Matthew Perry's death has been referred to the Los Angeles Police Department's Robbery Homicide department, according to reports.
The beloved Friends actor, 54, who was best known for playing Chandler Bing in the sitcom, was found unresponsive in his hot tub at home on Saturday (October 28) at around 4PM, before he was declared dead.
The actor is believed to have drowned, however, his official cause of death has been deferred following his autopsy, awaiting the results of toxicology reports.
Now, TMZ reports that the LAPD's Robbery Homicide Division has been called in to investigate, despite no foul play being suspected in the actor's death at this stage.
The outlet revealed that it is in fact "standard procedure" for them to be involved in "high-profile cases" and does not necessarily mean any foul play is suspected.
According to TMZ, the Robbery Homicide Division is "looking to make sure there is nothing nefarious involved in Matthew's death, and it's normal for [it] to take the lead on high-profile cases because RHD has the experience and manpower necessary."
On the day of his death, Perry had played pickleball for a few hours at the Riviera Country Club before returning to his home in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles.
No illicit drugs were found at the scene, and initial toxicology reports have ruled out fentanyl or meth being in the actor's system.
Perry had been open about his past struggles with drug and alcohol abuse, but had worked to help others battling addiction in recent years, as well as trying to raise awareness of the disease of addiction.
The official cause of death will likely take several weeks to be confirmed pending toxicology tests, and it would only be in the case of anything untoward being found that the Robbery Homicide Division would take the lead in the investigation.
The division has investigated several of the most high-profile celebrity deaths in recent years, including that of Michael Jackson, whose overdose death was later ruled a homicide as the medication had been administered by his doctor. His doctor, Conrad Murray, was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter and served two years of a four-year sentence.
Tributes have been flooding in since news of Perry's death broke, with flowers having been left both outside his home and outside the building that was the exterior for the Friends apartment block in New York.
Perry had played Chandler Bing in the sitcom from 1994 until it finished in 2004, having joined the cast at just 24 years old.
Although the toxicology report will take several weeks to conclude on the actor's cause of death, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed his body was ready to be released to his family after the autopsy was completed.
Perry's family released a statement following his death, telling People: "We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother.
"Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend. You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love."
