left me in a dark place. I also knew that out of the six people making that show, only one of them was unwell.”
Perry’s talent extended beyond “Friends,” earning him two more Emmy nominations for his role as White House Counsel Joe Quincy in “The West Wing.” His television career also included the short-lived “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” created by “West Wing” mastermind Aaron Sorkin. Perry also graced the silver screen in films like “Fools Rush In” opposite Salma Hayek and his father, John Perry, who made a brief appearance on “Friends.” Additionally, he starred in “17 Again” and “The Whole Nine Yards” alongside Bruce Willis.
NBC, the network that aired “Friends,” paid tribute to Perry, saying, “He brought immense joy to countless people around the world with his impeccable comedic timing and wry wit. His legacy will live on through generations.”
