On Saturday, October 28th, the world was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Friends star Matthew Perry. According to LAPD, Perry was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home around 4 p.m. on Saturday and was shortly after pronounced dead at age 54. There’s a lot of speculation around Perry’s cause of death because an official statement has yet to be released. Early on Monday, October 30th, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner officially “deferred”, meaning further investigation was needed regarding the cause of death.
Matthew Perry has publicly struggled with drug addiction and alcohol abuse for years. US Weekly stated that Perry’s drug addiction started as early as 1997 after a jet ski accident when he became addicted to Vicodin, a highly addictive narcotic administered to treat pain. In his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, he states that he was given barbituates at just three months old by the family doctor because he was colicky. Eventually, his struggle with alcohol abuse followed and got so bad that in 2000, he was hospitalized with pancreatitis.
In 2001, Perry paused production for two months on his film Serving Sara and told The New York Times, “I realized I’ve got to go save myself. I got on the phone and called the people who were willing to help me.” He stayed in a private rehab center for two and a half months and did a number of interviews in 2002 talking about his recovery.
In the following 20 years, Perry continued to struggle off and on with drug addiction and alcohol abuse, with periods of sobriety throughout. In 2022, Perry revealed to PEOPLE that he had a near-death experience at 49 after his colon burst from opioid overuse.
Matthew Perry’s last months were spent quietly. He was seen out and about dining with friends and visiting a country club to play pickleball, seemingly happy.
Following the announcement of his death, Perry’s family released a joint statement, saying, “We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother. Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend. You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love.” His Friends castmates are also mourning the loss. Two days after his death, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer spoke out in a joint statement. They said, “We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family. There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss. In time we will say more, as and when we are able. For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.”
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Our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of Matthew Perry. May he rest in peace.
