The world mourns the tragic loss of ‘Friends’ megastar Matthew Perry at 54

Matthew Perry, renowned for his role in the beloved sitcom FRIENDS, has tragically passed away at the age of 54. The actor’s death occurred on Saturday, October 28. The Los Angeles Police Department responded to a distress call at 4:10 PM, initiating a death investigation concerning a male in his fifties. Los Angeles Police Capt. Scot Williams, who leads the Robbery Homicide Division that is investigating Perry’s death, said the “cause of death may not be known for some time, but at this point foul play is not suspected.” The cause of death will be determined by the Los Angeles County coroner’s office.

Matthew Perry’s Canadian Roots and Early Life

In his memoir Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, published a year prior to his passing, Perry reflected on his childhood in Canada. Raised by his Canadian mother, Suzanne Perry, he spent his formative years in Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto. Suzanne Perry, who served as a press secretary for former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and later as a national anchor for Global News, provided the backdrop for Perry’s upbringing.

Notably, Trudeau and Perry were schoolmates, with Trudeau expressing his sorrow via a heartfelt tweet, acknowledging the joy Perry brought to people worldwide. In a 2017 interview on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Perry humorously recounted an incident of playfully roughhousing with a young Justin Trudeau during their school days. Trudeau, in response, cheekily invited Perry for a rematch, jesting, “who hasn’t wanted to punch Chandler?”

Matthew Langford Perry was born on August 19, 1969, in Williamstown, Massachusetts. His father, John Bennett Perry, an American actor and former model, separated from his mother when Matthew was a year old. His mother subsequently married Canadian broadcast journalist Keith Morrison, with whom she had four children, while John had a daughter from his second marriage. He was raised by his mother mostly in Ottawa, Ontario, but he also lived briefly in Toronto and Montreal.^[5] Perry attended school at Rockcliffe Park Public School, as well as Ashbury College, a boarding school in Ottawa.

Early Challenges and Career Beginnings

At the age of 10, Perry began displaying behavioural issues, engaging in activities like theft, smoking, and a decline in academic performance. His struggles continued as he started drinking alcohol at 14, eventually becoming a daily habit by age 18. Despite these challenges, he initially pursued a promising tennis career, excelling as a top-ranked junior player in Canada. However, at 15, Perry moved to Los Angeles to live with his father, leading to a shift in his aspirations due to intensified competition. During his teenage years, Perry studied acting at the Buckley School in Los Angeles, graduating in 1987. He delved into improvisational comedy classes at L.A. Connection while in high school, gradually paving the way for his acting career. Perry’s early acting roles included minor appearances in TV series like “240-Robert,” “Not Necessarily the News,” “Charles in Charge,” and “Silver Spoons.” His film debut transpired in 1988 with “A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon.”

Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, Perry secured roles in various television series like “Second Chance,” “Growing Pains,” “Sydney,” “Beverly Hills, 90210,” and “Home Free,” marking the foundation of his acting journey.

Landing Friends

Matthew Perry landed the role of Chandler Bing on the hit TV show “Friends” after going through the typical audition process. He initially auditioned for the role of Joey Tribbiani but eventually won the role of Chandler.

During the audition process, it was apparent that Perry’s unique style and delivery fit perfectly with the character of Chandler, contributing to his selection for the role. His portrayal of Chandler Bing became iconic and integral to the success of the show.

In 2004 during an interview with Dateline, he explained that the formation of his character on Friends was somewhat intentional. He recounted the creators taking the cast out to lunch individually and prompting them to share personal insights. He expressed, “I’m not an unattractive man, but I’m just awful with women… that’s a character you haven’t seen before. And I also am not comfortable with any silence at all. I have to break any awkward moment or silence with a joke.” This aspect, he felt, naturally suited the character for sitcom humour.

Maggie Wheeler, the actress who portrayed Perry’s on-and-off girlfriend Janice Goralnik, highlighted his generosity as an actor. She stated, “Matthew was an incredibly generous actor. There was no single time I stepped onto a stage with him that I did not feel lifted by his brilliance. Even in his darkest moments, his comedic timing was impeccable. Mathew suffered so terribly as his book revealed to the world. I hope he is at peace beyond that suffering. He died way too soon and he will be missed by all who loved and knew him in life and as the beloved Chandler Bing.”

Dark Times

However beloved as a television icon, there existed a shadowy aspect to the life of Matthew Perry. In his 2022 memoir titled “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” he candidly detailed his lifelong battle with alcohol and opioid addiction. Perry disclosed that he had his inaugural drink at the age of 14 with his high school buddies in Ottawa, but only recognized signs of alcoholism at 21. Subsequently, he estimated spending over $7 million in attempts to attain sobriety, undergoing numerous stints in rehab. His struggles with substance abuse resulted in severe health complications, notably a five-month hospitalization in 2018 due to a colon rupture, which, as Perry revealed, left him with a mere 2% chance of surviving through the night.

During a “Friends” reunion special in 2021, Perry openly admitted that the pressure to deliver laughs in front of a live studio audience night after night fueled his substance abuse.

Perry candidly reflected on his desires for fame in an April interview with The Times during the Festival of Books, stating, “Nobody desired fame more than me. I was convinced it held the key. At 25, in the second year of ‘Friends,‘ after eight months, I realized the American dream didn’t bring me joy or fill the voids in my life. I craved attention endlessly. … Fame doesn’t deliver what you anticipate. It was all an illusion.”

Remember Me

In a Post on X Perry described how he’d like to be remembered.

“When I die, as far as my so-called accomplishments go, it would be nice if Friends were listed far behind the things I did to try to help other people.” Matthew Perry

What Celebrity Friends Are Saying About the Loss of Matthew Perry

NBC Team

The NBC sitcom’s team, including co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane along with executive producer Kevin Bright, expressed their heartfelt tribute to the late actor in a statement provided to NBC News.

“We are profoundly shocked and filled with immense sorrow at the loss of our dear friend, Matthew. His passing feels incredibly unreal. All we can express is our gratitude for the privilege of having him as an integral part of our lives. His talent was nothing short of brilliant,” the statement conveyed.

Kauffman, Crane, and Bright further emphasized Perry’s embodiment of the character Chandler, highlighting how he infused it with his unique essence.

“We will forever treasure the exuberance, the luminosity, and the extraordinary wit he brought to every moment — not solely in his performances but also in his life. He unfailingly held the title of the wittiest individual in any room. Beyond that, he possessed the kindest of hearts, characterized by his generosity and selflessness. Our heartfelt love goes out to his family and friends,” they concluded.

Kathleen Turner

Kathleen Turner played Chandler’s father, Charles Bing aka Helena Handbasket, on “Friends.” She appeared in three episodes of the show.

“I was proud to play his ‘Dad,’” Turner said in a statement to NBC News in the wake of Perry’s passing.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow took to Instagram to say she met Matthew Perry in 1993 at the Williamstown Theater Festival in Massachusetts. “We were both there for most of the summer doing plays. He was so funny and so sweet and so much fun to be with. We drove out to swim in creeks, had beers in the local college bar, kissed in a field of long grass. It was a magical summer. He had shot the pilot of Friends but it had not aired yet. He was nervous, hoping his big break was just around the corner. It was. We stayed friends for a while until we drifted apart, but I was always happy to see him when I did. I am super sad today, as so many of us are. I hope Matthew is at peace at long last. I really do,” said Paltrow.

Shannon Doherty

Perry has a guest appearance on “90210” as Roger Azarian, but his friendship with Shannen Doherty went far beyond his role on the show.

Doherty posted a lengthy tribute to Perry on Instagram, sharing a photo posing with Perry and another friend, Roger Castillo, in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ dugout. In the caption, she recalled growing up with Perry and shared several funny stories about the shenanigans the group, including the late actor, would get into.

“We just always had fun and supported each other,” she wrote in part. “You would always find us all together in a booth speaking in our own made up language. And yes, Matt always had THAT sense of humor.”

Doherty also shared that she and Perry once went on a date on Valentine’s Day, but her dad had to score them the reservation when Perry couldn’t reserve a table at a restaurant in Malibu.

“Our friendship spanned a long time,” Doherty added. “A lifetime really. I know many are hurting, especially our little gang. He will be missed by many and definitely by us. Yes. I could be more poetic or say things better but right now, shock and sadness prevail.”

Ian Ziering

Ian Ziering, who portrayed the role of Steve Sanders on “90210,” posted a tribute to Perry on his Instagram story with a throwback photo.

“RIP Matthew,” he wrote on the post. “My heart goes out to his family and all he was dear to. What a great guy, so sad.”

Valerie Bertinelli

Valerie Bertinelli, who starred with Perry in the sitcom “Sydney,” reshared a post about the late actor on her Instagram story.

“Rest in peace, sweet man,” she simply wrote on the post.

Mira Sorvino

Mira Sorvino, who starred with Perry on “Parallel Lives,” mourned the loss of the actor on X.

“Oh no!!! Matthew Perry!! You sweet, troubled soul!!” she wrote. “May you find peace and happiness in Heaven, making everyone laugh with your singular wit!!!”

Sorvino also posted an excerpt from Matthew Perry’s interview with CBC’s Tom Power:

Selma Blair

Selma Blair shared a loving tribute to Perry on Instagram, posting a selfie of the pair together.

“My oldest boy friend. All of us loved Matthew Perry, and I did especially,” she wrote. “Every day. I loved him unconditionally. And he me. And I’m broken. Broken hearted. Sweet dreams Matty. Sweet dreams.”

Rumer Willis

Rumer Willis shared an emotional tribute to Perry on her Instagram story recalling her interactions with Perry on the sets of “The Whole Nine Yards” and its sequel, which the actor starred in with Rumer Willis’ father, Bruce Willis.

“I’m so sad to hear about Matthew Perry passing,” she wrote. “When I was a kid and I was on Set while he and my dad were doing the whole nine and whole 10 yards he was so kind and funny and sweet with my sister and me and I think his physical Comedy and that movie still makes me laugh so much.”

Willis added, “I know he had many challenges in his life and brought a lot of joy to people with his comedy. I hope he can rest peacefully.”

Paget Brewster

Paget Brewster, known for her guest appearance on “Friends” during Season Four, paid homage to Perry on X. Brewster portrayed Kathy, a character torn between Chandler and Joey’s affections in the show.

Brewster urged people to explore Perry’s memoir on addiction, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” citing it as his enduring contribution.

“He was kind to me during Friends and in all the years that followed. Please delve into his book. It was his enduring gift to aid. He may not rest in peace yet… He’s likely too busy eliciting laughter up there,” Brewster penned in remembrance.

Tom Green

“Shocked and saddened to just hear about the passing of Matthew Perry in a tragic drowning. He is one of the many talented and incredible success stories from my hometown of Ottawa. Rest in peace Matthew,” Tom Green said in a social media post.

Adele

The Los Angeles Times detailed Adele’s tribute to the late actor during her Las Vegas residency performance.

On stage, Adele, although not having known Perry personally, reminisced about Perry’s impact on her childhood. She recounted how a friend named Andrew used to imitate Chandler, providing levity and laughter in difficult times.

“If any of us were having a bad day or feeling low, he would just pretend to be Chandler, and I’ll remember that character for the rest of my life,” she expressed.

Morgan Fairchild

Morgan Fairchild, known for her role as Chandler’s mother on the iconic sitcom, also expressed her heartfelt sentiments about the late actor on X.

“I’m deeply saddened by the unexpected loss of my ‘son,’ Matthew Perry,” Fairchild conveyed. “Losing such a talented young actor is a jolt. My love and sympathies go out to his friends and family, particularly his father, John Bennett Perry, with whom I worked on Flamingo Road and Falcon Crest.”

His ‘Friends‘ costars release a statement two days later

(UPDATE) The primary cast of Friends released a statement two days later saying they are “utterly devastated.” We were more than just cast mates. We are a family,” the statement reads. “In time we will say more, as and when we are able.”

According to the source, Perry’s former colleagues are profoundly impacted by the loss, considering him more like a brother. “The cast is reeling from the loss of their brother, because that’s what Matty was — their brother,” the source expressed. “It’s just devastating.”

The insider further mentioned that the entire cast is supporting each other during this challenging time. “They are a close-knit group, and they will be profoundly affected because they were together through thick and thin,” the insider stated. “Moreover, when Matty was unwell, they shielded him, fiercely looking after him.”

by Myles Shane

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