Uncertainty Surrounds Matthew Perry's Cause of Death as Initial Autopsy Yields Inconclusive Results
Matthew Perry's cause of death remains uncertain as initial autopsy results prove inconclusive The beloved actor, aged 54, tragically passed away at his residence on October 28
Matthew Perry Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
The exact cause of Matthew Perry's death has been postponed after his initial autopsy. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner states that the findings were inconclusive awaiting a toxicology report. Additional inquiries have been made to determine the reason behind Perry's death.
Perry passed away at his residence in Los Angeles on Saturday, October 28, at the age of 54. Authorities responded to a report of an individual experiencing cardiac arrest, and Perry was discovered in his hot tub. No indications of any foul play were observed at the scene.
The actor's family acknowledged his "tragic" demise in a statement on Sunday, October 29, expressing their "heartbreak" over the loss. The statement further conveyed, "Matthew brought immense joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend. You all held significant value to him, and we are grateful for the overwhelming show of love."
Perry gained fame for his portrayal of Chandler Bing on the popular sitcom Friends, which aired for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004. The show's creators, Marta Kauffman and David Crane, along with executive producer Kevin Bright, expressed their shock and deep sadness at Perry's untimely death. They mentioned feeling blessed to have had him in their lives and acknowledged his exceptional talent in making the role of Chandler his own.
The trio expressed, "Since we first heard him portray Chandler Bing, no one else could compare. We will forever treasure the happiness, brilliance, and astonishing intelligence he brought to every moment - not only in his work, but also in his life. He always had the ability to be the funniest person in any room. Moreover, he was the kindest, with a generous and selfless heart."
Perry co-starred with Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, and Matt LeBlanc on the beloved television series Friends. While many of his former co-stars have not yet publicly spoken about his passing, Friends alum Maggie Wheeler paid tribute to Perry with a heartfelt message on Saturday.
"What a loss it is. Matthew Perry, the world will deeply miss you," she expressed on Instagram, accompanied by a photo of the two of them on set. "The happiness that you brought to numerous lives during your unfortunately brief existence will endure. I feel extremely fortunate for every artistic moment that we experienced together."
Wheeler, aged 62, played the character of Janice, Chandler's on-again, off-again romantic interest, during the initial seasons of the television show Friends. As Perry's popularity grew on the series, he battled with addiction privately."
Perry entered rehab for the first time in 1997 and later had another stay in 2001. In his memoir, "Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing," he openly shared his experiences of highs and lows. During the promotion of his book in October 2022, Perry disclosed to The New York Times that he had been in recovery for approximately 18 months. This indicates that he was just beginning his journey of sobriety when the Friends cast reunited for a special in April 2021.
Kudrow, aged 60, wrote the foreword for Perry's book and reflected on the challenging period when she watched her co-star struggle. She expressed, "It was incredibly difficult... 'hard' doesn't even come close to describing it. I have a lot of love for Matthew. We are like a family." She concluded, "I'll always be there for him," aligning her sentiments with the iconic Friends theme song, "I'll be there for you."
