- Actor Matthew Perry has died at the age of 54, possibly due to drowning in a Jacuzzi.
- No drugs were found at the scene, and law enforcement believes there was no foul play involved in Perry’s death.
- Perry, who recently published a memoir about his struggle with substance use disorder, had turned 54 in August.
It is with great sadness that we report the death of actor Matthew Perry at the age of 54, following an apparent drowning incident. Perry was found in a Jacuzzi at an L.A. home, and according to People, “TMZ reported that no drugs were found at the scene and there was no foul play involved. Their sources said first-responders were called to the residence for cardiac arrest.”
Perry recently published an acclaimed memoir detailing his journey as an actor and his struggle with substance use disorder. At this time, it’s uncertain whether Perry had experienced a relapse and nodded off underwater or not, though he was said to have been sober since May 2021. In his memoir, titled Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, Perry referred to his substance use as “the terrible thing.” He had recently turned 54 in August.
Matthew Perry spent a decade portraying the iconic character Chandler Bing on Friends, however, his contributions to media go far beyond this role. Perry’s acting career includes a television movie, The Ron Clark Story, guest appearances on The West Wing, Scrubs, and The Good Wife, and lead roles in two underrated but short-lived series, Go On and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, from Aaron Sorkin.
One of Perry’s most recent roles was as Ted Kennedy in the miniseries The Kennedys: After Camelot. He also worked as a successful executive producer and writer on series like The Odd Couple reboot and the short-lived sitcom Mr. Sunshine (which he also created). Perry was also known as a rom-com star in the late ’90s with films like Fools Rush In, Three to Tango, and The Whole Nine Yards. Perry starred in the Christopher Guest film Almost Heroes alongside Chris Farley and developed a close friendship with him; the two both experienced the struggles of fame and substance abuse.
In his tell-all memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, Perry wrote about his friendship with Farley and many others, as well as his life, battle with drug and alcohol dependence, and his experiences in the entertainment industry, which he described as a place where true friends are needed the most.