Dec. 18, 2023
By Nikalena Iacono
Editor
American-Canadian actor Matthew Perry, died unexpectedly at the age of 54 on Oct. 28. Best known for his role as Chandler Bing on the NBC television sitcom “Friends,” Perry was also featured in “17 Again,” “Ally McBeal,” “Fools Rush In,” “The Ron Clark Story” and “The Whole Nine Yards.” Perry was nominated for 34 awards including the Primetime Emmy Awards, and he won 6 including the Huading Award for Best Global Actor in a Television Series in 2013 for his role in “Go On.”
Perry died from an apparent drowning in a hot tub at his home in Pacific Palisades, a neighborhood in, Los Angeles. Authorities arrived at his home around 4 p.m., where he was found unresponsive. On Dec. 15, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office released a statement specifying that Perry died from the acute effects of ketamine, which he received via infusion therapy a week-and-a-half before his death to deal with depression and anxiety.
The medical examiner’s statement also listed drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine, which is used to treat opioid use disorder, as contributing factors in his accidental death.
Freshman Logan LaCorte, who mainly watched Perry on “Friends,” said she was shocked when she learned of Perry’s death.
“I was very upset to find out about this news, like many others,” LaCorte said. “He died at a young age, and it is so sad that he is not with us anymore.”
LaCorte said Perry’s character, Chandler, was her favorite on “Friends” because he is funny, sweet and always has a joke to break the silence or be comedic.
“Matthew Perry had an impact on the popularity of ‘Friends’ because, without the character Chandler or someone else playing him, it wouldn’t be the same,” LaCorte said. “The character Chandler was made for Matthew Perry, and they couldn’t have picked a better Chandler.”
LaCorte said the show would have been completely different without Perry because no one could have come close to filling his role. LaCorte said the show had the perfect cast with the best actors to play such iconic characters.
LaCorte said she also watched Perry in the sitcom “Go On” and the television film “The Ron Clark Story.”
“Matthew Perry is capable of adjusting to any character in his shows and movies. Based on the work I have seen of his, I never have anything bad to say because he always delivers for what is being asked of him,” LaCorte said.
“The character Chandler was made for Matthew Perry, and they couldn’t have picked a better Chandler.”
English teacher Ms. Rendzia said she found out about Perry’s passing from English teacher Mrs. Ruiz. Rendzia said she cried for days when she found out the news.
Rendzia said she saw Perry in person in New York City on Nov. 2, 2022 at a book talk for his “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir”, which had been released the previous day. She said what resonated with her about Perry was his interest in using his book to help people.
“He didn’t want to be known as the actor from ‘Friends.’ He wanted to be known for the good that he’s doing. He said if anybody ever reached out and asked him for help to give up alcohol or drugs, he would say ‘yes,’” Rendzia said. “He was using his fame to get the word out, but yet his whole purpose since he became sober was to help other people, and he sponsored and helped so many people.”
Perry was candid about his drug addiction that started with opioids, which he was prescribed as painkillers following an accident in 1997. Perry wrote in his book that, at one point, he was taking up to 55 pain pills a day.
“It was very clear during ‘Friends,’ especially by Season 3…. You could clearly tell that something was going on and he was not right. You couldn’t see it in his performance, but you saw it in his appearance,” Rendzia said. “He admits when he was at the book talk that when he’s heavy on ‘Friends,’ it’s alcohol, and when he’s skinny [or when he has a goatee], it’s pills.”
There were many times when he nearly died and had a minimal chance of survival. Perry told NBC’s “Today” show that he had been in rehab around 15 times, which cost $7 million, and he had undergone about 14 stomach surgeries. Perry told the New York Times that he spent about $9 million trying to get sober. Perry also created the Perry House in Malibu, which is a sober living facility for men.
Rendzia said Perry lost a lot of roles because of his addiction. In fact, when Chandler and Monica (Courteney Cox) got married in Season 7, Episodes 23 and 24, Perry told “Today” he had to be driven to the “Friends” set from a rehab facility to film this episode, and then he was driven back to the treatment center.
Rendzia said she respected Perry as an actor and person.
“He himself actually wrote a lot of the jokes too, so they would try things out, and if it didn’t work with the audience, he would make suggestions,” Rendzia said. “The whole setup of ‘Friends’ would be different [without Perry’s] input into the series and his lines.”
She said Perry was finally at a point in his life where he was better. In his memoir, he wrote that he planned to live a long and happy life. Rendzia said Perry was ready for a serious relationship and real love, which he always wanted along with kids.
Sophomore Matthew Jarvis said Perry was a great and funny actor. When he first heard about Perry’s death, he said he was in disbelief.
“I love ‘Friends,’ and I loved his character. It was very sad to hear about it,” Jarvis said.
Jarvis said he has watched scenes from “Friends” on TikTok and found Chandler to be the most humorous of the six main characters.
“Chandler contributed a lot of entertainment to the show. It wouldn’t be the same without his character,” Jarvis said.
He said Perry was a good person on and off the camera.
“It was great that he spoke about a personal thing like his addiction. I think it is great for other people who might be going through something similar to hear,” Jarvis said. “I am glad he tried to recover and better himself.”
CORRECTION: The original version of this article listed Perry’s cause of death as “deferred” until toxicology tests are complete. On Dec. 15, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office released a statement specifying Perry’s cause of death.
