Matthew Perry, known for playing Chandler Bing on ‘Friends,’ has passed away at 54. Law enforcement sources confirmed his death, with TMZ reporting the sad news.
TMZ reports that Perry was found unresponsive in a Los Angeles area home, specifically in a jacuzzi. No drugs were found at the scene, and it’s suspected he may have drowned.
A Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson told PEOPLE that they received a call about a man in his 50s found dead at Matthew Perry’s home. However, the police didn’t confirm the man’s identity at that moment.
TMZ’s sources mentioned that there was no sign of foul play in Perry’s death. First responders were called to the house, initially for what seemed like a cardiac arrest case.
Matthew Perry was born on August 19, 1969, in the picturesque town of Williamstown, Massachusetts. His life was filled with both achievements and challenges.
As a teenager, Perry followed his dreams to Los Angeles. He began his career with guest roles on TV and had a recurring part as Chazz Russell in ‘Boys Will Be Boys’ from 1987 to 1988. He continued with roles in ‘Growing Pains’ and ‘Sydney’ before hitting the big time in 1994 when he became part of the famous ‘Friends’ cast on NBC.
Despite his impressive professional accomplishments, Matthew Perry grappled with personal challenges, particularly addiction. He went into rehab for substance abuse in 1997 and then again in 2001. In a candid 2016 interview with Britain’s BBC Radio 2, Perry disclosed that he couldn’t remember filming seasons 3 through 6 of ‘Friends.’
In a 2013 PEOPLE cover story, he acknowledged a history of struggles with alcohol and Vicodin, the latter being prescribed after a 1997 jet ski accident. Perry admitted, “I had a big problem with alcohol and pills, and I couldn’t stop. Eventually, things got so bad that I couldn’t hide it, and then everybody knew.”
However, something changed within him. He founded Perry House, a sober living facility for men, in his former Malibu beach home, marking a new chapter in his life’s story.