On Oct. 28, TV star Matthew Perry died at the age of 54. Matthew Perry gained star status in 1994 at age 22 for his role as Chandler Bing in the popular sitcom “Friends.”
His death was confirmed by Capt. Scot Williams of the Los Angeles Police Department. Perry’s cause of death will not likely be released until a formal autopsy is performed, according to Williams.
Perry has been extremely open about his struggles with alcohol and drug addiction in the past. He brought his struggles to light in his 2022 memoir, “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing.” Because of this, people are speculating that drug use could have been the cause of his sudden death according to sophomore Lily Liao.
“I am very sad that he died, and that his time was cut so short,” Liao said. “I hope that everyone will honor him for the actor and person he was,”
Perry’s first major job was his film debut in 1988 starring alongside River Phoenix in “A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon.” After remaining a small actor in his late teens and early twenties, finally at age 24 he got casted as Chandler Bing in “Friends.” according to sophomore Francesca Lauterbach.
“I couldn’t imagine anyone else playing Chandler,” Lauterbach said. “He was one of my favorite characters on the show and it would not be complete without him,”
Prior to his death, Perry created the ‘Perry House in Malibu,’ a sober living facility for men like himself who struggled with addiction. He stated in his memoir that he knew that he would be remembered for “Friends,” but he would like to be remembered for his work in the ‘Perry House in Malibu.’
After his role in “Friends,” Perry went on to star in other tv shows such as, “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” and “The Odd Couple.” While having their own successes, none of these television shows gained the same amount of attention as “Friends.”
Perry’s death saddened many friends and colleagues who had worked with him in the past including stars such as Selma Blair and Maggie Wheeler. The “Friends” Facebook Page shared a post with a caption reading: “He was a true gift to us all. Our heart goes out to his family, loved ones, and all of his fans.”
Perry’s sudden death was also acknowledged the night of his death on Saturday Night Live. At the end of the show, a black and white photo tribute was shown to mourn the loss and celebrate the life of Matthew Perry.
“I was devastated after hearing the news that he was gone,” Liao said. “I hope that his legacy and career will live on for generations to come.”
