Matthew Perry, ‘Friends’ star, found dead in hot tub: Reports

WASHINGTON — Actor Matthew Perry, who starred as Chandler Bing on “Friends”, has died at the age of 54, according to multiple media reports. 

TMZ, the L.A. Times and Deadline reported that law enforcement sources said Perry was found dead Saturday afternoon in a hot tub at his Los Angeles-area home. 

Sources told the outlets there was no sign of foul play. A Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE that officers responded to a call Saturday at Perry’s address regarding the death of a man in his 50s. 

TMZ reported Perry’s assistant found the actor unresponsive after returning to the home from running an errand for him. 

L.A. Times and Deadline reported Perry’s death is considered an ongoing investigation. 

His publicists and other representatives did not immediately return messages seeking comment from the Associated Press. 

TMZ, which was first to break the news, said law enforcement sources confirmed there were no drugs found at the scene. Perry opened up about his previous drug use and lifelong struggle with addiction in his memoir titled “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing,” which was published last year. At the time, he estimated he had gone to rehab 15 times, had underwent 14 surgeries to try and fix damage done to his stomach lining due to alcohol and opioid abuse and revealed he nearly died in 2018 after his colon burst. 

Last year, Perry shared while publicizing his memoir that he had been sober for 18 months. 

Perry’s 10 seasons on “Friends” made him one of Hollywood’s most recognizable actors, starring opposite Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer as a friend group in New York.

As Chandler, he played a sarcastic yet insecure and neurotic roommate of Joey and Ross, played by LeBlanc and Schwimmer respectively. By the series’ end, Chandler is married to Cox’s Monica and they have a family, reflecting the journey of the core cast from single New Yorkers to married and starting families.

Perry received one Emmy nomination for his “Friends” role and two more for appearances as an associate White House counsel on “The West Wing.”

Perry also had several notable film roles, starring opposite Salma Hayek in the rom-com “Fools Rush In” and opposite Bruce Willis in the the crime comedy “The Whole Nine Yards.”

Earlier this week, the actor shared a photo of himself lounging in what appears to be an infinity pool with the caption “Oh, so warm water swirling around makes you feel good? I’m Mattman.” 

This is a breaking news story and will be updated. The Associated Press contributed to this report.