A renowned actor, best known for his role in the popular sitcom “Friends,” was tragically found lifeless in his home’s jacuzzi in the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles around 4 p.m. on Saturday. According to law enforcement sources, emergency services were dispatched to the location following a report of a cardiac arrest. The identity of the individual who made the 911 call remains unknown. The authorities have stated that no drugs were discovered at the scene and there are no suspicions of foul play.
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed in a statement that they responded to a death investigation on a male in his 50s at the 1800 block of Blue Sail Rd. The actor, who was unmarried and had no children, had a well-documented history of struggles with drug and alcohol addiction. He candidly discussed his long-term battle with addiction in his memoir, “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing,” which was released last year.
The actor had been admitted to rehab 15 times and underwent 14 surgeries to alleviate the damage caused to his stomach lining by alcohol and opioid use. He revealed that he nearly lost his life in 2018 due to a gastrointestinal perforation, which resulted in a two-week coma and a five-month hospital stay. He also had to use a colostomy bag for nine months.
In a promotional interview for his book last year, the actor shared that doctors had given him a 2 percent chance of survival. He was put on an ECMO machine, a last-resort treatment that takes over the functions of the heart and lungs. He stated that he had spent nearly $9 million on his journey to sobriety over the years, and he had been drug and alcohol-free since May 2021.
The actor gained fame for his role as Chandler in the iconic sitcom “Friends,” which aired from 1994 to 2004. His struggle with alcohol addiction began around the time he was cast in the show at the age of 24. In 1997, following a jet-ski accident, he was prescribed opioids and quickly developed an addiction.
During the peak of his “Friends” years, the actor was frequently in treatment. He had multiple rehab stays during the decade he was filming the sitcom. Despite periods of sobriety, the damage to his health was significant and long-lasting.
In recent years, the actor declared that he had finally overcome his addiction. He expressed surprise at his resilience and ability to bounce back from the hardships he had faced. Born in Massachusetts and raised in Canada, the actor moved to Los Angeles as a teenager to pursue his acting career. He had brief roles in shows like “Growing Pains” and “Beverly Hills, 90210” before landing his breakthrough role in “Friends” in 1994.
In addition to his iconic role, the actor also appeared in other acclaimed shows and films, including “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” “Fools Rush In,” “The Whole Nine Yards,” and “17 Again.” He had several high-profile romances, including relationships with Julia Roberts and “Mean Girls” actress Lizzy Caplan, and was engaged to literary manager Molly Hurwitz before their split in June 2021.