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The world is mourning the death of Friends acting giant Matthew Perry, who passed away at his Los Angeles home at the tragically young age of 54.
One of the most familiar faces on television during the 10 series of Friends died after an apparent drowning, according to the Los Angeles Times and celebrity website TMZ.
In a statement Warner Bros, which made Friends, said: “Matthew was an incredibly gifted actor and an indelible part of the Warner Bros Television Group family.
“The impact of his comedic genius was felt around the world, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of so many.
“This is a heartbreaking day, and we send our love to his family, his loved ones, and all of his devoted fans.”
A Los Angeles police officer told the Associated Press they had been called to the actor’s home address for “a death investigation of a male in his 50s”.
Perry was nominated for an Emmy for his role as Chandler Bing in Friends, which ran from 1994 to 2004.
He joined his co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer for a reunion special hosted by James Corden in 2021.
During his time on the show, he struggled with addiction and anxiety which he described in his memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing which was published in 2022.
“I loved everything about the show but I was struggling with my addictions which only added to my sense of shame,” he wrote. “If I didn’t get the laugh I was supposed to get I would freak out.
“I felt that every single night. This pressure left me in a bad place. I also knew of the six people making that show, only one of them was sick.”
RIP ‘Friends’ star and big tennis fan Matthew Perry 🙏 pic.twitter.com/9kx4GFfLno
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) October 29, 2023
The comedy acting world has lost one of its all-time greats with Perry’s passing, yet tennis will also mourn one its biggest fans.
Perry’s love for tennis began as he was raised in Ottawa, Canada, where he tried his hand at the sport and instantly caught the bug.
He became a top-ranked junior player at the age of 13 and had dreams of turning professional, but he admitted his view of his abilities changes when he moved to Los Angeles in his teenage years.
“Giving up tennis wasn’t really a decision I had to make,” he reflected in an interview in 2012.
“I was a very good tennis player in Ottawa, Canada—nationally ranked when I was, like, 13.
“Then I moved to Los Angeles when I was 15, and everyone in L.A. just killed me. I was pretty great in Canada. Not so much in Los Angeles. It was insane. I realized I wouldn’t be playing tennis for a living, so I went for acting.
“Are tennis and acting alike? I don’t know. They’re both very mental games. They’re both very heavy things to be a part of.
“I’m hoping the competitiveness that I had as a tennis player is gone now as I get older. When I was in my 20s, I wanted to do better than everybody else. Now, I just sort of want everybody to be successful.”
Perry was a regular attendee at some of the biggest tournaments in tennis, including Wimbledon and the US Open.
In recent months, he has become a keen Pickleball player in Los Angeles and reports suggest he had a two-hour session of the sport on Saturday, a few hours before his death.
The acting world has lost one of its giants and tennis has lost a huge fan and a great supporter.
Matthew Perry, Rest in Peace.
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