Friends Star Matthew Perry Is Dead at 54

The actor apparently drowned at his home in Los Angeles
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 28, 2023 8:10 PM CDT
Friends Star Matthew Perry Is Dead at 54
Matthew Perry in a 2015 photo.   (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP, File)

Friends star Matthew Perry is dead at age 54 after apparently drowning, reports TMZ. The actor who played Chandler Bing in the sitcom was found unresponsive at his home Saturday in the Los Angeles area, according to the Los Angeles Times. The latter outlet says he was found unresponsive in a hot tub, and there were no signs of foul play. Perry achieved international fame through Friends and a host of other TV and movie roles, though he spoke publicly about his years-long battle with alcohol and drug abuse. He also wrote about his struggles in his recent memoir.

Perry was born in Massachusetts but raised in Canada, where his mother, Suzanne Morrison, served as press secretary to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. In fact, Perry attended school with Justin Trudeau, the current prime minster and the son of Pierre, per People. Perry's father was actor John Bennett Perry, and his stepfather was Keith Morrison of Dateline. Perry eventually moved to Los Angeles to live with his father and began landing acting roles. His first credited role was in the police drama 240-Robert in 1979, per CNN. He later landed parts in such shows as Charles in Charge and Beverly Hills 90210.

Perry's big break in landing the role in Friends came in 1994, when he was 24. His notable films include Fools Rush In, The Whole Nine Yards, Three to Tango, The Kid, 17 Again, and Getting In. TMZ notes that he got hooked on alcohol and painkillers, particularly Vicodin, even during the run of Friends, and he entered rehab repeatedly over the years. Perry once said he could not recall three entire seasons of the show. (More Matthew Perry stories.)

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