Matthew Perry 911 Dispatch Audio Mentions ‘Drowning’
FollowingMatthew Perry's death, which we reported on last night, gossip website TMZ acquired the dispatch call made in response to the Friends actor’s drowning. The dispatch audio references “drowning” after Perry, 54, was found dead in a jacuzzi at his Los Angeles home on Saturday (October 28).
In the 15-second audio clip, a man says, “Agent 23. Rescue 23. EMS 9 on the radio. In response to the drowning,” as first responders were sent to Perry’s home after receiving a cardiac arrest call. Perry was discovered unresponsive at his home. No drugs or foul play were found at the scene, according to the outlet. The Los Angeles County Coroner is conducting an autopsy and toxicology testing to determine the cause of death.
His Family’s Statement
Perry’s mother, Suzanne Morrison, father John Bennett Perry, and stepfather Keith Morrison, arrived at the actor’s residence hours after his death on Saturday in footage also released by TMZ. His family addressed Perry’s death with a statement to TMZ: “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.” His Friends co-stars have yet to release any statements about Perry.
Nearly a week prior to his death, Perry shared a photo of himself on Instagram in a jacuzzi. He wrote: “Oh, so warm water swirling around makes you feel good? I’m Mattman.”
As we previously reported, Perry suffered from alcoholism and addiction issues. In his 2022 memoir Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, the actor detailed his addiction journey. A few years ago, he almost died due to his colon bursting from opioid overuse. When Perry was first cast on Friends as Chandler Bing at 24, his alcohol addiction was just starting to surface. He wrote in his memoir, “I could handle it, kind of. But by the time I was 34, I was really entrenched in a lot of trouble.”
Celebrity Deaths 2023: Musicians, Entertainers & Cultural Figures We Lost
We’ve had to say goodbye to some big names this year in the worlds of entertainment, sports, politics and beyond. To be frank, it was an absolutely brutal year.
So many giants in music died in 2023. Guitar god Jeff Beck died suddenly in January at age 78 after contracting bacterial meningitis. In February, legendary songwriter Burt Bacharach died at age 94. Singer, actor and civil rights icon Harry Belafonte died in April at age 96 from congestive heart failure. In May, the world lost Tina Turner – the Queen of Rock ‘n Roll – at age 83. Iconic pop singer Tony Bennett died in July at age 96.
The worlds of television and film were not immune to significant loss in 2023. Sitcom mastermind Norman Lear died in December at age 101. Three’s Company star Suzanne Somers died in October at age 76 from an aggressive form of breast cancer. Matthew Perry also died in October. The Friends star was only 54. Bob Barker, longtime host of The Price is Right, died in August at age 99. Paul Reubens, best known for his character Pee-wee Herman, died in July at age 70 following a private battle with cancer.
The sports world was rocked by the deaths of three major wrestling figures. In June, The Iron Sheik (Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri) died at age 81. Then, in August, there were two back-to-back deaths. First, WWE Hall of Famer Terry Funk died at age 79. Funk’s hardcore style has been influential to generations of wrestlers that followed. Then, Bray Wyatt (Windham Rotunda) suddenly died at age 36. The young wrestler died after contracting COVID, which exacerbated a heart issue and led to a heart attack.
Scroll through the gallery below to see the musicians, celebrities and other cultural figures we’ve lost in 2023.
Laila Abuelhawa is the Top 40 and Hip-Hop pop culture writer for Beasley Media Group. Being with the company for over three years, Laila's fierce and fabulous red-carpet rankings have earned her a feature on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert!' Her favorite stories are those surrounding the latest in celebrity fashion, television and film rankings, and how the world reacts to major celebrity news. With a background in journalism, Laila's stories ensure accuracy and offer background information on stars that you wouldn't have otherwise known. She prides herself in covering stories that inform the public about what is currently happening and what is to come in the ever-changing, ever-evolving media landscape.
