Friends icon Matthew Perry dies aged 54

Matthew Perry has died at the age of 54, according to multiple reports.

The Friends legend was reportedly found dead in a hot tub at an Los Angeles home by police, with no sign of foul play being involved.

No cause of death has been officially confirmed, with a police investigation still underway.

NBC

The actor shot to fame with his role of Chandler Bing in Friends, starring alongside David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc and Lisa Kudrow as the sitcom skyrocketed to become one of the most watched and beloved TV series of all time.

The series is still incredibly popular today, nearly three decades on from when it first aired. Perry's portrayal of Bing is a big part of that, with his jokes playing a massive part of the show's enduring legacy. You've doubtless heard 'Could it BE any more...' more times than you can remember, and it's a huge credit to Matthew Perry that his acting and comedy was loved by so many.

NBC

Perry reunited with his Friends co-stars in 2021 to film a reunion show, where they opened up on what it was like filming the series and reflected on their experiences on the sitcom.

The actor had also been very open about his struggles with addiction to alcohol and opioids, something he battled with his entire life.

He'd been incredibly candid about the effect addiction had on him as he released his memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir, participating in multiple interviews to bravely discuss the difficulties he experienced.

ABC

In an interview with The LA Times in April of this year, Perry opened up about his legacy and admitted that work is not the main thing he'd like to be known for.

Asked how he'd like to be remembered, he said: “As a guy who lived life, loved well, lived well, and helped people. That running into me was a good thing, and not something bad.”