Matthew Perry, renowned for portraying Chandler Bing in the popular series "Friends," has passed away from an apparent drowning.
Multiple reports confirm that the 54-year-old actor was found in his Los Angeles residence's hot tub around 4 p.m. Saturday, following a call to first responders after he suffered an apparent cardiac arrest.
No foul play was involved, according to sources who spoke to the Los Angeles Times on condition of anonymity. TMZ, which was the first to report the news, says no prescription drugs were found at the scene, but authorities did find prescription drugs such as anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs.
According to the LA Times, detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department's robbery-homicide unit have been assigned to the case.
Born in Williamstown, Massachusetts, in 1969, Perry moved to Los Angeles as a teenager. He achieved fame in 1994 as Chandler Bing on NBC's "Friends," earning a remarkable salary of$1 million per episode and receiving an Emmy nomination in 2002.
Perry's film credits include "Fools Rush In," "The Whole Nine Yards," "Serving Sara," and "17 Again."
In 2013, the star Perry shared with People Magazine his extended struggle with alcohol and Vicodin. "I couldn’t stop," he told the magazine. "Eventually things got so bad that I couldn’t hide it, and then everybody knew."
He eventually got sober and transformed his former Malibu beach residence into the Perry House, a men's sober living facility.
Warner Bros., the TV studio that produced "Friends," released a statement on Saturday, writing, "We are devastated by the passing of our dear friend Matthew Perry. Matthew was an incredibly gifted actor."
The studio said, "The impact of his comedic genius was felt around the world, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of so many. This is a heartbreaking day, and we send our love to his family, his loved ones, and all of his devoted fans."
Perry's life was full of interesting moments, including his time growing up in Canada while his mother worked on the press team for then-Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, according to his 2022 memoir.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the son of Pierre and Canada's 23rd PM, wrote, "Matthew Perry’s passing is shocking and saddening. I'll never forget the schoolyard games we used to play, and I know people around the world are never going to forget the joy he brought them. Thanks for all the laughs, Matthew. You were loved – and you will be missed."
