On Oct. 28, Matthew Langford Perry was found dead in his home hot tub at the age of 54. His recent death is a shock to many. The actor was most well-known for his character Chandler Bing on the American sitcom “Friends”.
His character was famous for his remarkable jokes and quick wit. The show aired for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004, allowing the cast to develop strong friendships while working alongside one another for so long. “Friends” also won the Best Comedy Series Emmy Award in 2002.
Born Aug. 19, 1969 in Williamstown, Massachusetts, Perry is not only known for his acting but also his resilience in his battle against drug and alcohol addiction. He is still dearly loved by his family and friends, as well as adored by his fans. Those who were close to Perry called him Matty.
The complete story of Perry’s death has not yet been released.
The Los Angeles Fire Department received a 911 call on the Saturday of Perry´s death at 4:07 p.m. The call was for a water rescue emergency, and when the fire department got to the home, Perry was unconscious in his jacuzzi. He had just posted a few days before on his Instagram while sitting in the spa.
According to their records, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office will be taking additional investigative measures to identify the exact cause of Perry´s death. Furthermore, the case is labeled as “deferred,” which means that his autopsy didn’t show the reason for his death. The office assumes that no criminality is involved though. It may take many more weeks to understand what happened to Perry because examiners are waiting for his toxicology report to see if other substances played a role in his passing.
Perry published his memoir “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir” in November 2022. In the book, he shares the hardships of dealing with addictions and pushing forward on the road to recovery. Perry also let readers know that he almost died at 49 because his colon had burst from opioid use. This health issue kept him in a coma for two weeks and in the hospital for five months.
In the past, Perry made comments about how he truly poured his heart out in his memoir. The book released personal and scary details of the challenges he had been facing. His most meaningful goal was to help others and inspire people to keep enduring their obstacles. While appearing on the ¨Q With Tom Power¨ podcast last year, he stated that he wanted to be thought of “as somebody who lived well, loved well, was a seeker.”
His fellow cast members on “Friends” were Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer. They haven’t released individual statements yet in order to take their time mourning the loss of Perry, although they did release an official statement to People magazine on Oct. 30.
“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family,” the statement said. “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.”
David Crane and Marta Kauffman, creators of “Friends,” and Kevin Bright, the show’s director, released a joint statement on Oct. 29. “We are shocked and deeply, deeply saddened by our beloved friend Matthew’s passing,” the three wrote. “It still seems impossible. All we can say is that we feel blessed to have had him as part of our lives.”
“From the day we first heard him embody the role of Chandler Bing, there was no one else for us,” the statement continued. “We will always cherish the joy, the light, the blinding intelligence he brought to every moment — not just to his work, but in life as well. He was always the funniest person in the room. More than that, he was the sweetest, with a giving and selfless heart.”
Rosie Frankel, a freshman at Sage Creek High School, has seen most of the “Friends” episodes. “I enjoy the closeness of the friend group,” she said while recalling the show.
When watching the series, it’s evident that the six main characters had deep relationships with each other beyond the show. Perry included points in his memoir on how the cast was actively there for him when he was struggling.
Frankel said, “I feel like Matthew Perry’s death must have been a very sad way to die, and I hope he rests in peace.”
Margaret Mandal, SCHS’s English 1 Honors and AP Literature teacher, also found enjoyment in watching the “Friends” series. She said, “I appreciated the changing dynamics between the main characters and just generally witnessing young adulthood unfolding.” Mandal has seen all of the show’s episodes.
“I was sad but honestly not surprised,” Mandal said when speaking on Perry’s death. “I don’t follow celebrities all that much, but I did know that he didn’t have the easiest life.”
“It’s interesting how when certain actors are so associated with a character they played, their death seems like the death of that character,” Mandal said. “From what I’ve seen online, people seem to be mourning Chandler Bing, as much as Matthew Perry. I think this speaks to the power fictional characters and narratives can have on our lives.”
Shows become well-known when audiences can relate to them and emotionally tie themselves to the characters. Many found “Friends” as a form of entertainment that brought them comedy combined with serious moments and challenging life events that could be endured with the help of friendships. Perry’s death is not only bringing nostalgia on his life, but also on Chandler Bing’s life; in the way that people are connecting the character to the real person.
Other people have different relations to the life Perry lived. Roger Kapner, another freshman student, connected to Perry through hockey.
“Matthew Perry was a fan of the LA Kings and I met him at a game at Crypto Center or Staples Center,” Kapner said. “I was pretty devastated when he died because he’s a pretty famous guy and he signed my shirt.”
It’s clear that people around the world are saddened by Perry’s death, many especially feel empathy towards his closest family and friends. SCHS students can remember Perry for his amazing courage to speak about hard topics and bring happiness to “Friends” viewers through comedic relief. Perry will continue to live on in the memory of his success and his role as Chandler Bing.
