Photos: Matthew Perry's life in pictures
Matthew Perry is best known for his role as Chandler Bing on "Friends."
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Matthew Perry's life in pictures

Updated 1854 GMT (0254 HKT) May 21, 2024

Matthew Perry is best known for his role as Chandler Bing on "Friends."
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Matthew Perry, who starred as Chandler Bing on "Friends," died in an apparent drowning accident at his Los Angeles home, law enforcement sources told the Los Angeles Times. No foul play is suspected. He was 54.

On "Friends," Perry starred alongside Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow in the comedy about a tight-knit group of friends living in New York City.

The quirky role earned him a Primetime Emmy nomination in 2002. He also enjoyed four other nominations for the prestigious TV acting award, including two for his turn as Joe Quincy on "The West Wing."

("Friends" was a production of Warner Bros. Television, which is owned by CNN's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery.)

The show helped bolster Perry's career and he soon landed roles on the big screen in 1997's "Fools Rush In," "Almost Heroes" in 1998 and "The Whole Nine Yards" in 2000.

In November 2022, he published a memoir titled "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing." He was candid in recent years about his struggles with addiction, which he battled even at the height of his career.

"We are devastated by the passing of our dear friend Matthew Perry. Matthew was an incredibly gifted actor and an indelible part of the Warner Bros. Television Group family," Warner Bros. Television Group said in a statement to CNN. "The impact of his comedic genius was felt around the world, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of so many. This is a heartbreaking day, and we send our love to his family, his loved ones, and all of his devoted fans."

Perry, pictured circa 1985, developed an interest in acting after moving to Los Angeles when he was a teen. He was born in Williamstown, Massachusetts, to an actor father and a journalist mother.
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Perry and Christina Applegate were cast in the 1988 made for TV teen movie "Dance 'til Dawn."
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Actress Martha Plimpton and Perry are seen at the Limelight nightclub in New York City circa 1988.
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Perry guest stars in an episode of "Growing Pains" in 1989. His character was injured in the episode, which was about the dangers of drunk driving.
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Perry co-starred in "Friends" with Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox and Jennifer Aniston. The first season aired in 1994.
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Perry is seen in the 1995 "Friends" episode "The One with the Evil Orthodontist."
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The cast of "Friends" drink milkshakes in an iconic promo photo.
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Perry and Cox appear on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" in 1996.
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Perry co-stars with Salma Hayek in the 1997 romantic comedy film "Fools Rush In."
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The cast of "Friends" pose for a promo shot in 1999.
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The sixth season of "Friends" aired in 1999.
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Perry and Cox are seen in the 2000 "Friends" episode "The One With Rachel's Assistant."
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Michael Clarke Duncan tackles Perry in a scene from the 2000 film "The Whole Nine Yards."
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Perry and Cox pose for a photo during the 2001 "Friends" episode "The One With Monica And Chandler's Wedding."
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Perry portrayed Joe Quincy on "The West Wing" in 2003, seen here alongside Amy Stewart, Richard Schiff and Milo O'Shea.
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Perry and British actress Kelly Reilly perform a scene from the West End play "Sexual Perversity in Chicago" at The Comedy Theatre in London in 2003.
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Perry competes in the Merv Griffin Beverly Hills Country Club Celebrity Tennis Classic in 2003. Growing up, Perry pursued his passion for tennis and became a top-ranked tennis player in Canada, where he lived with his mother after his parents split.
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Perry prepares to make a statement as fellow "Friends" cast member LeBlanc hands over the award they won for favorite television comedy series at the 2004 People's Choice Awards.
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Perry made his directorial debut in a 2004 episode of "Scrubs." He is seen here talking to director of photography John Inwood as actors Zach Braff, left, and John C. McGinley look on.
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Perry co-stars with Amanda Peet and Bruce Willis in the 2004 sequel "The Whole Ten Yards."
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Perry participates in a Screen Actors Guild rally in solidarity with the striking Writers Guild of America in Los Angeles in 2007.
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Perry speaks onstage at the Primetime Emmy Awards in 2012. He was nominated four times for the prestigious TV acting award.
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Perry throws out the ceremonial first pitch at a Los Angeles Dodgers game in 2012.
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Perry testifies before a House Subcommittee on the need to fund drug courts at the Capitol in 2013. Perry, who was open about his struggles with addiction, was an ambassador for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.
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Perry and Lindsay Sloane are seen behind the scenes on a 2014 episode of the CBS series "The Odd Couple."
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Perry plays Ted Kennedy in the 2017 TV series "The Kennedys After Camelot."
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The cast of "Friends" appeared on "The Late Late Show with James Corden" in 2021.
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Copies of Perry's memoir, "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing," are displayed at a bookstore in 2022.
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Perry enters the stage for a conversation with editor Matt Brennan during the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books in Los Angeles in 2023.
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