(Left to right) Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Perry and Courteney Cox starred in “Friends.” Perry died on October 28.
Photo: NBC
Matthew Perry, 54, was found dead in his Palisades home around 4 p.m. on Saturday 28 around 4 p.m.
“This truly is The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken, “Friends” co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane, and executive producer Kevin Bright, said in a statement. “We will always cherish the joy, the light, the blinding intelligence he brought to every moment – not just to his work, but in life as well. He was always the funniest person in the room. More than that, he was the sweetest, with a giving and selfless heart.”
According to the L.A. Times story (“‘Friends;’ Star Matthew Perry Dead at 54, Found in Hot Tub at L.A. Home”) “sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing, did not cite a cause of death. No drugs were found at the scene, sources said, but a source told The Times prescription medications were recovered at the home and hence toxicology will be part of the investigation.”
Perry bought his home on Blue Sail Drive in Pacific View Estates, near Getty Villa in August 2020.
Perry’s final Instagram post was Monday, October 23, a few days before his death in his backyard spa. An evening photo shows him sitting in the spa looking toward the lights of the coastline.
Along with that photo, Perry posed the question, “Oh, so warm water swirling around makes you feel good? I’m Mattman.”
Born August 19, 1969, in Williamstown Massachusetts, to Suzanne Marie Morrison a Canadian journalist who served as press secretary to Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and John Bennett Perry an American actor and former model.
In his 2022 memoir, “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing,” Perry wrote as a child he traveled between Montreal and Los Angeles when his parents divorced. At 14, he was a nationally ranked tennis star in Canada.
When he was 24, he was cast as Chandler Bing in a pilot Friends Like Us, which became Friends. The successful sitcom ran 10 seasons on NBC (1994-2004). He co-starred with Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer.
Perry is also credited with roles in Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Mr. Sunshine and Go On. He also had guest appearances or recurring roles in The West Wing, Ally McBeal, Scrubs and Beverly Hills, 90210.
His movie picture resume included: Fools Rush In, The Whole Nine Yards, Almost Heroes and Three to Tango.
In the book, Perry depicts his lifelong battle with addiction and his frequent hospital visits and stints in rehab. He was treated for Vicodin, amphetamines and alcohol addiction. In 2018, he spent five months in a hospital for gastrointestinal perforation. During that stay, he nearly died after his colon burst from opioid abuse.
Two years later, while attending rehab in Switzerland, Perry faked pain to get a prescription of 1,800 milligrams of Oxycontin per day and was having daily ketamine infusions.
In his book, Perry estimated that $9 million was spent on his addiction, including 14 stomach surgeries, 15 stays in rehab, and therapy twice a week for 30 years. He believed he had attended more than 6,000 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
One fan wrote on Instagram “May your soul rest in heaven, you were loved, Thanks for making us laugh at all your silly jokes. Heaven has gained a funny Angel. We are saddened by your sudden departure but only God knows why.”
