Matthew Perry cause of death update as ‘meth or fentanyl overdose ruled out’ – latest
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There was “no meth or fentanyl” in Matthew Perry’s system at the time of his death, initial toxicology tests have reportedly found.
On Wednesday (1 November), entertainment website TMZ reported investigators have “ruled out” the possibility that Perry died from a meth or fentanyl overdose. However, law enforcement officials said further tests are being conducted after the results of his initial post-mortem report were “inconclusive”.
The Friends star, who shot to international fame for his portrayal of the affable and sarcastic jokester Chandler Bing, died on 28 October in an apparent drowning in his hot tub. He was 54.
In an interview with TODAY show host Hoda Kotb, Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman said Perry’s death “seems so unfair” because the actor “was in a really good place” when they last spoke.
Kauffman and Crane’s interview with Kotb aired in full on Wednesday (1 November), just days after Perry’s Friends co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer said they were “utterly devastated” by his death in a joint statement.
Key points
Matthew Perry 911 call audio released as cause of death probed
Friends lead stars share joint statement on Matthew Perry’s death: ‘We are all so utterly devastated’
Remembering Matthew Perry’s iconic final line in Friends
Maggie Wheeler, who played Janice in ‘Friends', mourns Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry opened up about his struggles while filming 'Friends’
Matthew Perry, the comic genius who wore his big, bruised heart on his sleeve
Matthew Perry spent more than $9m trying to get sober
23:14 , Tom Murray
In his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, Perry detailed his battle with addiction to alcohol and painkillers.
Over the course of his three-decades-long journey towards sobriety, he wrote that he spent over $7m (£5.7m) on 15 rehab stints.
Speaking to The New York Times a few weeks before his book’s release, he disclosed that the figure was actually more like “$9m [£7.4m] or something trying to get sober”.
Read more:
Matthew Perry spent more than $9m trying to get sober
Where to read Matthew Perry’s memoir
22:15 , Tom Murray
Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, which was published almost exactly a year ago, documents Perry’s rise to fame, his past relationships and his subsequent struggles with addiction.
The memoir has shot up both Amazon’s and Apple Books’ top charts, with Friends co-star Paget Brewster, who played Chandler’s love interest Kathy, urging fans on X to “please read his book. It was his legacy to help”.
Find out where to read it here:
Where to read Matthew Perry’s memoir, as it rises to No. 1
Watch Matthew Perry's most iconic Friends scenes
19:30 , Tom Murray
‘No meth or fentanyl found’ in Matthew Perry’s system
18:30 , Tom Murray
Early toxicology tests have reportedly revealed Matthew Perry did not have meth or fentanyl in his system at the time of his death, as the investigation into the Friends star’s cause of death continues.
However, a conclusive update is not expected for “four to six months” with further tests currently underway, American entertainment tabloid TMZ reported, citing law enforcement sources, on Wednesday (1 November).
Read more:
Matthew Perry: ‘No meth or fentanyl found’ in Friends actor’s system
Perry died from an apparent drowning at his home on 28 October
Friends director reveals how cast are coping with Perry’s death
17:29 , Tom Murray
Friends director James Burrows has shared some insight into how the rest of the main cast members are dealing Perry’s sudden death.
Burrows, 82, who directed 15 episodes of Friends during its 10-season run, appeared on the Today show on Thursday to discuss the actor’s passing.
“I had to have a couple of days to just let it soak in,” Burrows said on the US morning show. “He was part of a family and he was the first one to not be part of that family anymore.”
Burrows said that upon hearing the news, he texted three of the lead cast members – Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow.
“I had texted the girls the day we found out,” Burrows said. “They were destroyed. It’s a brother dying.”
Read more:
Friends director says lead cast have been ‘destroyed’ by Matthew Perry death
John Stamos recalls Matthew Perry’s act of kindness during his Friends cameo
16:30 , Inga Parkel
A few days after Perry’s sudden death, Stamos, 60, honoured the Friends star in an Instagram post. “Matthew and I had been friendly long before Friends, so when I guest starred as Zach, the prospective sperm donor for Chandler [Perry] and Monica [Courteney Cox], I hung with him a lot,” the Full House star wrote.
Alongside a clip of a scene from the show’s episode titled “The One with the Donor”, in which Monica and Chandler grill Zach about his family’s health history, Stamos recounted Perry’s unforgettable act of kindness.
Read more:
John Stamos recalls Matthew Perry’s act of kindness during his Friends cameo
Stamos appeared as a guest star on season nine of the hit NBC sitcom
Friends creator says she was ‘concerned’ about Matthew Perry during 2021 reunion
15:30 , Inga Parkel
Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman has admitted that she was “concerned” about Matthew Perry during the show’s 2021 reunion special.
Nearly two decades after the hit NBC sitcom came to an end in 2004, the six leads – Perry, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow and Matt LeBlanc – returned to the show’s original soundstage for Friends: The Reunion.
Before that point, Perry – who died on Saturday, 28 October, aged 54 – hadn’t appeared on-screen since his four-episode feature on the 2017 drama mini-series The Kennedy’s After Camelot.
Speaking to TODAY show’s Hoda Kotb during a recent interview – which aired on NBC on Wednesday (1 November) – Kauffman said she was “concerned” about what point in Perry’s sobriety cycle he was in during the reunion.
Read more:
Friends creator says she was ‘concerned’ about Matthew Perry during 2021 reunion
Perry was found dead in his Los Angeles home aged 54
Opening line of Matthew Perry’s memoir has a heartbreaking new meaning
14:30 , Inga Parkel
The opening line of Matthew Perry’s 2022 memoir Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing has taken on a heartbreaking new light in the wake of the Friends star’s death.
Tributes poured in from across the world in the wake of the tragic news, with many hailing Perry’s performance as the sarcastic but loveable Chandler as one of the best parts of the hugely popular sitcom.
However, while Friends was undoubtedly Perry’s biggest success as an actor, the star himself said he would rather be remembered for his ability to help others overcome their alcohol addiction.
The actor made no secret of his own addiction struggles over the years and, in November 2022, he discussed this candidly in his book.
Now, fans of Perry are sharing the opening line of the memoir, which has taken on new resonance following his death.
Read more:
Opening line of Matthew Perry’s memoir has a heartbreaking new meaning
Sitcom star’s fans are highlighting the line following his apparent drowning
How Matthew Perry confronted his drug addiction and spent his life urging others to seek help
13:30 , Inga Parkel
Perry made no secret of his addiction struggles over the years, writing candidly about his substance abuse and attempts to stay sober in his affecting memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.
Released in 2021, the book chronicled the exacerbation of Perry’s addiction under the “white-hot flame of fame” after he shot to international stardom, aged 24, as the wise-cracking Chandler Bing in the hit sitcom Friends.
“Hi, my name is Matthew, although you may know me by another name,” he wrote in the book’s opening passage. “My friends call me Matty. And I should be dead.”
Read more:
How Matthew Perry confronted his drug addiction, and spent his life urging others to seek help
‘Friends’ star, who has died aged 54, was a prominent campaigner for drugs reform and spoke candidly about his own battles with substance abuse
Matthew Perry found ‘purpose’ in helping other addicts, Friends creator says
12:56 , Maanya Sachdeva
Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman said helping other addicts “gave Matthew Perry purpose” in an interview with Today host Hoda Kotb.
Kauffman told Kotb that Perry, who battled drug and alcohol addictions for much of his life, was sober before his death on 28 October.
She added: “He wanted to help other addicts and it gave him purpose.”
Kauffman also said the Friends star sounded “happy and chipper” during their final conversation, which is why his death “seems so unfair”,
Matthew Perry’s dog will not be adopted by Friends co-star Lisa Kudrow, despite reports
11:56 , Maanya Sachdeva
Lisa Kudrow is not adopting Matthew Perry’s dog following the Friends actor’s death, despite multiple rumours.
Here’s the full story:
Matthew Perry’s dog will not be adopted by Friends co-star Lisa Kudrow
Watch: Matthew Perry's advice in last interview before his death: 'People do change'
06:04 , Tom Murray
Matthew Perry’s ex-fiancée pays tribute to Friends star
05:01 , Tom Murray
Molly Hurwitz has paid tribute to the late Friends star, writing that their shared “respect and appreciation of humour” brought them together.
Perry and Hurwitz, who works as a literary manager, began dating in 2018 and got engaged in November 2020. However, they called their engagement off in June 2021.
Following his sudden death on Saturday, Hurwitz, 32, said: “No one in my adult life has had a more profound impact on me.” In her statement on Instagram, she expressed “tremendous gratitude” for their time together and “everything I learned from our relationship”.
Read more:
Matthew Perry’s ex-fiancee says Friends star had a ‘profound impact’ on her
John Stamos recalls Matthew Perry’s act of kindness during his Friends cameo
03:00 , Tom Murray
Stamos guest starred on Friends as a potential sperm donor for Perry’s Chandler Bing and Courteney Cox’s Monica Geller in 2003.
“Matthew and I had been friendly long before Friends, so when I guest starred as Zach, the prospective sperm donor for Chandler and Monica [Courteney Cox], I hung with him a lot,” the Full House star wrote on Instagram.
Alongside a clip of a scene from the show’s episode titled “The One with the Donor”, in which Monica and Chandler grill Zach about his family’s health history, Stamos recounted Perry’s unforgettable act of kindness.
Read more:
John Stamos recalls Matthew Perry’s kindness during his ‘embarrassing’ Friends cameo
Video: Friends co-creators recall final conversation with Matthew Perry before his death
02:01 , Tom Murray
Meet the people Matthew Perry saved from addiction
01:02 , Tom Murray
In the wake of Matthew Perry’s death, people remember the Friends actor for his advocacy work to destigmatise substance use disorder and help those in recovery. Ariana Baio and Clémence Michallon report
Meet the people Matthew Perry saved from addiction
Perry spent more than $9m trying to get sober
00:03 , Tom Murray
In his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, Perry wrote that he spent over $7m (£5.7m) on 15 rehab stints.
Speaking to The New York Times a few weeks before his book’s release, he disclosed that the figure was actually more like “$9m [£7.4m] or something trying to get sober”.
Read more:
Matthew Perry spent more than $9m trying to get sober
WATCH: Charlie Puth crowd sings Friends theme in tribute to Matthew Perry
Wednesday 1 November 2023 23:00 , Inga Parkel
Grieving fans flock to New York apartment to mourn Matthew Perry
Wednesday 1 November 2023 22:30 , Inga Parkel
Crowds of people have flocked to the corner of Grove Street and Bedford Street to pay their respects to Matthew Perry, whose death on Saturday shocked the world. At the bottom of the intersection’s stop sign, outside the well-known apartment building exterior used as an establishing shot throughout the show’s 10 seasons, lay a beautiful collection of bouquets and several handwritten notes.
Read more:
‘Friends kind of saved my life’: Grieving fans flock to New York apartment to mourn Matthew Perry
Following the tragic passing of the ‘Friends’ star, fans from all over the globe have congregated on one New York City street corner to pay their respects
Friends lead stars share joint statement on Matthew Perry’s death
Wednesday 1 November 2023 22:00 , Inga Parkel
Two days after the tragic passing of Perry on Saturday, his leading Friends co-stars, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc and Lisa Kudrow, shared an emotional tribute in a joint statement.
“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family. There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss,” they wrote in a statement to People.
“In time we will say more, as and when we are able. For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.”
Read more:
Friends lead stars share joint statement on Matthew Perry’s death: ‘We are all so utterly devastated’
The lead stars of the US sitcom promised to ‘say more in time’, but remembered Perry ‘as family’
The question Miriam Margolyes regretted asking Matthew Perry on Graham Norton Show
Wednesday 1 November 2023 21:30 , Inga Parkel
Margolyes has paid tribute to Perry weeks after revealing “regret” over a question she asked the Friends star on The Graham Norton Show.
Actor Margolyes, whose credits include The Age of Innocence and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, appeared on Norton’s BBC chat show in 2020 alongside Perry, who died on Saturday (28 October).
Perry, who was promoting a West End play at the time, was left squirming after an x-rated anecdote Margolyes shared. As the audience laughed, Perry, appearing visibily shocked, stated: “I honestly don’t think I’ve ever been more uncomfortable in my life.”
Read more:
Miriam Margolyes shares Matthew Perry tribute weeks after expressing regret over Graham Norton show question
‘On reflection, I really wish I hadn’t asked it,’ actor confessed in memoir
How Matthew Perry confronted his drug addiction and spent his life urging others to seek help
Wednesday 1 November 2023 21:00 , Inga Parkel
Perry made no secret of his addiction struggles over the years, writing candidly about his substance abuse and attempts to stay sober in his affecting memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.
Released in 2021, the book chronicled the exacerbation of Perry’s addiction under the “white-hot flame of fame” after he shot to international stardom, aged 24, as the wise-cracking Chandler Bing in the hit sitcom Friends.
“Hi, my name is Matthew, although you may know me by another name,” he wrote in the book’s opening passage. “My friends call me Matty. And I should be dead.”
In the book, Perry recalled drinking heavily through the first two seasons of Friends, although he said he was never drunk or high on set, and then becoming addicted to the opiate pain medication Vicodin after a jet ski accident while filming Fools Rush In with Salma Hayek in 1996.
By the end of the 10th series of Friends, Perry became “entrenched in a lot of trouble”, he revealed years later.
Read more:
How Matthew Perry confronted his drug addiction, and spent his life urging others to seek help
‘Friends’ star, who has died aged 54, was a prominent campaigner for drugs reform and spoke candidly about his own battles with substance abuse
‘His book kept me sober’: Tributes to Matthew Perry’s ‘courageous’ work to help others battle addiction
Wednesday 1 November 2023 20:30 , Inga Parkel
In the wake of Matthew Perry’s death, people honour the Friends star for his advocacy work to destigmatise substance use disorder and help those in recovery.
Ariana Baio and Clémence Michallon report:
‘His book kept me sober’: Inside Matthew Perry’s work to battle addiction
In the wake of Matthew Perry’s death, people remember the ‘Friends’ actor for his advocacy work to destigmitise substance use disorder and help those in recovery. Ariana Baio and Clémence Michallon report
Matthew Perry’s advice in last interview before his death: ‘People do change’
Wednesday 1 November 2023 20:00 , Inga Parkel
Opening line of Matthew Perry’s memoir has a heartbreaking new meaning
Wednesday 1 November 2023 19:30 , Inga Parkel
The opening line of Matthew Perry’s affecting 2022 memoir Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing has taken on a heartbreaking new light in the wake of the Friends star’s death.
In the wake of the heartbreaking news, tributes poured in from across the world, with many hailing Perry’s performance as the sarcastic but loveable Chandler as one of the best parts of the hugely popular sitcom.
However, while Friends was undoubtedly Perry’s biggest success as an actor, the star himself said he would rather be remembered for his ability to help others overcome their alcohol addiction.
The actor made no secret of his own addiction struggles over the years and, in November 2022, he discussed this candidly in his book.
Now, fans of Perry are sharing the opening line of the memoir, which has taken on new resonance following his death.
Read more:
Opening line of Matthew Perry’s memoir has a heartbreaking new meaning
Sitcom star’s fans are highlighting the line following his apparent drowning
Friends creator says she was ‘concerned’ about Matthew Perry during 2021 reunion
Wednesday 1 November 2023 19:00 , Inga Parkel
Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman has admitted that she was “concerned” about Matthew Perry during the show’s 2021 reunion special.
Nearly two decades after the hit NBC sitcom came to an end in 2004, the six leads – Perry, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow and Matt LeBlanc – returned to the show’s original soundstage for Friends: The Reunion.
Before that point, Perry – who died on Saturday, 28 October, aged 54 – hadn’t appeared on-screen since his four-episode feature on the 2017 drama mini-series The Kennedy’s After Camelot.
Speaking to TODAY show’s Hoda Kotb during a recent interview – which aired on NBC on Wednesday (1 November) – Kauffman said she was “concerned” about what point in Perry’s sobriety cycle he was in during the reunion.
Read more:
Friends creator says she was ‘concerned’ about Matthew Perry during 2021 reunion
Perry was found dead in his Los Angeles home aged 54
The West Wing shows us the great dramatic career Matthew Perry never had
Wednesday 1 November 2023 18:30 , Inga Parkel
In his column The Moment, The Independent’s Louis Chilton argues that The West Wing is the greatest example of Matthew Perry’s potential as an actor away from comedy:
The West Wing shows us the great dramatic career Matthew Perry never had
Matthew Perry was so much more than Chandler Bing, argues Louis Chilton, who recalls the late actor’s extraordinary Emmy-nominated guest role in which his character unpicks a scandal that brings down the vice president. His show-stealing turn on the political drama gave a glimpse of what might have been...
John Stamos recalls Matthew Perry’s act of kindness during his Friends cameo
Wednesday 1 November 2023 18:00 , Inga Parkel
Stamos guest starred on Friends as a potential sperm donor for Perry’s Chandler Bing and Courteney Cox’s Monica Geller in 2003.
“Matthew and I had been friendly long before Friends, so when I guest starred as Zach, the prospective sperm donor for Chandler and Monica [Courteney Cox], I hung with him a lot,” the Full House star wrote on Instagram.
Alongside a clip of a scene from the show’s episode titled “The One with the Donor”, in which Monica and Chandler grill Zach about his family’s health history, Stamos recounted Perry’s unforgettable act of kindness.
Read more:
John Stamos recalls Matthew Perry’s kindness during his ‘embarrassing’ Friends cameo
Perry was found dead in his Los Angeles home aged 54
Lisa Kudrow is not adopting Matthew Perry’s dog, despite multiple reports.
Wednesday 1 November 2023 17:30 , Inga Parkel
Earlier this week, it was rumoured that Kudrow would be taking in the late actor’s dog after his sudden passing on Saturday 28 October at the age of 54. However, a source has confirmed to People that Perry didn’t own a dog at the time of his death.
Read more:
Matthew Perry’s dog will not be adopted by Friends co-star Lisa Kudrow
Perry died from an apparent drowning at his home in Los Angeles on 28 October
Friends director reveals how cast are coping with Matthew Perry news
17:11 , Tom Murray
Friends director James Burrows has shared some insight into how the rest of the main cast members are dealing with Perry’s sudden death.
“I had to have a couple of days to just let it soak in,” Burrows said on the Today show on Thursday. “He was part of a family and he was the first one to not be part of that family anymore.”
Burrows said that upon hearing the news, he texted three of the lead cast members – Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow.
“I had texted the girls the day we found out,” Burrows said. “They were destroyed. It’s a brother dying.”
Read more:
Friends director says lead cast have been ‘destroyed’ by Matthew Perry death
Wednesday 1 November 2023 17:00 , Inga Parkel
VOICES: Let Matthew Perry’s legacy be those he helped with addiction
Wednesday 1 November 2023 16:30 , Inga Parkel
Perry changed the narrative around addiction. Could he have been a more relatable role model? Adam Bloodworth writes:
Let Matthew Perry’s legacy be those he helped with addiction | Adam Bloodworth
Perry changed the narrative around addiction. Could he have been a more relatable role model?
How Matthew Perry made his own Friends in the writers’ room
Wednesday 1 November 2023 15:30 , Inga Parkel
In the wake of Matthew Perry’s tragic death, fans and collaborators of the 54-year-old actor have reflected on the star’s comic talents beyond the stage.
Despite Friends producers having kept an open door policy to the writers’ room, only Perry regularly contributed to scripts – often happily pitching up to ten jokes an episode while his co-stars unwound backstage.
Nicole Vassell reports:
How Matthew Perry made his own Friends in the writers’ room
Late ‘Friends’ star was the ‘only one’ of the main cast who contributed to the script
Matthew Perry played pickleball hours before his death, coach says
Wednesday 1 November 2023 15:00 , Inga Parkel
Matthew Perry reportedly played a pickleball match just hours before his death on Saturday, his friend and coach has said.
Matt Manasse told People that Perry had been on the court playing the racket sport that morning, during which the Friends star was “doing really well”.
Perry had played his match with another coach, who had been the first person Manasse contacted when news of Perry’s death was made public.
“She said, ‘Yeah, he’d come out,’” he recalled. “She didn’t say how long but said he’d been doing really well on court, which wasn’t a surprise.”
Friends co-creator says she hopes Matthew Perry can feel fans’ love ‘wherever he is’
Wednesday 1 November 2023 14:52 , Inga Parkel
Marta Kauffman said that losing Perry was like “losing a friend in multiple ways”.
“And what’s amazing is the outpouring from the fans, who lost a friend of theirs too. And wherever he is, I hope he feels it,” she added.
Friends co-creators recall final conversation with Matthew Perry before his death
Wednesday 1 November 2023 14:46 , Inga Parkel
Matthew Perry spent more than $7m attempting to get sober
Wednesday 1 November 2023 14:35 , Inga Parkel
In his affecting 2022 memoir, Perry was open and honest about his decades-long battle with addiction. He revealed that he had spent more than $7m attempting to get sober, visited rehab at least 15 times and underwent numerous surgeries.
During the May 2021 Friends: The Reunion, Kauffman admitted that she was “concerned” about Perry at the time.
“Knowing that he’d been through everything he’d been through, and every time he had surgery, they’re giving him opioids for pain, and the cycle starts over again,” she said. “So yes, I was concerned about what point in the cycle he was in that moment.”
Friends creators say Matthew Perry was sober before his death
Wednesday 1 November 2023 14:28 , Inga Parkel
Friends co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Cane said that Perry was sober, had quit smoking and was working out sometime before his death.
In an interview with the TODAY show’s Hoda Kotb on Wednesday (1 November), Kauffman and Cane recalled their last moments with him.
“He seemed better than I had seen in a while. I was so thrilled to see that. He was emotionally in a good place, he looked good, he quit smoking,” Kauffman said.
Asked if he was sober at the time, Kauffman confirmed that “yes, he was sober”.
“He learned things throughout this, and what he learned more than anything is that he wanted to help other addicts, and it gave him purpose.”
Read more:
Friends creator says Matthew Perry was happy and sober weeks before his death
Perry was found dead in his Los Angeles home aged 54
Opening line of Matthew Perry’s memoir has a heartbreaking new meaning
Wednesday 1 November 2023 13:45 , Inga Parkel
The opening line of Matthew Perry’s affecting 2022 memoir Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing has taken on a heartbreaking new light in the wake of the Friends star’s death.
In the wake of the heartbreaking news, tributes poured in from across the world, with many hailing Perry’s performance as the sarcastic but loveable Chandler as one of the best parts of the hugely popular sitcom.
However, while Friends was undoubtedly Perry’s biggest success as an actor, the star himself said he would rather be remembered for his ability to help others overcome their alcohol addiction.
The actor made no secret of his own addiction struggles over the years and, in November 2022, he discussed this candidly in his book.
Now, fans of Perry are sharing the opening line of the memoir, which has taken on new resonance following his death.
Read more:
Opening line of Matthew Perry’s memoir has a heartbreaking new meaning
Sitcom star’s fans are highlighting the line following his apparent drowning
Jennifer Aniston breaks down at thought of losing Matthew Perry in resurfaced 2004 interview
Wednesday 1 November 2023 13:20 , Inga Parkel
Aniston was brought to tears in a past interview while talking about the thought of losing her beloved Friends co-star Matthew Perry.
Nearly twenty years before Perry’s tragic and shocking death on 28 October, Aniston sat down with ABC’s Diane Sawyer to share something that each of her Friends co-stars “doesn’t know about themselves”.
Read more:
Jennifer Aniston breaks down at thought of losing Matthew Perry in resurfaced 2004 interview
Aniston tearfully spoke about Perry’s struggle with addiction in a past interview with Diane Sawyer
Max adds special Perry tribute card to Friends seasons
Wednesday 1 November 2023 12:47 , Maanya Sachdeva
Streaming service Max has paid tribute to Matthew Perry by adding a special card in honour of the actor at the start of each season of Friends.
All 10 seasons of the hit sitcom are available to watch on Max in the US.
Since Perry’s tragic death on 28 October, the first episode of every season starts with a card that reads: “In memory of Matthew Perry 1969-2023.”
The message is accompanied by a portrait of Perry, who played the hilarious Chandler Bing on the show, and remains on the screen for five minutes, before the series’s opening sequence begins.
The tribute message also appears at the beginning of the Friends reunion special show, which was released in 2021.
My favourite Chandler Bing scene wasn’t just funny. It shows Matthew Perry’s poignant impact
Wednesday 1 November 2023 11:46 , Maanya Sachdeva
In the wake of Perry’s death, fans have shared how much he made them laugh. Watching an artist perfectly slide into a performance brings such meaningful joy, writes Clémence Michallon for The Independent.
Read more here:
The best Chandler scene isn’t just funny. It shows Matthew Perry’s poignant impact
‘His book kept me sober’: Tributes to Matthew Perry’s ‘courageous’ work to help others battle addiction
Wednesday 1 November 2023 10:30 , Maanya Sachdeva
In the wake of Matthew Perry’s death, people honour the Friends star for his advocacy work to destigmitise substance use disorder and help those in recovery.
Ariana Baio and Clémence Michallon report:
‘His book kept me sober’: Inside Matthew Perry’s work to battle addiction
Miriam Margolyes shares Matthew Perry tribute weeks after expressing regret over Graham Norton show question
Wednesday 1 November 2023 09:51 , Maanya Sachdeva
Miriam Margolyes has paid tribute to Matthew Perry weeks after revealing “regret” over a question she asked the Friends star on The Graham Norton Show.
Margolyes, 82, reflected on their interaction in a section from her new memoir, writing that“I really wish I hadn’t” asked Perry “if he was an alcoholic”.
Full story here:
Miriam Margolyes expresses regret over Matthew Perry question
VOICES: Let Matthew Perry’s legacy be those he helped with addiction
Wednesday 1 November 2023 06:51 , Tom Murray
Perry changed the narrative around addiction. Could he have been a more relatable role model? Adam Bloodworth writes:
Let Matthew Perry’s legacy be those he helped with addiction | Adam Bloodworth
Watch: Hank Azaria says Matthew Perry helped him get sober as he pays tribute to late friend
Wednesday 1 November 2023 05:52 , Tom Murray
‘Chandler and Monica taught me everything I need to know about love'
Wednesday 1 November 2023 04:50 , Tom Murray
Matthew Perry’s Friends character brought the world joy and laughter, and mirrored our insecurities and anxieties. But he also made me think about relationships in a different way, writes Ellie Harrison
Chandler and Monica taught me everything I need to know about love
VOICES: My favourite Chandler Bing scene wasn’t just funny. It shows Matthew Perry’s poignant impact
Wednesday 1 November 2023 03:51 , Tom Murray
In the wake of Perry’s death, fans have shared how much he made them laugh. Watching an artist perfectly slide into a performance brings such meaningful joy, writes Clémence Michallon
The best Chandler scene isn’t just funny. It shows Matthew Perry’s poignant impact
Lisa Kudrow is not adopting Matthew Perry’s dog, despite multiple reports.
Wednesday 1 November 2023 02:53 , Tom Murray
Earlier this week, it was rumoured that Kudrow would be taking in the late actor’s dog after his sudden passing on Saturday 28 October at the age of 54. However, a source has confirmed to People that Perry didn’t own a dog at the time of his death.
Read more:
Matthew Perry’s dog will not be adopted by Friends co-star Lisa Kudrow
Friends co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane reveal that Matthew Perry was ‘happy and chipper’ weeks before his death
Wednesday 1 November 2023 01:54 , Tom Murray
In a recent interview with Today’s Hoda Kotb – which will air on NBC News on Wednesday (1 November) – Kauffman and Crane disclosed that their last conversation with Perry – two weeks before his death – was an upbeat one.
“It was great,” Kauffman told host Kotb. “He was happy and chipper. He didn’t seem weighed down by anything. He was in a really good place, which is why this seems so unfair.”
Read more:
Friends creators say Matthew Perry was ‘happy and chipper’ weeks before his death
Video: 'The one where we all lost a friend' Heartbroken fans react to Matthew Perry's death
Wednesday 1 November 2023 00:55 , Tom Murray
John Stamos recalls Matthew Perry’s act of kindness during his Friends cameo
Tuesday 31 October 2023 23:58 , Tom Murray
Stamos guest starred on Friends as a potential sperm donor for Perry’s Chandler Bing and Courteney Cox’s Monica Geller in 2003.
“Matthew and I had been friendly long before Friends, so when I guest starred as Zach, the prospective sperm donor for Chandler and Monica [Courteney Cox], I hung with him a lot,” the Full House star wrote on Instagram.
Alongside a clip of a scene from the show’s episode titled “The One with the Donor”, in which Monica and Chandler grill Zach about his family’s health history, Stamos recounted Perry’s unforgettable act of kindness.
“Standing backstage, ready to make my entrance, Matt whispers, ‘The audience is going go crazy when they see you! Get ready for some loud screams.’ I walk through the door… silence. I was so embarrassed,” Stamos said.
“We finish the scene and as I start to slither back to my dressing room and quit showbiz, Matt walks over to the studio audience: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for John Stamos! You guys probably didn’t recognise him at first because [he’s] so much better looking in person!’
“I never forgot that and the world will never forget you.”
John Stamos recalls Matthew Perry’s kindness during his ‘embarrassing’ Friends cameo
How Matthew Perry made his own Friends in the writers’ room
Tuesday 31 October 2023 23:00 , Inga Parkel
In the wake of Matthew Perry’s tragic death, fans and collaborators of the 54-year-old actor have reflected on the star’s comic talents beyond the stage.
Despite Friends producers having kept an open door policy to the writers’ room, only Perry regularly contributed to scripts – often happily pitching up to ten jokes an episode while his co-stars unwound backstage.
Read more:
How Matthew Perry made his own Friends in the writers’ room
Late ‘Friends’ star was the ‘only one’ of the main cast who contributed to the script
WATCH: Matthew Perry’s most iconic Friends scenes
Tuesday 31 October 2023 22:30 , Inga Parkel
The West Wing shows us the great dramatic career Matthew Perry never had
Tuesday 31 October 2023 22:00 , Inga Parkel
In his column The Moment, The Independent’s Louis Chilton argues that The West Wing is the greatest example of Matthew Perry’s potential as an actor away from comedy:
The West Wing shows us the great dramatic career Matthew Perry never had
Matthew Perry was so much more than Chandler Bing, argues Louis Chilton, who recalls the late actor’s extraordinary Emmy-nominated guest role in which his character unpicks a scandal that brings down the vice president. His show-stealing turn on the political drama gave a glimpse of what might have been...
The question Miriam Margolyes regretted asking Matthew Perry on Graham Norton Show
Tuesday 31 October 2023 21:30 , Inga Parkel
Margolyes has paid tribute to Perry weeks after revealing “regret” over a question she asked the Friends star on The Graham Norton Show.
Actor Margolyes, whose credits include The Age of Innocence and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, appeared on Norton’s BBC chat show in 2020 alongside Perry, who died on Saturday (28 October).
Perry, who was promoting a West End play at the time, was left squirming after an x-rated anecdote Margolyes shared. As the audience laughed, Perry, appearing visibily shocked, stated: “I honestly don’t think I’ve ever been more uncomfortable in my life.”
Read more:
Miriam Margolyes shares Matthew Perry tribute weeks after expressing regret over Graham Norton show question
‘On reflection, I really wish I hadn’t asked it,’ actor confessed in memoir
How Matthew Perry confronted his drug addiction and spent his life urging others to seek help
Tuesday 31 October 2023 21:00 , Inga Parkel
Perry made no secret of his addiction struggles over the years, writing candidly about his substance abuse and attempts to stay sober in his affecting memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.
Released in 2021, the book chronicled the exacerbation of Perry’s addiction under the “white-hot flame of fame” after he shot to international stardom, aged 24, as the wise-cracking Chandler Bing in the hit sitcom Friends.
“Hi, my name is Matthew, although you may know me by another name,” he wrote in the book’s opening passage. “My friends call me Matty. And I should be dead.”
In the book, Perry recalled drinking heavily through the first two seasons of Friends, although he said he was never drunk or high on set, and then becoming addicted to the opiate pain medication Vicodin after a jet ski accident while filming Fools Rush In with Salma Hayek in 1996.
By the end of the 10th series of Friends, Perry became “entrenched in a lot of trouble”, he revealed years later.
Hank Azaria says Matthew Perry helped him get sober
Tuesday 31 October 2023 20:30 , Inga Parkel
The Simpsons voice actor Azaria paid tribute to Perry after the news of his death.
The 59-year-old comedian and actor starred as Phoebe Buffay’s boyfriend David in Friends, while Perry played Chandler Bing.
“I’m a sober guy for 17 years. I want to say that the night I went into AA, Matthew brought me in.
“The whole first year I was sober, we went to meetings together and he was such a great – I got to tell him this. As a sober person he was so caring and giving and wise and he totally helped me get sober.”
Former Saturday Night Live writer slammed for joking about Matthew Perry’s death
Tuesday 31 October 2023 20:00 , Inga Parkel
Former Saturday Night Live writer Kevin Brennan has been widely criticised for joking about Perry’s death.
Following the announcement of Perry’s death, comedian Brennan – who wrote for SNL’s Weekend Update segment from 1999 to 2000 – posted a tweet laughing at the TMZ headline about the news.
The “disgusting” post prompted fury from fans, with one Twitter/X user questioning: “What the hell is wrong with you?” Another echoed: “This is gross, dude.”
“These words are utterly ridiculous for you to drum up the nerve to say at such a sensitive time for his family. Shame on you,” one commenter wrote.
However, Brennan doubled down, posting in response: “I didn’t mock it. I just thought it was funny.” On Sunday night, he tweeted: “Am I trending yet?”
Jennifer Aniston breaks down at thought of losing Matthew Perry in resurfaced 2004 interview
Tuesday 31 October 2023 19:45 , Inga Parkel
Jennifer Aniston was brought to tears in a past interview while talking about the thought of losing her beloved Friends co-star Matthew Perry.
Nearly twenty years before Perry’s tragic and shocking death on 28 October, Aniston sat down with ABC’s Diane Sawyer to share something that each of her Friends co-stars “doesn’t know about themselves”.
Read more:
Jennifer Aniston breaks down at thought of losing Matthew Perry in resurfaced 2004 interview
Aniston tearfully spoke about Perry’s struggle with addiction in a past interview with Diane Sawyer
Matthew Perry played pickleball hours before his death, coach says
Tuesday 31 October 2023 19:30 , Inga Parkel
Matthew Perry reportedly played a pickleball match just hours before his death on Saturday, his friend and coach has said.
Matt Manasse told People that Perry had been on the court playing the racket sport that morning, during which the Friends star was “doing really well”.
Perry had played his match with another coach, who had been the first person Manasse contacted when news of Perry’s death was made public.
“She said, ‘Yeah, he’d come out,’” he recalled. “She didn’t say how long but said he’d been doing really well on court, which wasn’t a surprise.”
