Matthew Perry, star of "Friends," dies at age 54
Acclaimed actor Matthew Perry, best known for the long-running sitcom "Friends," has died at age 54.
Perry was found deceased at a home in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles after police responded to a 911 call for a water rescue Saturday afternoon, an LAPD watch commander confirmed to CBS Los Angeles station KCAL News. Perry's death was first reported by TMZ.
The actor was found unresponsive in his jacuzzi, police reported Sunday, and there were no obvious signs of trauma, but the cause of death remains unknown. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office said Sunday that an autopsy has been completed, and it is awaiting toxicology results.
Perry rose to fame with his iconic role as Chandler Bing on "Friends," beloved for his eccentric mannerisms and quirky personality, quickly becoming a fan favorite on the show that ran for 10 seasons.
"It's great, it's a wonderful time in my life," he told CBS News of his time on "Friends" in a 2015 interview. "People come up to me that I know were not born when we shot the show, for sure. And they're just surprised at how elderly I look."
The role earned him an Emmy nomination in 2002 for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series.
"We are devastated by the passing of our dear friend Matthew Perry," Warner Bros. Television Group, which produced "Friends," told CBS News in a statement. "Matthew was an incredibly gifted actor and an indelible part of the Warner Bros. Television Group family. 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."
Co-stars, friends and fans posted messages mourning his loss, remembering Perry for his talent, humor and kindness.
Perry also starred in several other television shows and movies, including "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," "Growing Pains," "Ally McBeal," "17 Again," "The Whole Nine Yards," "The West Wing" and a reboot of "The Odd Couple."
He received Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for his role in "The Ron Clark Story" miniseries in 2007.
In a memoir released last year, "Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing," Perry opened up about his substance abuse struggles and his career. He repeatedly went to rehab for drug and alcohol abuse.
"I think that people don't understand that it's a disease," he told CBS News in 2015 about the misconceptions surrounding addiction. "It was declared a disease in 1955 by the American Medical Association. And even people who are in trouble with this thing don't kind of realize that they are suffering from a disease. So they sort of blame themselves. So it's important to get it out there, and not be a secret, so you can get the help that you need."
Perry was born in Massachusetts in 1969, and raised in both the U.S. and Canada. His father was actor John Bennett Perry and his mother was journalist Suzanne Marie Langford, who worked as a press secretary for then-Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, father of current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
John Bennett Perry and Matthew Perry played father and son in the 1997 romantic comedy "Fools Rush In," and later in a 2004 episode of "Scrubs," which Matthew Perry directed.
Perry also attended grade school with Trudeau, who on Saturday described his friend's death as "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," Trudeau wrote on social media. "Thanks for all the laughs, Matthew. You were loved – and you will be missed."
— Emily Mae Czachor, Aliza Chasan and Jeff Nguyen contributed to this report.
