LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The unexpected passing of beloved 'Friends' star Matthew Perry has left fans and the entertainment world in mourning.
However, the cause of Perry's death remains a mystery, prompting the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office to undertake additional investigative steps, as indicated in their official records.
Ongoing investigation into Matthew Perry's death
The Medical Examiner's Office updated its online records on Sunday, October 29, listing the cause of Perry's death as "deferred."
“In cases where the cause of death cannot be determined at the time of autopsy, a deferred certificate will be issued until additional studies have been completed,” following the guidelines of the LA Coroner's Office.
While an autopsy has been completed, the medical examiners are patiently awaiting the results of toxicology reports to conclusively establish the cause of Perry's passing, per CNN.
Such reports can be time-consuming, sometimes taking weeks to finalize.
These toxicology reports will play a pivotal role in determining if any foreign substances contributed to the actor's untimely death, as stated by a law enforcement source.
Despite the ongoing investigation, the Los Angeles Police Department's Robbery-Homicide Division has not found any indications of foul play in connection with Matthew Perry's death.
The actor's remains are prepared for release to his next of kin, according to the latest records.
From 911 call to family's grief
The sequence of events leading to Perry's passing began with a distressing 911 call for a water rescue emergency at 4.07 pm on Saturday, October 28. The LAPD's response at 4.10 pm quickly transformed the call into a death investigation, marking the beginning of a heart-wrenching journey for Perry and his loved ones.
Perry's parents, John Bennett Perry and Suzanne Morrison, along with his step-father, 'Dateline' correspondent Keith Morrison, were observed arriving at the actor's residence on the night of Saturday, adding to the emotional turmoil surrounding the tragic event.
Perry's family expressed their profound grief and said they were “heartbroken by the tragic loss of [their] beloved son and brother,” in a heartfelt statement released to People magazine on Sunday,
“Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend,” the statement said. “You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love.”
Matthew Perry, renowned for his role as Chandler Bing on the iconic TV show 'Friends', was candid about his personal struggles, particularly his battle with addiction.
His dedication to recovery and helping others is well-documented in his memoir, 'Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir', published in November 2022.
Matthew Perry's commitment to help and a heartfelt farewell from friends
In interviews, Perry passionately shared his commitment to helping those in need of recovery, “The best thing about me, bar none, is that if somebody comes to me and says, ‘I can’t stop drinking, can you help me?’ I can say ‘yes’ and follow up and do it,” he said on the ‘Q With Tom Power’ podcast last year, where he appeared to discuss his book.
While the cast of 'Friends' remains silent about Perry's passing, co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane, along with executive producer Kevin Bright, issued a statement expressing their deep sorrow and shock over the loss of their beloved friend Matthew Perry.
Their statement said, “It still seems impossible. All we can say is that we feel blessed to have had him as part of our lives,” per Deadline.
“He was a brilliant talent. It’s a cliche to say that an actor makes a role their own, but in Matthew’s case, there are no truer words. From the day we first heard him embody the role of Chandler Bing, there was no one else for us.”
“We will always cherish the joy, the light, the blinding intelligence he brought to every moment - not just to his work, but in life as well. He was always the funniest person in the room. More than that, he was the sweetest, with a giving and selfless heart…This truly is The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken," the statement added.
