WOW the actors keep passing! Not a day goes by now that we don't see another once big name actor pass away. Just after the last two of Burt Young, and Richard Moll now we have actor Matthew Perry, ‘Friends’ actor, just announced died of apparent drowning at age 54!
A 911 call came in at 4:07 p.m. local time and was treated as a water rescue, according to a law enforcement source. Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Brian Humphrey said first responders went to a home in Pacific Palisades based on a 911 call at 4:07 p.m. about a “water emergency” of an unknown type. No one was taken to a hospital, he said, and Los Angeles police officers from the West L.A. Division were on scene.
Later Saturday, two law enforcement sources said the LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division, which probes high-profile crimes and cases involving celebrities, also responded to the location. The sources emphasized that the case was a death investigation with no signs of foul play. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner was expected to conduct the autopsy and may determine the cause and manner of death soon, was said. Many more details about Perry’s death were not immediately available Saturday night for obvious reasons.
The actor best known for his role as one of the core cast members on “Friends,” NBC’s generation X sitcom from the ’90s. On “Friends,” Perry played Chandler Bing, a statistical analyst who used sarcasm and one-liners. The show was a blockbuster for television, dominating prime time alongside "Seinfeld." It ran for 10 seasons, from 1994 to 2004. He also appeared in several other hits, including “Boys Will Be Boys,” “Growing Pains,” Beverly Hills, 90210,” “The West Wing” and “Scrubs.” Raised in Ottawa, Canada, Perry had a successful run as a top-ranked tennis player competing in Canadian juniors. He essentially left the sport to pursue acting when he moved to L.A. at age 15. He joined the cast of “Friends” at age 24.
His post-“Friends” life included multiple roles that drew respect and acclaim, but it was often dominated by headlines about that battle. In the book, he said he spent as much as $7 million on rehabilitation and recovery efforts. Reaction from Hollywood to Perry's death was swift. About a year ago Perry was on a press tour for the release of his memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir,” which added to revelations about his battle with addiction, including a near-death experience in 2019 after his colon burst as a result of his use of opioids.
Warner Bros. Television Group, which produced "Friends," said in a statement Saturday night, “We are devastated by the passing of our dear friend Matthew Perry.” The statement continued: “The impact of his comedic genius was felt around the world, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of so many.” NBC, the network that aired "Friends," said it was saddened by Perry's death. "He brought so much joy to hundreds of millions of people around the world with his pitch perfect comedic timing and wry wit," NBC said in a statement. "His legacy will live on through countless generations."
