Matthew Perry, best known as Chandler Bing in the hit sitcom Friends, has died. He was 54. The beloved actor and passionate addiction-recovery advocate was found dead in his Los Angeles home on Saturday (Oct. 28). 

According to TMZ, Perry passed away in an apparent drowning accident. However, the jacuzzi incident remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department Robbery-Homicide Division. The person who found Perry told emergency responders that they pulled the actor above water and to the side of the jacuzzi. He was announced dead at the scene. 

Investigators have confirmed (Nov. 1) that "no meth or fentanyl" was in the star's system at the time of his death – further tests are being conducted, as the first post-mortem report was "inconclusive." 

Following the devastating news, Friends fans flocked to New York City's West Village to pay tribute to Chandler Bing, the sarcastic character Perry played for ten straight seasons. An abundance of flowers covered the outskirts of the apartment building where Bing and his friends resided in the show. 

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Below the six-story building, fans wrote handwritten letters to their late friend and left packs of gum as a nod to his notorious line to colleague Jill Goodacre, "You know on second thought, gum would be perfection." 

Emotional tourists also contributed blazing candles at the memorial, and stopped to admire the iconic Manhattan building that resembles Central Perk Coffee. 

"His character is unlike any other TV character ever, especially his sense of humor," a devoted fan told The New York Times outside the tribute. "I'm really going to miss him. The humor, the laughter, and love they all shared together really got me through some of my toughest days. And whenever I'm having a bad day, I watch Friends." 

Perry was catapulted to fame following the premiere of Friends in 1994. The sitcom created by David Cane and Marta Kauffman quickly became a cultural phenomenon and transformed Perry, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer into world-renowned figures. 

Tributes for Matthew Perry outside the Friends apartment in New York. He was so loved. pic.twitter.com/yp044s4vuW

— no context chandler bing (@NoContxtBing) October 30, 2023

Perry was 25-years-old when he first began filming the series and remained a core character until the series finale. Viewers fell in love with Chandler Bing's sarcastic humor, awkwardness, and his love story with Type-A friend turned lover Monica Geller (Courteney Cox). 

Despite his uplifting spirit portrayed on the small–screen, Perry was battling his own demons behind the scenes. While filming, Perry struggled with addiction. Within his heart-wrenching memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing – Perry opened up about this toxic relationship with alcohol and pills. Perry admitted that he has tried to detox over 65 times and has undergone 14 surgeries. 

"When I die, I don't want 'Friends' to be the first thing that's mentioned – I want helping others to be the first thing that's mentioned," Perry wrote in the hardcover. "And I'm going to live the rest of my life proving that. Addiction is far too powerful for anyone to defeat alone. But together, one day at a time, we can beat it down," he added.

To push his life-long mission forward, close friends have joined forces to create the Matthew Perry Foundation. The nonprofit aims to help individuals who have fallen victim to drugs and alcohol. TMZ reported that the late actor was preparing to launch the organization. 

"The Matthew Perry Foundation is the realization of Matthew's enduring commitment to helping others struggling with the disease of addiction," read a statement on the official website. "It will honor his legacy and be guided by his own words and experiences and driven by his passion for making a difference in as many lives as possible." 

The Matthew Perry Foundation is asking for your support. To donate, head to matthewperryfoundation.org.