Known for his transparency about his personal challenges, the world seeks to understand the circumstances surrounding Matthew Perry's untimely passing.
The star was found dead on Saturday (October 28) in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home. His ascent to stardom, thanks to his standout role on Friends, was accompanied by personal battles that he never shied away from discussing.
Perry's candidness about his prolonged struggles with substance abuse has been both a beacon of hope and a testament to the harsh realities many face in and out of Hollywood. These challenges were vividly documented in his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing.
While promoting this intimate chronicle, Perry proudly mentioned that he had maintained 18 months of sobriety. However, he was always quick to assert the complexity of addiction recovery.
In a candid interaction with The Hollywood Reporter back in 2015, Perry provided an introspective view into his journey, stating, “You can’t have a drug problem for 30 years and then expect to have it solved in 28 days.”
This profound reflection not only showcased the actor's personal struggles but also highlighted the broader, often misunderstood, narrative around addiction.
He continued, emphasizing the highs and lows of his life, saying, “I’ve had a lot of ups and downs in my life and a lot of wonderful accolades, but the best thing about me is that if an alcoholic comes up to me and says, ‘Will you help me stop drinking?’ I will say, ‘Yes. I know how to do that.’”
Law enforcement sources confirmed to TMZ there were no drugs at the scene of his death, with another officer highlighting to The New York Times that no signs pointed to foul play.
On Sunday, the coroner’s office stated that Perry's cause of death had been “deferred,” per WCNC. This essentially means that an autopsy has been completed, but the examiner requires additional time and further investigation into the sudden tragedy.
“Deferred means that after an autopsy, a cause of death has not been determined and the medical examiner is requesting more investigation into the death, including additional studies,” a spokesperson for the department had explained to THR, when Lisa-Marie Presley's cause of death was deferred. “Once the tests/studies come back, the doctor evaluates the case again and makes the cause of death determination.”
According to People, the results of Perry’s autopsy are pending a toxicology report, which can take a number of weeks to complete.