Actor Matthew Perry, who gained fame in the 1990s for his starring role in the hit U.S. television comedy “Friends,” was found dead at age 54 on Saturday in a hot tub at a Los Angeles-area home. The Emmy-nominated actor was found dead of an apparent drowning at his Los Angeles home Saturday, according to the Los Angeles Times and celebrity website TMZ, which was the first to report the news. Both outlets cited unnamed sources confirming Perry’s death.
Quick Read
- Matthew Perry, famous for his role as Chandler Bing in “Friends,” has passed away at the age of 54.
- His death, reported as an apparent drowning, occurred at his Los Angeles residence.
- The Los Angeles Times and TMZ were the first to report the news, citing unnamed sources.
- LAPD confirmed they responded to a “death investigation of a male in his 50s” at what was listed as Perry’s home address.
- Perry’s role on “Friends” spanned 10 seasons, making him a household name in Hollywood.
- His character, Chandler, was known for his sarcasm and neuroses, and was a roommate to Joey and Ross.
- By the end of the series, Chandler is married to Monica (played by Courteney Cox) and has started a family.
- “Friends” ran from 1994 to 2004 and remains popular on streaming platforms, especially with younger audiences.
- In 2021, a reunion special aired on HBO Max where the cast discussed the show.
- Perry earned an Emmy nomination for “Friends” and two more for roles on “The West Wing.”
- He also starred in films like “Fools Rush In” with Salma Hayek and “The Whole Nine Yards” with Bruce Willis.
The Associated Press has the story:
‘Friends’ Star Matthew Perry, Emmy-nominated, has died at 54
Newslooks- LOS ANGELES (AP)
Matthew Perry, who starred as Chandler Bing in the hit series “Friends,” has died. He was 54.
The Emmy-nominated actor was found dead of an apparent drowning at his Los Angeles home Saturday, according to the Los Angeles Times and celebrity website TMZ, which was the first to report the news. Both outlets cited unnamed sources confirming Perry’s death.
His publicists and other representatives did not immediately return messages seeking comment. Asked by AP to confirm police response to what was listed as Perry’s home address LAPD Officer Drake Madison told The Associated Press that officers had gone to that block “for a death investigation of a male in his 50s.”
Perry’s 10 seasons on “Friends” made him one of Hollywood’s most recognizable actors, starring opposite Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer as a friend group in New York.
As Chandler, he played a sarcastic yet insecure and neurotic roommate of Joey and Ross, played by LeBlanc and Schwimmer respectively. By the series’ end, Chandler is married to Cox’s Monica and they have a family, reflecting the journey of the core cast from single New Yorkers to married and starting families.
The series was one of television’s biggest hits and has taken on a new life — and found surprising popularity with younger fans — in recent years on streaming services.
The series ran from 1994 until 2004. A reunion special in 2021 was hosted by James Corden and fed into huge interest in seeing the cast together again, although the HBO Max reunion was the actors discussing the show and not a continuation of their characters’ storylines.
Perry received one Emmy nomination for his “Friends” role and two more for appearances as an associate White House counsel on “The West Wing.”
Perry also had several notable film roles, starring opposite Salma Hayek in the rom-com “Fools Rush In” and opposite Bruce Willis in the the crime comedy “The Whole Nine Yards.”
