Friends actor Matthew Perry died suddenly on Oct. 28, 2023. The heartbreaking news stunned the world and left his friends and family reeling. But amidst the terrible tragedy, there is also a beautiful story of how God’s love restored a broken man.
On Oct. 28, 2023, a witness discovered Matthew Perry unresponsive in the jacuzzi at his Pacific Palisades home. The emergency call mentioned cardiac arrest while another report referenced drowning. Based on the initial search at the home, foul play isn’t suspected and no drugs were found. But the exact cause of Matthew Perry’s death has been “deferred” pending a toxicology report and further investigation.
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Matthew Perry’s family later confirmed the 54-year-old actor had died suddenly.
“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother,” they said. “Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend.”
A Spiral Into Darkness
Matthew Perry became a household name thanks to his iconic role as Chandler Bing in the hit TV series Friends. And while he’s remembered for his quick wit and humor, it wasn’t all laughs behind the scenes.
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Though Matthew initially viewed the fame from Friends as an answered prayer, it soon became his downfall. His life careened out of control as he developed an addiction fluctuating between alcohol and pills.
"You can track the trajectory of my addiction if you gauge my weight from season to season," he later explained. "When I'm carrying weight, it's alcohol. When I'm skinny, it's pills."
Matthew said he went to rehab 14 times and had some 15 stomach surgeries. He tried detox treatments more than 60 times. He spent millions on treatments and hospitalizations, lost several teeth to drugs, and survived a terrible overdose.
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At last, the actor finally hit rock bottom and cried out to the Lord for help.
"God, please help me," he begged. "Show me that you are here. God, please help me..."
After finding himself in “the presence of God,” Matthew Perry turned a corner in his recovery. The love of the Lord transformed him from the broken man he was into a new creation.
"He saved me that day, and for all days, no matter what,” Matthew said. “He had turned me into a seeker, not only of sobriety, and truth, but also of Him."
Matthew Perry Died Suddenly
Matthew began sharing his story of redemption in the hopes of inspiring others and breaking the stigma around addiction. He opened up about that incredible moment with God in his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. And by all counts, Matthew Perry’s life was no longer in shambles.
So, when the heartbreaking news broke that Matthew Perry had died suddenly, it came as a complete shock to all. And social media became flooded with condolences and tributes for the former Friends actor.
I'm heartbroken about the untimely death of my "son", Matthew Perry. The loss of such a brilliant young actor is a shock. I'm sending love & condolences to his friends & family, especially his dad, John Bennett Perry, who I worked with on Flamingo Road & Falcon Crest. #RIPMatthew pic.twitter.com/QWMsBVJEAr
- Morgan Fairchild (@morgfair) October 29, 2023
Actress Shannen Doherty took to Instagram to lament the loss. She said, “We were a gang way back. We all grew up together going to the Formosa, North and constantly laughing… He will be missed by many and definitely by us. Yes. I could be more poetic or say things better but right now, shock and sadness prevail.”
It’s a loss that hit so many so hard. And as so many fans honor the memory of Matthew Perry, it comes as a comfort to his grieving loved ones.
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“You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love,” they said.
What a tragedy it is that Matthew Perry died suddenly. But what a blessing to know he’d come to accept Jesus in his final days!
As we remember the laughter and joy Matthew Perry brought to our lives through his acting, let’s also reflect on the profound journey he undertook towards faith and finding God. It’s a journey that can serve as a source of hope and inspiration for each of us in our own lives, reminding us that faith is a path worth exploring, even in the face of life’s uncertainties.
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“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.” Isaiah 44:22
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h/t: People
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