The American-Canadian actor Matthew Perry, known from the cult series “Friends”, is dead, according to consistent US media reports. He died at the age of 54, as reported by the “New York Times”, which refers to Captain Scot Williams of the police in Los Angeles moved.
According to Williams, the cause of death will probably take some time to be determined – but there is no evidence of foul play.
The celebrity portal “TMZ” and the “Los Angeles Times” had previously reported, citing unnamed sources from judicial circles, that Perry was found dead in a whirlpool at his home in Los Angeles on Saturday.
Canada’s Prime Minister says goodbye with personal words
The 90s hit “Friends” revolves around the lives of a group of young friends in New York. Perry played the character Chandler Bing in it. The Hollywood industry, friends and fans of the actor reacted to the news of his death with dismay and expressions of grief.
“We are incredibly saddened by the untimely death of Matthew Perry,” said a statement from NBC, which ran the sitcom “Friends” for years. “He brought so much joy to hundreds of millions of people around the world with his perfect comedic timing and wry wit,” writes NBC Entertainment on the platform X – formerly Twitter.
An Instagram message from “Friends” production company Warner Bros. Television said: “We are devastated to learn of Matthew Perry’s death. He was a true gift to all of us.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who attended the same school as Perry, called his death “shocking and sad.” He will never forget the schoolyard games they played together, Trudeau wrote on
Actress Selma Blair wrote on Instagram that her heart was broken. “We all loved Matthew Perry – and I especially.” Oscar winner Mira Sorvino expressed her sadness on X: May Perry find peace and happiness in heaven and make everyone laugh with his “unique wit.”
Actress Octavia Spencer – also an Oscar winner – wrote on Instagram: “His gift to the world will be remembered forever.”
The series “Friends” about the protagonists Rachel, Ross, Chandler, Monica, Joey and Phoebe was produced in the USA from 1994 to 2004 and became a television cult in countless countries. For the special program “Friends: The Reunion” in 2021, all six main actors – Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc and Lisa Kudrow – came together again.
Last year, Perry released his autobiography, “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing.” In it he wrote openly about his decades-long battle against his addiction to alcohol, drugs and pills. The book says, among other things: “I’ve spent well over seven million dollars getting sober. I’ve been to 6,000 AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings. I’ve been to 15 rehabs and a mental institution. I’m Went to therapy twice a week for 30 years. I had one foot in the grave.”
