Friends' actor Matthew Perry dead at 54

Matthew Perry, one of the stars of smash hit TV sitcom "Friends," has been found dead at his home, US media reported Saturday. He was 54.

Law enforcement sources told the Los Angeles Times that Perry was found unconscious in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home by first responders.

They were unable to revive him.

The LA Times and TMZ, which first reported the news, both said there were no signs of foul play, citing anonymous sources.

Perry was best known for his portrayal of the wise-cracking Chandler Bing on NBC's wildly popular "Friends," which ran for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004.

Perry had battled for years with addiction to painkillers and alcohol, and attended rehabilitation clinics on multiple occasions.

During a recent televised "Friends" reunion, Perry surprised his co-stars by admitting to having suffered severe anxiety "every night" during filming.

TMZ reported that no drugs were found at the scene on Saturday.

As well as "Friends," Perry appeared in movies such as "Fools Rush In" and "The Whole Nine Yards."

"Friends" followed the lives of six New Yorkers navigating dating, careers and friendship.

Perry and his co-stars – Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer – negotiated $1 million each per episode by the end of their colossally popular and zeitgeist-setting 236-episode, 10-year run.

In a sign of the show's enduring appeal, the gang reportedly pocketed $2.5 million each for a reunion episode in 2021.

During that episode, Perry's slurred speech prompted concern among fans.

Perry also surprised his co-stars by admitting to having suffered severe anxiety "every night" during filming.

Perry's representatives did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment.

/KN/