(Los Angeles) The shock of the sudden death of Matthew Perry, who played Chandler Bing in the sitcom to success Friendsspread from Hollywood to Canada, where the star who suffered from addiction issues was from.
The 54-year-old actor was found unconscious on Saturday by his assistant in his jacuzzi at his home in Los Angeles, the American channel NBC on which was broadcast Friendsconfirming his death.
According to the specialized media TMZ, no drugs were found at the scene of the actor’s death and there is no indication that it could be a criminal act.
“The passing of Matthew Perry is sad and heartbreaking. I will never forget our schoolyard games, and I know that people around the world will not forget the joy you brought them,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded on X.
Born in Massachusetts in the northeastern United States in 1969, to Canadian and American parents, Matthew Perry was raised between Montreal and Los Angeles.
His mother is a Canadian journalist who worked as press secretary for Justin Trudeau’s father, former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
If the five members of the group of friends Friends — Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer — had not reacted on social networks on Sunday, many stars paid tribute to the star.
” Oh no ! ! ! Matthew Perry! ! Such a tender, troubled soul,” wrote actress Mira Sorvino, who starred with Perry in a television film, Parallel LivesIn 1994.
“Torn apart”
British singer Adele dedicated a song to him during a concert in Las Vegas on Saturday evening. “I will remember this character for the rest of my life,” she said.
Matthew Perry was best known for the role of Chandler Bing, a caustic and awkward joker, in the ultra-popular series Friendsbroadcast on NBC for ten seasons, from 1994 to 2004, totaling more than 230 episodes.
PHOTO REED SAXON, ASSOCIATED PRESS
The cast of Friends from left: David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston and Matt LeBlanc at the Emmy Awards in September 2002
A true cultural phenomenon, Friends marked a generation of viewers.
It tells the adventures of a group of happy friends – Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Ross and Chandler – in New York, punctuated by romantic relationships including between Monica and Chandler and the endless saga between Rachel and Ross.
“I’m torn. My heart is broken. Sweet dreams Matty,” said actress Selma Blair, who paid tribute to “her oldest friend” on Instagram.
“He brought so much joy to hundreds of millions of people around the world with his impeccable comedy and caustic wit,” NBC said. “His legacy will last for many generations.”
But the actor struggled for years with his addiction to painkillers and alcohol.
In his memoir, published last year, he admitted to having been to rehab at least 15 times, and to having spent more than nine million dollars trying to stay away from drugs.
During a recent television appearance, Perry surprised the audience by admitting to having suffered from severe anxiety “every night” while filming Friends.
Beyond this sitcom, Perry has starred in films such as Fools Rush In And The Whole Nine Yards.
Never married, he also did not win any Emmys, the prestigious American television awards, despite five nominations.