The entertainment world is sadly mourning the tragic loss of Matthew Perry, who passed away over the weekend.
The 54-year-old actor was renowned for his role as Chandler Bing in the hit US sitcom Friends, which aired for a decade from 1994 to 2004.
Perry also starred in a number of projects outside of Friends, including 17 Again, Fools Rush In, and Serving Sara.
(document, ‘script’, ‘exco-player’));
Tragically, on October 28, 2023, Perry was discovered lifeless at his Los Angeles residence, as previously reported. The youngest Friends cast member reportedly drowned after returning home in the morning from a two-hour pickleball session.
Credit / Alex B. Huckle / Getty.
News outlets reported that Perry had asked his assistant to run an errand for him, but upon their return, they found the actor unresponsive and promptly dialed 911. While authorities are conducting further investigations into Perry’s passing, no drugs were discovered at the scene, and foul play has been ruled out.
Perry was known to be an avid tennis player and had a talent for the sport, before becoming a fan of pickleball. Perry’s regular pickleball partner, who played with the actor most days, gave some insight into his last day.
The partner explained that Perry played pickleball every day, sometimes even twice, but that on the day of his death he only played for a hour and was unusually fatigued. Perry’s exhaustion had become increasingly noticeable in the week before his death.
Celebrity pickleball coach Matt Manasse, who previously trained Perry, said that the actor was a dedicated player who was always eager to help others, particularly those grappling with alcohol addiction.
A teenage neighbor who witnessed the aftermath of Perry’s tragic passing also shared what he observed.
The cast of ‘Friends’. Credit / .
The teen neighbor “saw everything”
A teenage neighbor told to The Sun that he and his younger siblings were exposed to distressing sights at the scene of Perry’s death. The 17-year-old and his younger siblings, as well as several neighbors, had a view over the back fences, which allowed them to witness the unfolding events.
The teenager was indoors when the ambulance arrived and initially didn’t think much of it. He was about to head to a friend’s house when the police began arriving, and it all unfolded quietly and without much noise.
He explained the sadness surrounding Perry’s passing, especially given that the actor had struggled with alcohol and drug addiction over the years. The teen remarked that everything he witnessed at the scene was deeply distressing.
Credit / Frederick M. Brown / Getty.
“It was very disturbing (…) I saw everything. I feel bad for my younger siblings. I was very sad. At the same time, I did kind of expect it in some sense, but I didn’t expect it to be so soon. He’d not lived there long,” he said.
The teenager recalled that he had the chance to meet Perry once and found the actor to be friendlier than he first thought. Perry was someone he admired and looked up to, and he said he has been left heartbroken over the death – especially because Perry was his all-time favorite actor.
Now, the teenager hopes that Perry’s friends and family can come together to support each otherduring this challenging period.
Tributes have poured in following Perry’s passing, with those who knew him remembering him as an extraordinary person, a gifted actor, and someone who selflessly helped others in their battles with addiction.
What do you think of this story? Let us know in the comments.
READ MORE
One of the last times Matthew Perry was spotted in public – everyone said the same thing about how he looked
Matthew Perry says ‘Friends’ co-star Jennifer Aniston supported him during addiction struggles