It’s with complete shock and a heavy heart that I report “Friends” star Matthew Perry has passed away.
According to law enforcement, the 54-year-old actor was found dead on Saturday in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home.
Authorities responded to Matthew’s home around 4 p.m. after receiving a call about cardiac arrest.
Upon their arrival, they found him unresponsive.
A source close to the investigation said there were no drugs at the scene or signs of foul play.
At this time his cause of death is unknown.
Matthew Perry is the son of actor John Bennett Perry and Suzanne Marie Langford, one-time press secretary of the Canadian Prime Minister Piere Trudeau.
He was born in 1969 and grew up between Montreal and Los Angeles after his parent separated a year after he was born.
Matthew started his career as a child actor after landing guest spots on “Charles in Charge” and “Beverly Hills 90210.”
He also played opposite River Phoenix in the film, A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon.
But, Matthew Perry’s big break came when he landed the role of Chandler Bing on the hit NBC series, “Friends.”
Chandler was the handsome, wisecracking roommate of Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc) and the love interest of Monica Geller (Courtney Cox).
In his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, Matthew opened up about several hospitalizations over the years due to drug and alcohol abuse.
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir (Hardcover)
By Matthew Perry (Author
At the age of 49, his colon burst from an opiod overdose.
Matthew Perry fought for his life, spending two weeks in a coma and five months in the hospital, and had to use a colostomy bag for nine months.
He told People:
The doctors told my family that I had a two percent chance to live. I was put on a thing called an ECMO machine, which does all the breathing for your heart and your lungs. And that’s called a Hail Mary. No one survives that.
Matthew underwent 14 surgeries to repair his stomach and the scar served as a constant reminder to stay sober.
The next time you think about taking Oxycontin, just think about having a colostomy bag for the rest of your life.
As you can imagine the news of Matthew Perry’s death has left the entertainment industry stunned.
My prayers and sincerest condolences to the Perry family and all who knew and loved Matthew.
Source: LA Times & Entertainment Tonight
