Matthew Perry would have turned 57 on August 19, 2026. The actor became a household name as the sarcastic but lovable Chandler Bing on Friends, and viewers particularly embraced his character’s romance with Monica Geller, played by Courteney Cox. During and after Friends, Matthew continued entertaining audiences with roles in The Whole Nine Yards, 17 Again, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and The Odd Couple.
Matthew was also candid about his decades-long struggles with substance use and recovery. He recounted his experiences in his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, and hoped his story could help others living with addiction.
Matthew died on October 28, 2023, at age 54. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined that he died from the acute effects of ketamine. Drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine were listed as contributing factors, and his death was ruled accidental.
Five people later pleaded guilty to federal charges connected to the ketamine supplied to Matthew. All five had been sentenced by May 2026, including his former assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, who received 41 months in prison, and drug dealer Jasveen Sangha, who received a 15-year sentence. The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed the conclusion of the criminal case.
To see more photos of Matthew throughout his life and career, scroll through the gallery below.
Read the full article here
