The entertainment world and fans of the classic sticom are still reeling from this weekend’s shocking news.
According to TMZ, Perry returned home late Saturday morning after a couple hours of pickleball. He reportedly sent his assistant to run an errand. When the assistant returned about two hours later, he found Perry had drowned in his hot tub and called the authorities.
Subsequent reports revealed authorities found prescription drugs in Perry’s home – treatments for depression, anxiety, and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) – but no illegal substances. CNN reports an autopsy was deemed inconclusive, so medical examiners will now wait a few weeks for results of a toxicology report.
Perry struggled with substance abuse during his life. In recent years, he leaned on pickleball to keep him physically active and distract him from drug abuse. His personal coach, Matt Manasse, told People that Perry played pickleball up to five days a week and encouraged other recovering addicts to pick up the sport.
Matthew Perry famously played Chandler Bing on the entire run on the TV show ‘Friends’ from 1994 to 2004. He published a memoir last year called Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.
