Matthew Perry, the actor best known for playing Chandler Bing on the hit NBC sitcom “Friends,” has died. He was 54.
Perry was found dead in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home on Saturday, law enforcement sources told the Los Angeles Times. Authorities found him unresponsive around 4pm and there were no signs of foul play or drugs at the scene.
Perry won international acclaim for his role as the wry, quick-witted twentysomething Chandler on Friends, which ran for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004. He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy in 2002 for his performance on the iconic sitcom. Among the six stars of the “Friends” ensemble, Perry was an ambitious performer and producer, but he also struggled with a long battle with substance abuse that stunted his career. Later in life, particularly with his 2022 book, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir, Perry focused much of his energy on using his experience to help others stay sober.
“Hi, my name is Matthew, although you may know me by another name. My friends call me Matty. And I should be dead,” Perry wrote at the beginning of Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing. “I’m not writing any of this to make anyone feel sorry for me – I’m writing these words because someone else might be confused by the fact that they know they should stop drinking – like me, they have all the information and they understand the consequences – but they still can’t stop drinking. You are not alone, my brothers and sisters.
During the heyday of Friends, Perry was also a sought-after leading man who dabbled in feature films but never really took off on the big screen. His love life was also closely watched as Perry dated stars including Julia Roberts, Selma Blair, Lizzy Caplan and the late Jamie Tarses, the NBC executive who developed “Friends” and became the first female entertainment president of a Big Three network when she joined ABC in 1996.
In addition to Friends, Perry has appeared in such television series as Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Go On, Mr. Sunshine and a remake of Neil Simon’s enduring The Odd Couple, starring Perry in the role of Oscar Madison, first made famous by Walter Matthau and on television by Jack Klugman. Perry received two Emmy nominations in 2003 and 2004 for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Joe Quincy on The West Wing. Perry was also an active producer on The Odd Couple and Mr. Sunshine, playing a key role in bringing both shows to fruition.
Perry had a long association with Warner Bros. TV through Friends, The West Wing and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. In a statement, the studio praised his skills as a performer.
“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 statement read. “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, loved ones and all of his devoted fans.”
NBC also paid tribute to the actor.
