# Matthew Perry from Friends dies, RIP **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [October 29, 2023, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matthew-perry-from-friends-dies-rip/992250 "2023-10-29T00:34:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2023, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matthew-perry-from-friends-dies-rip/992250/81 "2023-10-30T15:43:14Z")
Even my son and his friends who had not watched Friends knew that shouting “pivot” while moving furniture is supposed to be funny. [Yes, it was Ross shouting “pivot”, but it’s Chandler who again makes the scene complete.](https://youtu.be/8w3wmQAMoxQ?si=VQjnWtS-txYaDgdY&t=79) ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2023, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matthew-perry-from-friends-dies-rip/992250/82 "2023-10-30T16:24:09Z")
> [@TRC4941](#): > > I just found out a few weeks ago that Keith Morrison is his step-father. His mother was press secretary for the Trudeau (senior) administration and he went to school with Trudeau (junior). ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2023, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matthew-perry-from-friends-dies-rip/992250/83 "2023-10-30T18:15:05Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > (Chandler, referencing Chinese food in China): “Of course, over there they just call it food.” _The Big Bang Theory_ stole that joke, for a scene where Leonard is taking his girlfriend Priya out for Indian food: “or, as you call it, ‘food’.” ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2023, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matthew-perry-from-friends-dies-rip/992250/84 "2023-10-30T21:34:02Z")
Are we 100% sure this isn’t just a prank by Ross? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2023, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matthew-perry-from-friends-dies-rip/992250/85 "2023-10-31T18:13:20Z")
So sorry he’s gone - I thought he was a little older than me, but he was actually younger. He was my favorite actor on _Friends._ Of the six, Chandler was the closest to me in both looks and sense of humor. He always made me laugh. I liked Perry’s _West Wing_ appearances too. May he rest in peace. The _Friends_ cast weighs in: [https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/30/entertainment/jennifer-aniston-matthew-perry-death/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/30/entertainment/jennifer-aniston-matthew-perry-death/index.html) > [@Dinsdale](#): > > He has to be near the top of any list of folk who’ve managed the most success that resulted in the least happiness. Yes, alas, well said. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2023, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matthew-perry-from-friends-dies-rip/992250/86 "2023-10-31T18:26:20Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > He has to be near the top of any list of folk who’ve managed the most success that resulted in the least happiness. I hope he was happy at times, but I haven’t read his book. I know he had addiction issues for sure. Who else has been so unhappy with fame? Michael Jackson? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2023, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matthew-perry-from-friends-dies-rip/992250/87 "2023-10-31T18:26:59Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > he went to school with Trudeau (junior). There have been rumours that he once shoved Justin into a locker. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2023, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matthew-perry-from-friends-dies-rip/992250/88 "2023-10-31T19:00:59Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Who else has been so unhappy with fame? Michael Jackson? Judy Garland, for sure. Could probably compile a not terribly short list of actors/musicians who achieved fame but abused substances and died early. Would be challenging to try to factor out mental illness and substance abuse from simple unhappiness. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2023, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matthew-perry-from-friends-dies-rip/992250/89 "2023-10-31T21:36:25Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Who else has been so unhappy with fame? Michael Jackson? I believe the all time leader in this category is Diana, Princess of Wales. Both the most famous and the most unhappy. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2023, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matthew-perry-from-friends-dies-rip/992250/90 "2023-10-31T21:58:51Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Who else has been so unhappy with fame? Kurt Cobain was unhappy with the life that fame brought him. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2023, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matthew-perry-from-friends-dies-rip/992250/91 "2023-10-31T22:24:32Z")
I read Perry’s book. He was not someone who was unhappy with fame. He was someone who was unhappy with his addiction. Fame didn’t make him an addict; fame made it possible for him to feed his raging addiction without stealing, homelessness, or any of the other usual paths for addicts. His opioid addiction started when he was prescribed painkillers after a jet ski accident in 1997. (_Friends_ premiered in 1994.) This isn’t to say he didn’t have mental health issues or that fame wasn’t difficult, but this isn’t a story about a guy whose fame drove him to drugs. Drugs drove him to drugs. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2023, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matthew-perry-from-friends-dies-rip/992250/92 "2023-11-02T21:32:23Z")
I was a fan, and watched a lot of his stuff – _Friends, West Wing, Studio 60, Mr. Sunshine, Go On,_ _Odd Couple_, _The Good Fight_, etc. (some for him, some because I was already watching a particular show). And I read his memoir. _Mr. Sunshine_ was…different. He was great in _Go On_; that show was underrated. Something was definitely up with him during _Odd Couple_, though – like he suddenly forgot how to act/be funny. I found it hard to watch him. That show only lasted as long as it did because of Thomas Lennon, who is a genius. I also feel that Studio 60 was underrated (but then, I’m also an Aaron Sorkin fan). It isn’t available to stream anywhere, but I bought the series on iTunes years ago and re-watch it from time to time…I’ve been re-watching it (again) since the news of Perry’s death. His character’s name was also Matt, and I was very surprised that his memoir didn’t address the “Matt’s addicted to uppers” storyline at all. I was really hoping for some insight into how he felt about that, how it came about, etc. That arc is actually distractingly unrealistic, IMO, but just last night I watched the episode where his assistant confronts him about his drug use and it was a bit eerie. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matthew-perry-from-friends-dies-rip/992250/93 "2023-11-14T19:14:54Z")
Well done, Matt. > **[Matt LeBlanc Pens Heartbreaking Tribute to Matthew Perry: 'You're Finally Free'](https://www.aol.com/matt-leblanc-pens-heartbreaking-tribute-165048045.html)** > > "I will always smile when I think of you and I'll never forget you. Never," LeBlanc shared in his tribute to Perry, who died on Oct. 28 ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2023, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matthew-perry-from-friends-dies-rip/992250/94 "2023-12-15T23:51:36Z")
> **[Matthew Perry died of ‘acute effects of ketamine’, autopsy report says](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/dec/15/matthew-perry-cause-of-death-ketamine-autopsy)** > > Contributing factors in Friends star’s death included ‘drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine’ ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2023, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matthew-perry-from-friends-dies-rip/992250/95 "2023-12-16T00:08:35Z")
Who knew Baby Duck could be a gateway drug? ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2023, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matthew-perry-from-friends-dies-rip/992250/96 "2023-12-16T00:39:17Z")
I find it odd that drowning is listed as a “contributing factor”. _Ya think?_ ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2023, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matthew-perry-from-friends-dies-rip/992250/97 "2023-12-16T00:51:07Z")
I think what it means is that he lost consciousness first. If not for that, he wouldn’t have drowned. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2023, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matthew-perry-from-friends-dies-rip/992250/98 "2023-12-16T02:00:57Z")
I know he’s dead either way, but I was hoping if he had to die, he died clean and sober. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2023, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matthew-perry-from-friends-dies-rip/992250/99 "2023-12-16T03:20:45Z")
The antivax obituary ghouls who blamed his death on Covid vaccination are curiously silent. Then again, they’re distracted by new deaths they hope to exploit. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2023, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matthew-perry-from-friends-dies-rip/992250/100 "2023-12-16T04:27:21Z")
Matthew just couldn’t beat his addiction demons. Even his full time life coach couldn’t monitor him every second of the day. That level of addiction is beyond my comprehension. It seems most would die quickly. Matthew’s massive tv fortune prolonged his suffering. He even survived a colon rupture from drug constipation. He hired a substance abuse counselor from a Rehab center to live-in full time. That level of extreme one-on-one care isn’t available for street addicts. They just OD and die in alleyways. Poor guy. I hope his tortured soul is finally at peace. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matthew-perry-from-friends-dies-rip/992250.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matthew-perry-from-friends-dies-rip/992250.md?page=6)