Friends and colleagues of Matthew Perry say they are “heartbroken” by his death aged 54.
The American actor, best known for his role as Chandler Bing in the 90s TV series Friends, was found dead at his home in Los Angeles. The sitcom producers said he was an “amazing talent” and “always the funniest person in the room”, and his family said he “brought so much joy to the world”.
Perry has been praised for speaking out about mental health in recent years. “Friends” followed the fate of six friends living in New York and aired from 1994 to 2004, becoming a cultural foundation of that era.
In the United States alone, the 2004 final was watched by over 52 million viewers, making it the most-watched television series of the 2000s. The deaths of show creators Martha Kauffman and David Crane and executive producer Kevin Bright Perry “still seem unlikely,” Deadline said.
In a joint statement, they said: “We will always be grateful for the joy, light and incredible intelligence she brought not only to her work but to our lives. “He was always the funniest person in the room. In fact, she has the sweetest, kindest, most selfless heart.”
He ended his tribute by saying: “This is where our hearts really broke”, referencing the style used in the titles of the Friends series.
In a statement to People magazine, his family said they were heartbroken, adding: “Matei brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and as a friend.”
Perry’s fans said: “It means a lot to her and we are grateful for the outpouring of love.” Actress Gwyneth Paltrow said she and Perry had a “magical summer” together in 1993, swimming in the river, drinking beer and “kissing in the tall grass”.
“He shot the pilot for Friends but it hasn’t aired yet. He was nervous and hoping his big break was just around the corner. I did.\”
He added: “I hope Matthew can finally find peace.” Really really.”
Maggie Wheeler, who plays beloved Janice in the film, said the joy she brought to so many people in her “too short life” will continue.
“I am heartbroken by the untimely death of my son, Matthew Perry,” said Morgan Fairchild, who played Perry’s mother and erotica writer Nora Bing.
He added: “The death of such an outstanding young actor is shocking.” Paget Brewster, who played Katie’s love interest in the sixth series of Friends, said Perry “never rests” because she is “busy trying to make everyone in the room laugh”.
In a post from X, formerly known as Twitter, he urged people to read Perry’s 2022 memoir Friends, Lovers and Something Big Scary, describing it as a “legacy of giving”. The book describes his struggles with painkillers and alcohol addiction during his sudden rise to fame and his lifelong struggle with mental health issues.
Perry had health issues in 2018, including a ruptured colon caused by drug use and requiring multiple surgeries. In 2016, he told BBC Radio 2 that he could not remember filming three years of Friends because he had been drinking and taking drugs.
Perry’s efforts to help others struggling with addiction were reflected in a tribute by actor Hank Azaria, who appeared in five episodes of Friends. Azaria said he was Perry’s “brother” when the couple first moved to Los Angeles and took him to alcoholics’ meetings when Perry was struggling with addiction.
Perry was born in Massachusetts in 1969 and grew up in Ottawa, Canada, where he attended elementary school with Justin Trudeau, who later became Prime Minister of Canada. Canadian leader Went. “Thanks for the smile, Matthew. You are loved and will be missed.”
Perry moved to Los Angeles as a teenager. He played Chaz Russell in Boys Will Be Boys and had roles in series including Growing Pains.
But her role in Friends alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc and Lisa Kudrow made her an international star. Perry stars as Chandler Bing, an awkward character known for his sarcastic words and childish behavior with roommate Joey Tribbiani.
For this role, he was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2002. Thanks to regular reruns and streaming services, it has found a new generation of devoted fans.
Famous fans of the show also paid tribute, including singer Adele, who felt a connection to Perry after watching Friends for decades, although she never met her. “I just want to tell you how much I love what he has done for all of us,” she said in a video message.
Warner Bros., which produces the series, described Perry as “a true gift to all of us.” Despite Friends’ global popularity, Perry said in an interview last year that she couldn’t watch the show.
He said: “I didn’t watch the show and I didn’t watch the show because I could do ‘drink, opiates, drink, cocaine’. “I felt that in my performance every season. So I don’t want to see it because I can see it.”
Perry’s film credits include Rush of Fools, Almost Heroes and The Nine Yards, and she has since received critical acclaim for her television roles. His role as White House Counsel Joe Quincy on Aaron Sorkin’s The West Wing earned him two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series, in 2003 and 2004.
He appeared in Sorkin’s follow-up series, Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip, and then had his own show, Mr. He wrote and produced Sunshine and also starred in the show. Lucy Davis, who stars in Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, said it was an “honor” to work with Perry on the show.
From the post He was very kind to me. There was a week when I was struggling with something at work and he came to me and told me not to worry.
“Thanks for the smile, Matthew. You made a great impression on me.”
The friends reunited for the 2021 TV reunion, where Perry again opened up about her struggles with mental health at the height of the show’s success.
He described his mental state at the time as “unhealthy”, recalling how he would “pass out” if the audience didn’t laugh at one of his lines and “feel like I’m going to die”. The LA Times and TMZ, which first reported Perry’s death, reported that the actor was found unconscious in a hot tub at his home.
A Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman told the BBC that first responders responded to an address in the Pacific Palisades area for an unspecified “water emergency” but did not name Perry. Perry’s latest Instagram post, published a few days ago, shows her relaxing in a rooftop pool. After that, he impressed the fans. Perry is survived by his parents, John Bennett Perry and Susan Perry, who divorced when he was young. He has five brothers and sisters. He never married and had no children.
