Actor Matthew Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing on the popular television show “Friends,” made an impression on PNW students. 

“He will be missed for many reasons,” said Sophia Hoyda, a junior in the Nursing program. “Not only for his amazing acting in the show and how loveable his character was but for the things he did outside of acting. 

“He was a huge advocate for drug rehabilitation after suffering from an addiction for many years, so I’d like to think a lot of people will remember him for that,” she said.

Perry died at 54, at his home in Los Angeles. Officials say he drowned in his own hot tub. The cause of death is still under investigation.

In 2022, Perry wrote a memoir titled “Friends, Lovers, and The Terrible Thing”. In this memoir, he talked about his decades-long addictions to drugs and alcohol and the fact that he went to rehab 15 times before he achieved sobriety. 

Perry said he wrote the memoir to help people going through the same problem he experienced, let them know they aren’t alone, and offer advice on how to get through it.

“He will definitely be missed greatly,” said Stephen Franczek, a senior Finance major. “Chandler was my favorite character in the show. There was just something about his energy that made him so lovable. He’s the reason I watched the show for so many years.”

Like many others, Ella Baltzell found comfort in watching Perry act.

“I’ll miss him a lot,” said the freshman Biology major. “I remember watching “Friends” with my parents when I was little. Since then, it has always been my comfort show that I watch whenever I’m in a bad mood and I want to cheer up. Matthew Perry is the biggest reason for that.”

Micah Ruhe said Perry was the only reason she watched “Friends.”

“I honestly didn’t love any of the other characters in the show besides Chandler,” said Ruhe, a junior Psychology major. “He always made me laugh and I couldn’t believe it when I saw he passed. He’s the only reason I watched the show. He will be missed.”