Matthew Perry died on October 28, 2023, at 54 years old. He was loved by millions of people all over the world. He was found in his hot tub, non-responsive, after he got home from playing pickleball. He was most well-known for being Chandler on Friends. Matthew Perry had a long-time and well-known drug and alcohol addiction, having been hospitalized 15 times overall and spending $9 million dollars on his substance abuse.
Although he had done numerous roles on television in the early 90’s, his career took off in 1994 at the age of 24 when he was the youngest member of the cast of the Friends pilot. Everyone in the cast loved Matthew Perry on Friends very much because they said he was “a kind, loving guy who everyone seemed to get along with.” He also didn’t cause much drama with the cast and crew on Friends so that made everyone love him that much more.
Many people who grew up in the age of Friends had to watch it when it was on actual television (internet being in its infancy) and they would wait just for that moment all week. In an interview, Skyline science teacher Eryn Price, 46, said, “Yes, I did watch the show Friends and you would have to wait until 7 o’clock and there were commercials.” Lots of people were sad and very upset about Matthews’s passing, Price also said, “Yes and no I was sad. It’s sad when somebody passes away. I wasn’t shocked based on his lifestyle choices.” She goes on to comment, “some of Matthew’s life choices weren’t that great. He abused drugs and alcohol for much of his adulthood and he was hospitalized for it. Price’s opinion on Matthew Perry as Chandler on the show was “Chandler is one of the best parts of Friends. His character was funny and kind of showed it is okay to be silly. I don’t know him as a person, but being a star would come with a lot so you would feel like you were always on stage.”
The real question is what do you think Matthew Perry will be remembered for? Eryn Price says, “I think he will be remembered fondly, especially with people who grew up watching Friends and I feel like he has a great impact on the world.” People all around the world, throughout the generations, would agree with this statement.
Matthew Perry was an amazing actor. He was known for being cleverly and physically hilarious on Friends and his many films. He was very comfortable in his own skin, he wasn’t scared to be himself and that’s what made him funny.
