• Beloved actor known for iconic role on "Friends" passes away in Los Angeles home

Tragedy has struck the entertainment world as Matthew Perry, renowned for his role on the iconic US sitcom "Friends," has passed away at the age of 54 due to an apparent drowning incident at his Los Angeles home. The distressing turn of events unfolded when a 911 call was made to the Los Angeles Police at 4.07 p.m. local time (05.37 a.m. Sri Lanka time). The emergency at Perry's Pacific Palisades residence was initially treated as a water rescue.

According to reports from The LA Times and TMZ, it was revealed that Perry tragically lost his life in a hot tub or Jacuzzi. While no signs of foul play have emerged, an official cause of death remains unconfirmed, with an ongoing investigation.

Matthew Perry had been candid about his past struggles with addiction, specifically prescription drugs and alcohol. He rose to fame through his portrayal of Chandler Bing on the hit 1990s sitcom "Friends," where he was an integral part of the ensemble cast alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, and David Schwimmer. The show, which followed the lives of a close-knit group in New York, ran for ten successful seasons from 1994 to 2004, culminating in a highly anticipated reunion special in 2021.

Last year (2022), Perry embarked on a press tour for the release of his memoir, "Friends, Lovers, And The Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir." During this time, he opened up about his ongoing battle with addiction, which included a harrowing near-death experience in 2019 when his colon burst as a result of opioid use.

Born in Massachusetts, Perry was raised in Ottawa, Canada, and ventured to Los Angeles at the tender age of 15 to pursue an acting career. He achieved stardom with his role on "Friends" at 24 years old. Perry earned one Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Chandler Bing and received two additional nominations for his appearances on the political drama series "The West Wing."

Before venturing into acting, Perry had a promising career as a top-ranked junior tennis player in Canada, dedicating up to 10 hours a day to his practice, according to Tennis Canada.