Matthew Perry has passed away at the age of 54

Devastating news. Matthew Perry has passed away at the age of 54. TMZ broke the news on Saturday, and it appears that it was an accidental drowning in the jacuzzi at his LA-area home. TMZ also reports that Perry had played pickleball for two hours earlier in the day, and his assistant found him.

Perry is best known for his much-loved role as Chandler Bing on Friends, for which he was nominated for multiple Emmys and SAG Awards. Like most brilliant comedic actors, he was an underrated dramatic actor too, and one of my favorite Perry roles was his recurring guest appearance on The West Wing. He also had a decent film career, working with Salma Hayek on Fools Rush In and Bruce Willis in The Whole Nine Yards (another underrated performance). But he was best known for his television work, and of course he was best known for Friends. I’m sure his Friends castmates are devastated – he was reportedly very close to Jennifer Aniston and Matt LeBlanc.

Last year, Perry released his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir. It was about his life, his work and his struggles to get clean and sober. By all accounts, he was clean in recent years, and there’s no indication that his passing is related to anything like that.

I’ve been trying to think of my favorite Perry/Chandler Bing moment, the moment where he just seemed to be in full flight as a comedic actor, and I think it’s this one, where Phoebe is trying to “seduce” Chandler as a way to force him to admit that he’s dating Monica.

Photos credit: Ron Wolfson / Avalon, Andrew Eccles / Avalon, Backgrid and Cover Images

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116 Responses to “Matthew Perry has passed away at the age of 54”

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  1. The Old Chick says:

    Absolutely heartbreaking.. Such a a talented man. Heartbreaking for his loved ones. I literally prayed for him fie his issues,. Those actors were generally lucky. Mp earned being successful

  2. Nubia says:

    This is terribly sad . I hope he found happiness in his later years. I have to say I dont know how close he was to his Friends castmates anymore,their interaction with him at the reunion seemed awkward.

    • Ginger says:

      I agree. I watched the reunion and he seemed disconnected from it all.

      This news is incredibly said. I LOVED Friends and Chandler was the funniest character (to me) This is so devastating. RIP Matthew

      • lily says:

        In the reunion too , its hard to watch because he had hard time talking. For last few months he was really trying to turn around his life. Watching friends wont be same again. Rip.

      • stormyshay says:

        If I remember correctly it was reported later Perry had an emergent dental procedure the same day as the Friends reunion. He did not want to miss it so he came afterwards but was not feeling great and had difficulty talking. I will give him a bit of a pass if that is the case and not judge how close he was to the cast, because he probably was not feeling like himself. I also hope his dentist did not give him pain medication considering his history of opioid addiction. I always liked Perry but it was obvious he had his demons.

  3. Whatnow says:

    My heart is broken.
    Another piece of my youth lost

    I wonder if he fell asleep and drowned.

    Reportedly he played pickleball for 2 hours earlier in the day.

    I myself have dozed in hot bath after long day.

    God Speed Matthew

    • SAS says:

      Dehydration + hot tub is a bad combination, he may have fainted trying to get out or something. What an awful way to go. Very sad that he was so young.

    • Kate says:

      The People mag article says paramedics being called for cardiac arrest – not sure if that means cardiac arrest from drowning or they think cardiac arrest that led to drowning. Like some others have mentioned, I also was not terribly surprised by this news, even if drugs were not directly involved in his death, who knows what shape his body was in after all those years of addiction. Either way, very sad to hear of his passing.

    • Anon says:

      My mom is always adamant about people not swimming on their own, and really doesn’t like people in the hot tub or bath by themselves with no one home either. Especially if it’s late or after exercise. It always annoyed me, especially as I’ve lived alone at times (as do so many other people) and love to take baths and swim for exercise. (Was never quite as big a fan of the hot tub.) The older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve realized she’s right, it’s just a really bad idea, like going back country skiing by yourself. It’s basic safety, even though it sounds crazy-especially for me who is a lifelong long-distance and super-competent swimmer-I’d never do that alone, but laps in a pool seemed safe. But she always reminds me that that doesn’t mean you can’t have a medical incident or injury and get into trouble or just get tired and fall asleep and it only takes seconds to drown. She was exposed to the insurance business a lot and also had some people she knew who accidentally drowned. So I’ve always followed her guidance on this, despite my annoyance, and it’s times like these that make me realize she is right. Not that a friend or family member being there and leaving to use the bathroom for a minute wouldn’t have prevented this-but maybe if they were there he could’ve been saved. (LOL my mom always makes people get out of the pool if no one else is there and someone goes inside-it’s always the buddy system and it’s such a safety rule that we now all just do it by habit.) Obviously, we all take baths in privacy, but are super careful about it and check on each other with a knock periodically and the rule is the bathroom door is never locked. “Safety first” is really such a good m.o. with these types of everyday things that we forget can be life and death. Be so careful everyone!

      As for Matthew Perry, I’m not going to speculate on things, I’m going to honor his wishes that I read somewhere he had in his book, which was to be remembered for his other works first besides Friends. With that said, we’re close in age and I was very close to the competitive tennis scene at that time. For him to reach the level he did means he was incredibly talented, hard-working and dedicated, which is impressive, especially at a young age. I knew many kids that-even with endless money behind them-could not get there, it was highly competitive. Maybe that’s also part of why he was successful in Hollywood. I’ve also read that he gave a ton of money and support to people in recovery, and was quiet about a lot of it-he certainly didn’t have to be charitable, but obviously was, which I’m sure made a huge positive impact in people’s lives, as did sharing his story. R.I.P. and peace to his loved ones.

      • Lisa says:

        If you have health issues or I can’t remember which – high or low blood pressure you are not supposed to be in those things alone

    • The Old Chick says:

      There are physiological responses that kick in when we fall asleep in water. It’s actually not easy to just fall asleep and drown unless there are sedatives involved. But he had a heart attack. We don’t know why. But decades of drug abuse is likely a major part.

  4. seaflower says:

    So sad, and he’d turned his life around in recent years. His efforts to support others like him with the refuge he’d created in LA was so commendable. RIP to my favourite Friend.

  5. s808 says:

    I’m really sad about this. Friends was my favorite show growing up and Fools Rush In is one of my all-time favorite rom-coms. I’m glad he got to tell his story before he departed. I hope his friends and family find peace.

    • ShazBot says:

      Fools Rush In is a great rom-com. This is so sad, and I feel like for Gen X/Millennials it’s sort of a gut punch because of the nostalgia factor

    • MaryContrary says:

      I love Fools Rush In-if I flip by it, I will always watch it. So, so sad.

    • Lorelei says:

      Keith Morrison from Dateline is his stepfather and IIRC, they have a very close relationship. IDK why but that was one of the first things I thought of when I first read that Matthew died.

      At least he is finally at peace.

  6. I loved him on friends with his snarcastic character Chandler Bing. Could he be any funnier!! I know he had problems with addiction of painkillers in the past but he seemed to have worked through that and moved forward and found some peace. RIP Matthew🙏🏽.

  7. Bettyrose says:

    That scene with Phoebe really is a great clip. Mathew is doing a lot of things there. He was a great comedic actor. I wish I remembered his West Wing work better.

    I was really shocked by this one. It seemed like he was entering a new phase with his memoir and embracing his struggles to move past them. RIP Mathew.

    • Becks1 says:

      He actually won an Emmy for his west wing work, I think. He was only in three episodes as associate White House counsel.

    • Kittenmom says:

      This was my all time favorite Chandler moment. So sad for him to pass at such a young age.

      • Lorelei says:

        One of my favorite scenes ever on that show was the “PIVOT!!” when they were moving furniture up a staircase. Someone on Twitter posted it with a bloopers reel last night and it’s still so funny, never gets old. 💔

  8. Lili says:

    Oh my this is really sad news, Rest in peace Matt!. For me he was always the most successful, I loved to watch him in anything he did outside of friends , Studio Sixty is one of my favourite shows. Rest in peace man no more demons chasing you.

  9. Amy Bee says:

    Terrible news and so young.

  10. Carrie says:

    Very sad. Watching Friends will now be very bitter sweet. RIP Matthew Perry. You were a joy to watch.

  11. Barbara says:

    When I read this last night I was completely gutted. It felt strange because obviously I never met him but somehow between watching his dad, stepdad and then himself, it felt like he was always just *there.*

  12. Dragonlady Sakura says:

    I literally gasped I was so shocked! I’m really saddened for his family and friends and fans.

    • smcollins says:

      Same. I immediately started googling for multiple news reports to make sure it wasn’t some sick hoax. So shocking & sad.

      RIP Matthew 😔

  13. Mia4s says:

    “By all accounts, he was clean in recent years, and there’s no indication that his passing is related to anything like that.”

    Unfortunately even if he has been clean for several years, the level of addiction he was at for a long time and the reported health issues it caused makes his passing less shocking than I wish it was. (I’m not saying for sure, but it won’t surprise me). It’s another level of tragedy that he didn’t get more time.

    Wishing his family comfort and my he rest in peace..

    • Eleonor says:

      Same here.
      Addiction takes a tool on the body.
      May he rip.

    • Nubia says:

      Yeah ofcourse right now all we can do is speculate but i think his addiction took a huge long term toll on his body. I was reading a thread where it was mentioned during the height of his addiction he was consuming 56 vicodins a day.

    • Snuffles says:

      This. It’s incredibly sad but not surprising. The decades of drug abuse clearly took its toll.

    • Brassy Rebel says:

      Whitney Houston was the first person to come to mind when I heard this. I hope this is not the same, but addiction is a disease. And it’s life long. Eternal vigilance is required. I did notice that in some interviews, he spoke about his addictions as if they were definitely all behind him. This is tragic in any case.

      • Feebee says:

        I had forgotten about how Whitney went but I remember George Michael and that’s why I suspect even though Perry was by all accounts clean and sober, the toll heavy addiction has on the heart especially is rough. And a pool is a terrible place to have a heart attack, if that’s what happened.

        A talented comedic actor but also had some great turns in dramatic roles. To be gone in his fifties is a waste. RIP.

    • Lucy says:

      The body really does break down after too much. A friends husband died when he was getting sober from alcohol. He’d been a drug addict before and was clean, and was trying to get sober the detox made him have a seizure. It was partially from the alcohol, but more from the damage of years of drugs. May his memory be a blessing

    • Gaaah says:

      Yup. It affects your body. Look at George Michael. He died of a heart attack in his sleep after years of drug use.

      • FancyPants says:

        And Carrie Fisher.

      • aftershocks says:

        Even without heart problems, it is advised to not stay in a hot tub/ jacuzzi for more than 15 minutes. It is not good for the heart. Even over-staying in a hot bath is not good. Many years ago, I stayed in a hot bath for a long time. I did get out safely. But I fainted soon afterward. Fortunately, someone was there to help me when it happened. I have also experienced dozing off in a bathtub a few times, but I jerked awake as soon as water trickled into my nose and mouth.

        Although I was never someone who watched Friends religiously, or at all, I couldn’t help hearing about the iconic tv series, and seeing so many clips over the years. This is sad news. My condolences to Matthew Perry’s family and friends. May he rest in peace. 🙌

        Those who pass away may be in a better place, and as hard as it is to accept, they have completed what they were here to do. It is those of us remaining behind who suffer from grief, and the ongoing travails of this worldly realm.

  14. butterflystella says:

    I am so sad about this. Like many, I loved Friends and quote the show. Thoughts go out to his loved ones…

  15. Becks1 says:

    So incredibly sad. This hit hard.

    My favorite Chandler scene is actually in The One with the Two Parties, where he’s comforting Rachel as she navigates having divorced parents. Also with Rachel, the One with all the cheesecake.

    I feel he and Aniston played off each other very well in a very underrated way.

    • Lorelei says:

      @Becks, that’s such a great episode. I want to rewatch some of them but IDK if I can yet; it’s still too sad.

  16. lily says:

    Such a horrible news waking up to. I never personally being affected by stars passing but friends is iconic shows and everyday i watch them to comfort. He is very young and addiction is very hard to overcome. I hope he finally rest in peace.

  17. Bettyrose says:

    “I’m not good with advice. Can I interest you in a sarcastic remark?” – I’ve borrowed this so many times. ❤️

  18. Mireille says:

    My sympathies and prayers go out to Matthew’s family and friends. He and his father once starred together on an episode of Scrubs, which I loved. I’m still in shock to hear about this. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

  19. Jugebair says:

    Miss Chanandler Bong will always make me laugh out loud.

    • BQM says:

      The One With the Contest is such a perfect episode.

      I can never think of Michael Flateley without remembering chandler’s fear of him. ‘His legs flail about as if independent from his body!’

  20. Boxy Lady says:

    I can just imagine him saying,” I went through all of this just to die in a freakin’ hot tub! COME ON!”

    Seriously though, it seemed that peace was hard for him to find in life and I hope he’ll find it now. If you all have never seen his show Go On, I would highly recommend it. I watched it when was originally airing and I loved it. I was bummed that it only lasted one season. Matthew played a man in a grief group. Tyler James Williams was also a regular on the show.

    • Cara Egan says:

      I agree! I really enjoyed that show. At the time I was grieving myself, and the show where they tried to figure out whose loss was the “greatest” made me laugh out loud during a difficult time.

    • Lorelei says:

      @BoxyLady, your first sentence is the first thing that has made me smile since I learned about his passing last night. Thank you 💔

      • Michyk says:

        @ boxylady, I absolutely loved that show. I was also grieving at the time it aired, and it felt like such a true examination of grief. The episode about the forgotten Apple ID wa so great. Plus a little John Cho never hurts anything

  21. Ade says:

    I was gutted when I heard and hoped you will post. Poor Matthew. I pray his loved ones find peace and remember him well.
    It must be so devastating to lose a child as his parents have.

  22. Riah says:

    Playing pickle ball then getting into a hot tub may have contributed. If he was dehydrated then got in the hot water, it could have put stress on his heart.

  23. Sass says:

    When I got the news last night I pulled my husband into another room away from the kids to tell him. He grew up watching Friends; I wasn’t allowed to watch it so aside from an episode here or there I didn’t watch the series until it ran on Netflix years back. I had however seen Perry in several movies including Fools Rush In and The Whole Nine Yards, which I would binge; I just loved his comedic skills.

    Feeling melancholy about his passing and wishing he’d had more time. Out of all of them, he was the most talented.

    • Fabiola says:

      I got my husband to watch friends since he never did growing up and now we watch it every night on nick at night. I love chandler. He brought such great lines. So talented. Such a loss.

  24. maisie says:

    Unfortunately, the sad reality is that an adult found drowned in a bathtub/hot tub/jacuzzi, etc is almost always drug or alcohol related. Seen it way too many times.

  25. Lizzie says:

    I’m also heartbroken. The funniest Chandler scene from Friends I always think of first was when he was stuck in the bank vestibule with Jill Goodacre. RIP 🙏🙏🙏.

    • Shirley says:

      Yes, I forgot about that episode!
      I read his book and he appeared to be on the right track with his sobriety.
      He seemed to be very honest with his story in hopes of helping others with their own struggles. I am a huge Friends fan and I wish his family and friends peace and healing at this difficult time.

  26. Whyforthelove says:

    This does hit hard. He was such a talented man with so many struggles. My condolences to his family and friends. Friends will not be the same to watch for sure.

  27. bettyrose says:

    OMG Daily Beast has a story about how Matthew and Justin Trudeau would rough house as kids.

  28. Myeh says:

    Oh man I actually liked him and was rooting for him to keep succeeding with his sobriety. As a 90s bish I was forever holding out for a fools rush in part deux. My nieces binge Friends having recently discovered it and in spite of their glaring lack of poc in the cast , I always thought of his and Lisa kudrow’s characters as the only two non a-holes.

  29. LaUnicaAngelina says:

    The first time I became aware of him was during syndicated runs of Growing Pains when he played Carol’s boyfriend Sandy. She finally had a fun, sweet relationship and he died from injuries sustained from a car accident he caused while driving drunk. That story always stood out to me because Carol’s character rarely had good things happen, and when it finally happens, they rip it away. He was so cute and charming on that show. Loved him in Fools Rush In and Whole Nine Yards.

    RIP Matthew.

    • Lorelei says:

      OMG I’d forgotten he played Sandy!! I remember those episodes, but for some reason totally blanked that Sandy was MP.

      I remember him guest-starting on Beverly Hills, 90210 a million years ago…I *think* he was a tennis-playing friend of Steve Sanders? Not sure but I definitely remember him being on there for at least one episode.

      • cf86713 says:

        @Lorelei he was and his character wanted to kill his father and Brandon talked him out of it.

  30. Michele says:

    I keep thinking/hoping this is not true. This one hurts.

    • Lorelei says:

      This one really does hurt. It felt like such a gut punch last night. And to come at a time when everyone is already *so* overwhelmingly upset about events currently taking place in the world…his death felt like the cherry on top of the sh!t sundae.

  31. AnneL says:

    This one hurts. I went to bed sad and woke up sad. So many people are mourning and paying tribute to him right now. I think people just felt like they knew him.

    Chandler was my favorite character on “Friends” and the most fully formed one IMO, at least by the end of the show’s run. His snark and sarcasm could have made him unapproachable or two-dimensional, but instead he was able to convey the character’s layers, his vulnerability and loyalty and relatable angst. He just had such amazing comic timing but was more than a comedian. He was a really good all-around actor.

    I watched a couple of interviews of him from the past few years and it was clear his struggles with drugs and alcohol had taken a physical toll him. He looked and spoke like an older man than he was, IMO. I assume he had some kind of heart incident or maybe slipped and fell in the hot tub? Very sad. I hope he didn’t suffer because he’s already suffered so much. Addiction is brutal.

    I’m very glad that he had published his memoir and was able to get his story and message out there before he passed. It’s clear that was important to him, that people knew he had tried to help other addicts as much as he could.

    • Lorelei says:

      @Annel, ITA with everything in your comment, it was so well-said. I’m also glad he’d written his memoir— and he narrated it himself, so at least we still have that.

    • sunny says:

      This is a beautiful comment. Thank you for sharing it.

      I really hope all his loved ones can grieve and find peace. i remember his recent comments that after his colon incident that he said he thought his loved one wouldn’t be shocked if he died.

      Addiction is so awful.

  32. Kirsten says:

    This is so very sad. Rest in peace, Matthew.

  33. Ladiabla says:

    Terribly sad news. His poor body had been through so much, even though he may have finally stopped the drinking and pills and was in a good place. This hurts. He definitely made his mark in life. I will always remember laughing with my mom watching Friends every Thursday in the 90s. That and Fools Rush In. I pray for his family and loved ones 🙏🏼

  34. Flamingo says:

    I remember coming home from a long day at work and taking a hot bath. The next thing I knew I was nose deep in water and sputtering for air. I had fallen asleep. It had scared me so much that was the last time I ever took a hot bath tired.

    Rest now, Matthew.

  35. lucy2 says:

    I’m so very sad about this. He went through a long time of struggles, I was hoping he’d come out the other side of that and live a long and happier life.
    Despite all of the valid criticisms of the show, Friends is one always close to my heart. It started airing when I went off to college and then out into the world, and like I lot of people, I longed to have that close circle that becomes your family, and it always made me laugh – Matthew in particular.
    Go On was another show of his I really enjoyed.
    I’m quite sad, and hoping he has found peace. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones.

  36. Murphy says:

    He was exhausted. Rest in Peace.

  37. 809Matriarch says:

    My favorite Chandler episode was season 5 episode 11. The one with all the resolutions. His resolution was not making g fun of his friends. He killed it being unable to drag Ross for wearing leather pants.

    • Fabiola says:

      The leather pants episode is my favorite

    • AnneL says:

      I had forgotten about that one! Damn, I am sitting here right now wishing I could have been there to make fun of Ross’s leather pants. Never change, Chandler Bing. Make fun of your friends when the moment calls for it. Nobody puts Chandler in the corner!

  38. Aubrey says:

    That’s what celebotchy gets for being so mean.

  39. MyCatLovesTV says:

    I loved the episode of Scrubs where Matthew Perry and his real father played a father & son. “Murray!”

  40. Ariel says:

    He was so great in Fools Rush in and in The Whole Nine Yards- great comedies, great casts, great writing, great performances.

    It’s funny, his friends character- no reflection on him- has aged so poorly.

    But what I’ve been reading on social media is what I assume is a bit from his book- where he talks about helping other addicts. That he knows how to do that, he does it in groups, one on one, and he funded/opened a sober living facility. And that is the work he wants to be remembered for.

    And when we remember his work in helping other addicts – we honor him.

    • BQM says:

      And now he and Bruce Willis have both been struck down by either death or tragic illness.

      TW9Y was why Bruce did his guest arc on friends which he won an Emmy for.

  41. tamsin says:

    Very shocked when I saw the news. I didn’t like any of the characters on Friends, but I thought he was the best actor of them all. I enjoyed his work and perhaps his addiction prevented him from having a more stellar career after the sit-com. Very sad.

  42. QuiteContrary says:

    He was really proud of his work on behalf of other people struggling with addiction and wanted to be remembered for that. I hope he gets that wish.

    But Chandler was such an iconic character— my favorite by far on Friends.

  43. what's inside says:

    He was super talented and incredibly funny as an actor in the movies I saw him in. He really had a roller-coaster life and his passing was a shock. Peace to you, Matthew.

  44. Lilpeppa40 says:

    This hits so hard. I loved friends, still do. I read his memoir earlier this year and he was so candid and open about his desire to be a father that it was the first thing I thought of when I heard the news and it just made it even sadder to me. I’m so sorry this is how it ended for Matthew. My heart goes out to his family and friends. If I feel so deeply as a stranger, I can’t imagine how they feel.

  45. FYI says:

    Listen to how great his voice is. Seriously, the man could hit a note.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohf1ZlVo3dU

  46. Serena says:

    I couldn’t believe it was real when I first read this. I’m honestly devasted.

  47. Flamingo says:

    Just a wild thought based on no facts. But he had just moved into that home. I wonder if there was anything faulty with the hot tub. And something electrical happened leading to his demise. With just the awful timing of his assistant not being there when he passed.

    TMZ is reporting no illegal drugs were found except for prescription medication.

    • AnneL says:

      Whatever it was, I just hope he didn’t suffer. I am a little wary of hot tubs myself, but then I am wary of a lot of things because my husband is a lawyer who has handled PI cases. His very first case involved a slip-and-fall at a hot tub. Not fatal, thankfully.

      Given the state his body was in after years of battling addiction, I would think it was something to do with his heart. But there is no point in speculating right now. I just want to remember him the way he wanted to be remembered.

  48. mellie says:

    My favorite Friend 🙁
    I think one of my favorite episodes is the one where he’s trying to break up with Janice and Phoebe breaks up with her boyfriend at the same time at the coffee shop. So funny. So many good memories of him in movies and on TV. He was so talented.

  49. Allison says:

    Is no one going to bring up how he kept inferring that Keanu Reeves should have died instead of other actors? I thought he had some heinous quotes in his recent memoir about that.. Or am I thinking of the wrong guy?

    • Flamingo says:

      My lord @Allison he’s dead and you still want to bash him? He addressed it publicly and apologized for it. He said he just chose a random name and should have inserted his own name. He also said it would be taken out of future printings. I get some people can’t distinguish between literal and sarcasm. But he didn’t literally wish Keanu dead.

      But go ahead and grind that axe I guess.

    • Christine says:

      Allison, who I have never seen here before….yes, everyone who is regularly on CB remembers what Matthew Perry said about Keanu Reeves.

      Matthew Perry is dead, and I am certain Keanu Reeves wants the people who are grieving to grieve, however that plays out for them. He is not a gigantic dick.

      Seriously, you showed up here to throw shit at Matthew Perry, on Keanu’s behalf?? Do you have a day job, this is disgusting. This is the anti-Keanu.

      • Allison says:

        I like Keanu as an actor, but I’m not a massive fan of anything – what Matthew said was just such a bizarre and fucked up thing to say about anybody that it stuck with me, and I find this story ironic. (so being “anti-keanu” is a non issue for me). Also yes I do have a day job (hence why I don’t comment on every story on here) but I’ve been reading/commenting here since 2009.

    • Alexandria says:

      We can bring it up sure and we did not forget. But we can remember his good work without making him a saint or mentioning it at this timing. We are capable of this.

    • Jenn says:

      @Allison: I feel like it’s been resolved? It was a brief fad to joke about Keanu’s wooden acting in the mid-to-late ’90s, so when that very dated wisecrack appeared in Perry’s memoir, it made me sad because it seems like that’s how much of Perry’s own life he missed. Matthew Perry apologized for the joke, which obviously wasn’t intended as malicious — just a snarky, tired aside, a random name out of a hat — and I’m sure he was genuinely surprised to learn that the public is so protective of Keanu Reeves. Just a bad choice that an editor probably should’ve axed, that’s all.

      • Maisie says:

        I loved Matthew Perry; I thought he was one of the great undersung comic actors in TV history. I also think on some level he was a bro, and thought cracks about other actors made him seem tough. But there was definitely an undercurrent of jealousy in the Keanu crack. It was also disingenuous of Perry (and his editors) to pretend that they weren’t aware of the level of affection the public has for Reeves (all of which he’s earned, BTW, through many acts of kindness to the public) and how the insult might blow up in their faces. They weren’t aware that the John Wick series was wildly successful?

        No matter. The poor man is dead now, joining Phoenix and Ledger and Philip Seymour Hoffman on the list of gifted actors who were taken down by addiction. It’s a terrible tragedy, one which keeps repeating itself, unfortunately.

    • Haylie says:

      Allison, you’re not wrong, despite the many excuses Friends fans are providing for a truly macabre repeated passage in Matthew’s memoir – he totally meant it, but the blowback was swift so the publishers/PR team had to do damage control. You’re just running up against the “Sainted in Death” stage of people’s grief.

      • lisa says:

        people act like it was a slip of the tongue when It got past the ghost writer, editor, then said it out loud how many times when recording the ebook. that was months if not more.

      • Turtledove says:

        I watched Friends and considered myself a fan of the show. It wasn’t until long after that I heard about Perry’s addiction issues. And then his book came out and I found that dig about Keanu to be heinous. And it wasn’t that long ago, so to be completely honest, that line was on my mind when news of Perry’s death broke.

        He was talented. And he died way too young. I also think it’s sad that the content of his book, which was humble/honest and the work he did with addicts got overshadowed by that line about Keanu. I assume the editors left it in knowing that it might cause controversy and build free publicity.

        I am sad for his loved ones and fans that are grieving his tragically young death. And he struggled but overcame a lot. And did some really good work, as an actor and as a addiction advocate. But it is also true that he said a really shitty thing about a very beloved man that didn’t deserve it. I don’t think it’s wrong to say that on a gossip site. But it’s worth noting that everyone makes mistakes and he was not a monster. And far more people are speaking on his good than bad here.

    • Maria says:

      Wow.
      All you had to do was google to know not to go for his throat.

      After the book came out he realized he was wrong to say that. He made a public apology to Keanu and had the line taken out immediately so no additional hard or digital copies of the book would include it.

      Why do people always have to look for the negative? Cause they’ve never had a slip of the tongue? Please.

  50. Oswin says:

    I genuinely feel so sad over this. The poor man had so many demons, but was still so sweet to so many.

  51. JRenee says:

    Just very sad, May he RIP

  52. Agreatreckoning says:

    I wasn’t a big watcher of Friends. That clip shared was funny. Yep to Fools Rush In and The Whole Nine Yards. Actually think he was best in A Whole Nine Yards, Studio 60 and the Good Wife. Sympathies to his loved ones.

  53. Mango says:

    I’m going to miss you, Matty. Rest in peace 🤍

  54. Alexandria says:

    RIP Matthew. A flawed man, as we all are, but he made me laugh. My favorite sitcom character after Fran. I loved all his scenes even when Chandler was being serious. Thank you.

  55. Marion says:

    So sad. Though his charcater was really fun, my favourite “Friends ” clips of him is in the last season when C&M try to adopt. And the best scene for me is when Chandler is talking to Anna Faris’ character trying to convince her to “give” them the kid she’s expecting. I really love that scene

  56. Lala11_7 says:

    I adore ❤️ him…he’s my FAVORITE “Friend”…and a favorite actor of mines…he’s made me happy…FOR DECADES…❣️❣️❣️😪💔😪

  57. Kersplasha says:

    I’m devastated by this. I’ve cried several times already. It feels like Robin Williams all over again. Rest easy buddy.

  58. LocaLady says:

    💗