Law enforcement confirmed that he was found dead at his Los Angeles residence,
setting off a wave of mourning and tributes from fans and colleagues alike.
“A true gift to us all,” said Warner Bros., which produced the universally beloved show.
A Star that Burned Bright
Born in Massachusetts in 1969 and raised in Ottawa, Canada, Perry moved to Los Angeles during his teenage years. He found stardom as Chandler Bing in ‘Friends,’ a show that became one of the most successful TV programs ever. The comedy series, which ran from 1994 to 2004, captured the lives and loves of six New Yorkers and ended its run with an episode watched by 52.5 million people in the U.S.—a record for the 2000s.
“Matthew Perry brought laughter to millions, leaving an indelible imprint on television history.”
While Perry was best known for his comedic timing and sarcastic one-liners as Chandler, off-screen, he struggled with addiction to painkillers and alcohol, a battle he never shied away from discussing publicly. In a 2016 interview, he even mentioned that he couldn’t recall filming for three years of ‘Friends’ due to substance abuse.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was a schoolmate of Perry’s, expressed his shock and sadness, commemorating the joy Perry brought to the world.
Entertainment reporter Sean Mandell described the sentiment in Los Angeles as one of disbelief and shock. Perry’s co-stars from ‘Friends,’ like Maggie Wheeler and Morgan Fairchild, also offered emotional tributes.
“Matthew’s joy and creativity touched many in his too short lifetime,” wrote Maggie Wheeler on Instagram.
Perry did venture into other roles post-‘Friends.’ His performance as associate White House counsel Joe Quincy in ‘The West Wing’ earned him two Emmy nominations. He also wrote, produced, and starred in his own show called ‘Mr. Sunshine.’ His last significant TV appearance was in a reboot of ‘The Odd Couple,’ which aired for three seasons.
