On Saturday, Oct. 28 beloved “Friends” star Matthew Perry was found dead at 4 p.m. in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home. While an autopsy has been conducted, the cause of death remains unknown and is pending further investigation. Throughout his life, Perry struggled with addiction, but foul play was not suspected at the crime scene and is not currently a part of the case.
Perry was born in Williamstown, Massachusetts and was raised in Ottawa, Ontario. After moving to Los Angeles at the age of 15, Perry discovered his love for acting and pursued roles in many high school productions. Perry forgoed his plan to attend the University of Southern California when offered a leading role in the television series “Boys Will Be Boys,” which marked the beginning of a remarkable acting career.
Perry was most famously known for his role as Chandler Bing on NBC’s 10 season sitcom, “Friends.”
“Chandler was extremely sarcastic, light hearted and easygoing,” senior Joss Coppock-Huegel said. “He brought that lightness to each situation. When [the show] covered a more serious topic he made it more relatable.”
On Monday, Perry’s fellow cast members released a joint statement to People Magazine.
“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family. There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss,” Courteny Cox, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlac and David Schwimmer said in the statement.
“In time we will say more, as and when we are able. For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world,” the statement said.
In 2022, Perry wrote a memoir titled “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Things,” where he opened up about his childhood, addiction and fame. Last year, Perry appeared in a Podcast with Tom Power when he spoke about his desire to be remembered for helping people.
“The best thing about me, bar none, is that if somebody comes to me and says, ‘I can’t stop drinking, can you help me?’ I can say ‘yes’ and follow up and do it,” Perry said. “When I die, I don’t want “Friends” to be the first thing that’s mentioned. I want that to be the first thing that’s mentioned. And I’m gonna live the rest of my life proving that.”
Perry will be missed deeply and will always be remembered for the important role that he played on and off the television screen.
