Matthew Perry, the actor best known for playing the role of Chandler Bing in the sitcom ‘Friends’ died at the age of 54 in Los Angeles on October 28. He was found unconscious in a hot tub and the first responders were unable to revive him. As per reports, the actor was playing pickleball shortly before his demise. Mr Perry’s pickleball coach has now revealed that the actor was “doing really well” before his death. He also used the sport as a means to help others who were staying at the rehabilitation centre he had established.

Matt Manasse spoke to People Magazine and said, “He was doing an awesome job. He loved it. He came out five times a week, would always talk about it. (He) got so much better, always made everyone laugh. He was competitive, just a genuine, good guy – caring for everybody. Pickleball was his outlet. He really looked forward to it. He was a competitive guy, not in a bad way at all…When he hit an unbelievable shot, he would tell you about it for days.”

“He thought it was something that could help with his recovery,” the coach said, talking about the actor’s struggles with drug abuse. Mr Perry battled for years with addiction to painkillers and alcohol and attended rehabilitation clinics on multiple occasions. The actor detailed his addiction to Vicodin following a jet ski accident in 1997, admitting that he was taking up to 55 pills a day at one point.

“He had so much that he was doing with his rehab facility and trying to get people clean. He would bring them to teach them pickleball. He was just always trying to help people,” Mr Manasse added.

Mr Manasse highlighted that he was always there to support him and would often say, “Whatever you need. Anything you need, I’m there for you.” The 35-year-old coach told the outlet, “That was just the kind of guy he was. We went to dinner together. I was over at his place for the Super Bowl. He cared about other people. He was a really good person.”

The coach, who last spoke to his buddy “Matty” a week before his death, says he wants people to know that the actor was “a guy who wanted to help people and was selfless.” “He cared about everyone – your day was better when you saw him or when he called. He never missed an opportunity for a funny joke to make you laugh. Just a genuinely amazing person. Everyone should know he had a heart of gold,” he concluded. 

File picture of the stars of “Friends,” from left, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, Courtney Cox, Jennifer Aniston and Matt LeBlanc. Perry’s co-stars released a statement following his death
| Photo Credit: AP

The stars of “Friends” say they are mourning the “unfathomable” death of Matthew Perry.

“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew,” Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer said in a joint statement to People on Monday. “We were more than just cast mates. We are a family.”

From 1994 to 2004, each of the five actors appeared in every episode of all 10 seasons of the NBC sitcom along with Perry, who was found dead at his Los Angeles home on Saturday at age 54.

“There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss,” the statement said. “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.”

It was the first public statement on Perry’s death from Aniston, Cox, Kudrow, LeBlanc or Schwimmer.

After an initial investigation, the Los Angeles County coroner has deferred giving a cause of death, which may take weeks to determine.

Others public mourning Perry on Monday included Salma Hayek, his co-star in the 1997 rom-com Fools Rush In, which Perry had said was probably his best film.

“It’s taken me a couple of days to process this profound sadness. There is a special bond that happens when you share dreams with someone, and together you work towards them,” Hayek said in an Instagram post. “Throughout the years, he and I found ourselves reminiscing about that meaningful time in our lives with a deep sense of nostalgia and gratitude. My friend, you are gone much too soon, but I will continue to cherish your silliness, your perseverance, and your lovely heart.”

Perry is being mourned by fans worldwide, including some who placed flowers and heartfelt tributes outside the New York building that served as an exterior for the show.

Others who worked with Perry expressed their sorrow on Sunday, included Friends co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane, who said, echoing the style of the show’s episode titles, that this “truly is The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken.”

Morgan Fairchild, who played mother to Perry’s Chandler Bing on the show, and Maggie Wheeler, who played Chandler’s sometime girlfriend Janice, gave similar sentiments.

Matthew Perry, known for his iconic character Chandler Bing in the superhit sitcom Friends, died at the age of 54 on October 28. The actor was found unresponsive in a hot tub. The first responders found Mr Perry unconscious and were unable to revive him. Mr Perry, in an interview last year, spoke about how he wanted to be remembered after his death. The actor stated that he wanted to be remembered for something other than the fan-favourite sitcom.

“I would like to be remembered as somebody who lived well, loved well, was a seeker. And his paramount thing is that he wants to help people. That’s what I want,” he said in the Q With Tom Power podcast in 2022. 

During the height of his success, Mr Perry battled for years with addiction to painkillers and alcohol and attended rehabilitation clinics on multiple occasions. He detailed his harrowing journey in his memoir ‘Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing’. 

Following a jet ski mishap in 1997, he developed a Vicodin addiction and underwent 15 days of rehabilitation in 2001. Later, he converted his old Malibu house into the Perry House, a sober living facility. Mr Perry informed that he was clean in 2021 and claimed that he had spent $9 million on the same.

He added, “The best thing about me, bar none, is that if somebody comes to me and says, ‘I can’t stop drinking, can you help me?’ I can say ‘yes’ and follow up and do it. When I die, I don’t want Friends to be the first thing that’s mentioned. I want that to be the first thing that’s mentioned. And I’m gonna live the rest of my life proving that.”

However, Mr Perry did acknowledge that he was aware that his legacy would probably not extend beyond the highly successful show. “When I die, I know people will talk about Friends, Friends, Friends. And I’m glad of that, happy I’ve done some solid work as an actor, as well as given people multiple chances to make fun of my struggles on the world wide web,” he wrote. 

“But when I die, as far as my so-called accomplishments go, it would be nice if Friends were listed far behind the things I did to try to help other people. I know it won’t happen but it would be nice,” ‘The Odd Couple’ star concluded. 

Mr Perry dedicated his memoir to “all of the sufferers out there,” and wrote in the prologue, “I should be dead”. He added, “People would be surprised to know that I have mostly been sober since 2001. Save for about sixty or seventy little mishaps over the years.”

Matthew Perry, the troubled star of the smash hit TV sitcom Friends, was found dead at his home in Los Angeles on Saturday, U.S. media reported. He was 54-years-old.

First responders found Perry unconscious in a hot tub at his house and were unable to revive him, law enforcement sources told the Los Angeles Times.

“We responded at 4:10 pm… It is a death investigation for a male in his 50s,” a Los Angeles Police Department spokesman told AFP, without confirming the deceased’s name.

A fire department spokesman confirmed it had responded to a “water emergency,” which could refer to a “pool, spa, bathtub or fountain,” but could not confirm reports that Perry had drowned.

Perry was best known for his portrayal of the wise-cracking Chandler Bing on the wildly popular Friends, which ran for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004.

Friends followed the lives of six New Yorkers navigating adult life, dating and careers. It was a mainstay of NBC’s much-vaunted 1990s and early 2000s television lineup, and drew a massive global following.

During the height of his success, Perry battled for years with addiction to painkillers and alcohol, and attended rehabilitation clinics on multiple occasions.

Perry experienced health problems including a burst colon in 2018 due to his drug usage, which required multiple surgeries and the use of a colostomy bag for months after.

In his memoir ‘Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing,’ published last year, Perry described going through detox dozens of times, and spending millions of dollars in repeated attempts to get sober.

Perry dedicated the book to “all of the sufferers out there,” and wrote in the prologue: “I should be dead.”

He wrote: “People would be surprised to know that I have mostly been sober since 2001. Save for about sixty or seventy little mishaps over the years.”

TMZ, which first reported the news Saturday, said that no drugs were found at the scene. The celebrity news outlet said Perry was found by his assistant, who called 911.

The LA Times and TMZ both said there were no signs of foul play, citing anonymous sources.

Reactions poured in from the Hollywood community on social media as news of Perry’s death spread.

“Oh no!!! Matthew Perry!! You sweet, troubled soul!!” wrote Mira Sorvino, who starred with Perry in the 1994 television movie Parallel Lives.

“May you find peace and happiness in Heaven, making everyone laugh with your singular wit!!!”

Josh Charles, who appeared with Perry on The Good Wife, wrote: “Awful news. RIP brother.”

Warner Bros. TV, which produced Friends, wrote: “We are devastated to learn of Matthew Perry’s passing. He was a true gift to us all.

“Our heart goes out to his family, loved ones and all of his fans.”

‘Friends’

Perry was born in Massachusetts in 1969, and was raised between Montreal and Los Angeles after his parents separated.

His mother was a Canadian journalist who served as press secretary to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. His father was a U.S. actor.

As a young teenager, Perry was a nationally ranked tennis star in Canada before moving permanently to California and pursuing acting.

In the 1980s, Perry had guest roles in popular shows such as Charles in Charge and Growing Pains.

He was the final, and youngest, lead actor to be cast for Friends.

Perry’s character — the group’s most sarcastic and quick-witted, but occasionally awkward and insecure, member — quickly became a fan favorite.

Perry and his co-stars — Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer —negotiated $1 million each, per episode, by the end of their colossally popular and zeitgeist-setting 236-episode run.

In a sign of the show’s enduring appeal, the gang reportedly pocketed $2.5 million each for a reunion episode in 2021.

During that episode, Perry’s slurred speech prompted concern among fans.

Perry also surprised his costars by admitting to having suffered severe anxiety “every night” during the filming the sitcom.

As well as Friends, Perry appeared in movies such as Fools Rush In and The Whole Nine Yards.

He was nominated for five Emmys, including two for guest appearances on The West Wing, but never won the prestigious television award.

Perry never married.

His representatives did not immediately respond to AFP request for comment.

Matthew Perry, the troubled star of the smash hit TV sitcom Friends, was found dead at his home in Los Angeles on Saturday, U.S. media reported. He was 54-years-old.

First responders found Perry unconscious in a hot tub at his house and were unable to revive him, law enforcement sources told the Los Angeles Times.

“We responded at 4:10 pm… It is a death investigation for a male in his 50s,” a Los Angeles Police Department spokesman told AFP, without confirming the deceased’s name.

A fire department spokesman confirmed it had responded to a “water emergency,” which could refer to a “pool, spa, bathtub or fountain,” but could not confirm reports that Perry had drowned.

Perry was best known for his portrayal of the wise-cracking Chandler Bing on the wildly popular Friends, which ran for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004.

Friends followed the lives of six New Yorkers navigating adult life, dating and careers. It was a mainstay of NBC’s much-vaunted 1990s and early 2000s television lineup, and drew a massive global following.

During the height of his success, Perry battled for years with addiction to painkillers and alcohol, and attended rehabilitation clinics on multiple occasions.

Perry experienced health problems including a burst colon in 2018 due to his drug usage, which required multiple surgeries and the use of a colostomy bag for months after.

In his memoir ‘Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing,’ published last year, Perry described going through detox dozens of times, and spending millions of dollars in repeated attempts to get sober.

Perry dedicated the book to “all of the sufferers out there,” and wrote in the prologue: “I should be dead.”

He wrote: “People would be surprised to know that I have mostly been sober since 2001. Save for about sixty or seventy little mishaps over the years.”

TMZ, which first reported the news Saturday, said that no drugs were found at the scene. The celebrity news outlet said Perry was found by his assistant, who called 911.

The LA Times and TMZ both said there were no signs of foul play, citing anonymous sources.

Reactions poured in from the Hollywood community on social media as news of Perry’s death spread.

“Oh no!!! Matthew Perry!! You sweet, troubled soul!!” wrote Mira Sorvino, who starred with Perry in the 1994 television movie Parallel Lives.

“May you find peace and happiness in Heaven, making everyone laugh with your singular wit!!!”

Josh Charles, who appeared with Perry on The Good Wife, wrote: “Awful news. RIP brother.”

Warner Bros. TV, which produced Friends, wrote: “We are devastated to learn of Matthew Perry’s passing. He was a true gift to us all.

“Our heart goes out to his family, loved ones and all of his fans.”

‘Friends’

Perry was born in Massachusetts in 1969, and was raised between Montreal and Los Angeles after his parents separated.

His mother was a Canadian journalist who served as press secretary to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. His father was a U.S. actor.

As a young teenager, Perry was a nationally ranked tennis star in Canada before moving permanently to California and pursuing acting.

In the 1980s, Perry had guest roles in popular shows such as Charles in Charge and Growing Pains.

He was the final, and youngest, lead actor to be cast for Friends.

Perry’s character — the group’s most sarcastic and quick-witted, but occasionally awkward and insecure, member — quickly became a fan favorite.

Perry and his co-stars — Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer —negotiated $1 million each, per episode, by the end of their colossally popular and zeitgeist-setting 236-episode run.

In a sign of the show’s enduring appeal, the gang reportedly pocketed $2.5 million each for a reunion episode in 2021.

During that episode, Perry’s slurred speech prompted concern among fans.

Perry also surprised his costars by admitting to having suffered severe anxiety “every night” during the filming the sitcom.

As well as Friends, Perry appeared in movies such as Fools Rush In and The Whole Nine Yards.

He was nominated for five Emmys, including two for guest appearances on The West Wing, but never won the prestigious television award.

Perry never married.

His representatives did not immediately respond to AFP request for comment.