by John Solomon
Matthew Perry, whose portrayal of the character Chandler Bing on “Friends” catapulted him to TV fame even as he struggled privately with addiction, died Saturday at age 54 in an apparent drowning at his Los Angeles home, according to multiple news reports.
News of Perry’s sudden death shocked the entertainment world as accolades and remembrances poured in from Hollywood.
The official “Friends” account on Instagram hailed Perry as a “true gift to us all,” while the Warner Brothers studio recalled his acting genius as the sometimes bumbling and neurotic but always funny Chandler.
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“We are devastated by the passing of our dear friend Matthew Perry. Matthew was an incredibly gifted actor and an indelible part of the Warner Bros. Television Group family,” the studio said. “The impact of his comedic genius was felt around the world, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of so many. This is a heartbreaking day, and we send our love to his family, his loved ones, and all of his devoted fans.”
Perry was reportedly found unresponsive in a hot tub at his home. No foul play was suspected, according to the celebrity news site TMZ and the Los Angeles Times.
Perry was one of the most recognizable stars on television in the 1990s as a member of the cast of “Friends” and later as a recurring character on the “West Wing.”
He was nominated for three Emmy awards and also appeared in numerous big screen movies. His last major Hollywood gig was in 2017.
“Friends” was one of the most dominant sitcoms in television history, and it recently enjoyed a revival on streaming services with younger generations. The cast made a splash with a one-time TV special in 2021 celebrating the sitcom’s success.
In a 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir, Perry recounted his long battle with addiction to drugs and alcohol, including the painkiller Vicodin, saying he had been in and out of rehabilitation more than a dozen times before conquering the addiction in 2021.
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John Solomon is an award-winning investigative journalist, author and digital media entrepreneur who serves as Chief Executive Officer and Editor in Chief of Just the News. Before founding Just the News, Solomon played key reporting and executive roles at some of America’s most important journalism institutions, such as The Associated Press, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, Newsweek, The Daily Beast and The Hill.
Photo “Matthew Perry” by Policy Exchange CC2.0.
