Matthew Perry, the beloved Friends star, passed away at the age of 54 on Saturday. His death has left fans and friends in shock, coming shortly after the publication of his memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” where he courageously shared his victorious battle against drug and alcohol addiction that nearly claimed his life.
Matthew, renowned for his role as Chandler Bing on Friends, is believed to have tragically drowned in a jacuzzi, a circumstance that deeply stunned those close to him, according to an exclusive source.
Reports from sources disclosed that Perry had engaged in a two-hour game of Pickleball before medical professionals were summoned to his residence in response to an apparent heart attack.
The accomplished Matthew Perry, celebrated with a Screen Actors Guild Award, skyrocketed to fame by securing the role of Chandler Bing on the popular NBC sitcom Friends. He was born in 1969 in Williamstown, Massachusetts.
His mother, Suzanne Marie Morrison, had a background in Canadian journalism and had previously served as the press secretary to former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. His parents, Suzanne and John Bennett Perry, separated before his first birthday.
Suzanne later married broadcast journalist Keith Morrison, and Matthew was primarily raised in Ottawa, Ontario, with brief stints in Toronto and Montreal. His educational journey took him from Rockcliffe Park Public School, where he attended alongside future Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, to Ashbury College.
Apart from his prowess in the creative arts, the best-selling author also excelled as a top-ranked junior tennis player in Canada, dedicating up to 10 hours a day to the sport, according to Tennis Canada.
Before his iconic role in Friends, Matthew Perry portrayed Sandy, Carol Seaver’s boyfriend, who met a tragic end in the hospital following a drunk-driving accident in 1989.
During the golden era of Friends from 1994 to 2004, Matthew Perry, positioned on the far right, achieved immense fame for his portrayal of Chandler Bing.
Amid their shared journey on Friends, Matthew Perry and his co-star Jennifer Aniston formed a close companionship, as depicted in a photo from 1995. Over the years, Perry acknowledged Jennifer Aniston as the one who provided the most support during his struggles with addiction and his journey to sobriety.
In the mid-1990s, Matthew Perry briefly dated actress Julia Roberts, who made a guest appearance on the sitcom Friends. Their romantic relationship concluded after two months, as seen in 1996. Matthew Perry secured his first Screen Actors Guild Award in 1996.
Expanding his horizons to the film industry, in 2000, he undertook a leading role in “The Whole Nine Yards.” This paved the way for his involvement in movies like “Fools Rush In,” “Almost Heroes,” “The Ron Clark Story,” and “17 Again.”
“17 Again,” the 2009 film co-starring Zac Efron and Leslie Mann, proved to be a box office sensation. It amassed an impressive $139.4 million in global earnings, surpassing its $40 million production budget.
Matthew Perry showcased his versatility by making his directorial debut in 2004 while directing an episode of “Scrubs.” In the picture, he is seen alongside John Bennett Perry, who portrayed Gregory Marks.
A passionate advocate for a crucial cause, Matthew Perry testified before a House Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies. He passionately emphasized the need to allocate funding for Drug Courts.
In a much-anticipated reunion, the Friends cast came together on screen in 2021 for the first time in 25 years. This special event, titled “The One Where They Get Back Together,” was hosted by James Corden.
In his 2022 memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” Matthew Perry laid bare his lifelong battle with addiction, providing an unfiltered and candid account.
As a best-selling author, the esteemed star, as seen on April 22, 2023, promoted his memoir at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. Through his writing, he shared his remarkable journey of sobriety, the dazzling heights of fame, and the harrowing descent into the abyss of addiction.
