‘Friends’ star Matthew Perry dead at 54

Actor Matthew Perry, best known for his role on “Friends,” has died from an apparent drowning, TMZ first reported. He was 54 years old.

Authorities responded to reports of a cardiac arrest at Perry’s Los Angeles-area home on Saturday afternoon where he was found unresponsive in a hot tub, according to the Los Angeles Times.

He had reportedly returned home after a two-hour round of pickleball in the morning before sending his assistant on an errand, TMZ reports. When his assistant returned home, he discovered Perry unresponsive.

The circumstances surrounding the actor’s death remain unclear, although TMZ cited law enforcement sources that said no foul play was involved.

Perry was best known for his iconic role as Chandler Bing on the hit NBC sitcom “Friends” which ran from 1994 to 2004. He also appeared in a variety of comedy films including, “Fools Rush In,” “17 Again,” “The Whole Nine Yards,” and more.

The last post Perry shared on his Facebook page was an image of him relaxing in a hot tub overlooking L.A. just a few days ago.

In a 2022 memoir titled, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” Perry discussed his struggle with drug and alcohol addiction, including during the “Friends” years.

During that turbulent time, Perry detailed his notable weight gain and loss during various “Friends” seasons along with serious health issues that required several hospitalizations.

He joined his “Friends” castmates in an HBO reunion special in 2021.

“This is extraordinarily sad news,“ said Sam Rubin. “Referred to as perhaps as people’s funniest ‘Friend’ or favorite ‘Friend,’ Chandler Bing was an extraordinarily popular character and Matthew Perry brought him to life in the most amazing way.”

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