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Matthew Perry’s Pickleball Partner Saw Red Flags Days Before ‘Friends’ Megastar’s Tragic Death
Matthew Perry’s Pickleball Partner Saw Red Flags Days Before ‘Friends’ Megastar’s Tragic Death
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Matthew Perry’s Pickleball Partner Saw Red Flags Days Before ‘Friends’ Megastar’s Tragic Death

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Matthew Perry’s pickleball companion shared her own sorrowful account of observing warning signs of his ill health just hours before his passing. 

The Friends actor reportedly played a game of pickleball, a sport akin to tennis involving a plastic ball with holes, on the same day that he was discovered deceased in his hot tub. 

BP Daily - Your Source for Unbiased Reporting

    Matthew Perry’s pickleball partner revealed that she saw warning signs before his passing, such as his unusual fatigue

    Image credits: David M. Benett / Getty Images

    Image credits: NBC

    Journalist and cousin of President George W. Bush, Billy Bush, just disclosed on Instagram that the woman who played pickleball with him had noticed that something was amiss.

    “Lately his greatest joy was the game of pickleball (he didn’t like the name but he LOVED the game),” the media personality revealed.

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    He continued: “He played every day and sometimes twice. It regulated his days. I spoke to the woman he played with this morning and every morning. She is in shock, adored Matt… she said he had been fatigued today and over the past week. A little more than usual. He played for one hour then went home.” 

    “He played every day and sometimes twice,” President George W. Bush’s cousin Billy Bush revealed on Instagram

    Image credits: NBC

    Image credits: nbc

    Billy took to his Instagram page to share a collage of four headshots of the late actor and captioned it: “Hero to fellow sufferers. I think he won his battle with addiction but it was a Pyrrhic victory.”

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    The 52-year-old Extra host went on to describe the sad reality that Matthew’s addiction had taken “everything out of him,” but that to his surroundings, he was a person everyone wanted to be friends with.

    “And to women… the perfect boyfriend. Everyone had a crush on Chandler Bing,” he added.

    Extra host Billy said that he had spoken “to the woman he played with” the morning of his death

    Image credits: billybush

    Billy explained that Matthew had “nailed” his role in the 10-year-running sitcom.

    “I’m grateful to have known him, admired his courage under the grips of a relentless disease, and will pay tribute in a BIG way Monday,” he wrote.

    Image credits: nbc

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    Image credits: nbc

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    The 54-year-old award-winning actor was found dead at his residence in Los Angeles on October 28, allegedly due to a drowning incident in his hot tub. 

    According to law enforcement authorities, responders were summoned through a 911 call at approximately 4 pm local time, following a report of a cardiac arrest.

    Upon the first responders’ arrival at the scene, they initiated water rescue procedures as it appeared that Matthew had drowned. 

    At that point, it was reported that no drugs were found at the scene, and law enforcement did not have any suspicions of foul play.

    “I’m grateful to have known him, admired his courage under the grips of a relentless disease,” the journalist wrote on social media

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Billy Bush (@billybush)

    Image credits: mattyperry4

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    In the years leading up to his passing, the Massachusetts native had been open about his challenges with opioid addiction. 

    His iconic tenure on Friends had been markedly affected by his battles with drug and alcohol dependency, and he had previously struggled with addiction to Vicodin.

    Matthew had a history of substance abuse, and spent years battling it, but also advocating for better support for those addicted

    Image credits: mattyperry4

    Image credits: mattyperry4

    The late actor leaves a philanthropic legacy, as he has previously lobbied the US Congress as a celebrity spokesperson for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) in support of funding for drug courts.

    According to Businesswire, drug courts reduce drug addiction, crime, and recidivism, and foster rehabilitation while saving taxpayer money. 

    West Huddleston, the CEO of the NADCP said: “Drug Courts work better than any other justice program, the fact that 75% of all graduates from Drug Court remain arrest-free and out of jail is a number that cannot be ignored.” 

    In 2013, Matthew received a Champion of Recovery award from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy for opening Perry House, a rehab center in his former mansion in Malibu, California.

    Friends fans and admirers alike mourned the loss of the talented actor and were particularly sad to learn he died alone

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    Andréa Oldereide

    Andréa Oldereide

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

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    I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com

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    Andréa Oldereide

    Andréa Oldereide

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com

    What do you think ?
    Libstak
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It takes someone closer than a pickleball partner to recognise anything more than common fatigue..give her a break fgs. Always someone has to be torn down by strangers who know less than zero about the people, it's tiresome. I am in shock though, he was too young and I really loved his smile.

    Lydsylou
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Exactly fatigue doesn't exactly mean that he's going to be dead in 12hrs it just means he's tired.

    Load More Replies...
    Bored Potato
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm really sad about Matthew Perry, but give the pickleball partner some slack ffs. Fatigue doesn't mean he's going to die, and it's not her fault that he's dead. People on the internet love to play the blame game, don't they

    Emma S
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How is his pickle ball partner supposed to have foresaw his death because he seemed fatigued? Fatigue can mean a lot of things. Matthew was an addict, albeit a recovering addict, and addicts will often take things to the extreme. Whether that be gambling, sex, exercise, relationships, food, shopping etc to 'fix' themselves. That's how the mind of an addict works. I should know as I'm a recovering addict myself. Sounds like that's what he was doing with pickleball. He'd had a lot of health issues over the years, so it sounds like his body just had enough.

    Jaaawn
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He had been sober since 2020. Even though that can be the case, the toll it takes on your body over time can be devastating. His heart had too much strain put on it throughout his shirt life and simply gave up.

    Load More Replies...
    Nea
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The One Where We Lost My Favorite Friend :(

    Jay Son
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Hindsight is always 20/20. Don't judge or assume you know the situation when you weren't there.

    Counselor Bob
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow, why highlight these judgy comments. I'm sure his friends are feeling sad enough without some randos on the internet interjecting their opinions.

    Manny
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Still in shock. I usually don't get too emotional when celebs pass but this one hit me hard. He was my favorite. RIP Matthew

    Erick Blood
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Listen, BP. C**p like this has no place here. Let’s be a positive website, not some low-rent National Enquirer. The community here deserves better than this trash.

    Corvus
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Reminder: YOU choose what to read.

    Load More Replies...
    KimToo
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Of course it's Billy Bush. He has no shame.

    Rostit. .
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So BP is riding the dead celebrity wave. They don't really care.

    Jaaawn
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    BP stopped caring a long time ago. They often copy articles from Buzzfeed literally days after they publish them and BP even have the audacity to copy Buzzfeed articles WORD FOR WORD! I e-mailed a couple of the authors here to point out I knew what they were doing and I got my old account banned!

    Load More Replies...
    Cat Chat
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Nothing has been confirmed by the medical examiner, yet. So all the "speculations" by "friends" and anyone who posts articles about it from these unofficial not actually sources only does him a disservice. IF it comes out as drug related (prescription or otherwise), there really is no need for judgement articles either. Addiction is something one struggles with from the time it starts until death.

    ynyrhydref56
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Shocked! I hadn't heard. So sad. I loved him.

    Corvus
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Chandler was a characters that many of us bored pandas (especially the millennial segment) probably identify with... RIP, friend.

    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Poor man :( And yeah cut the pickleball partner some slackkk There is no way she could've guessed that he was going to die Now that we know he died, we think that it was obvious, but... it wasn't.

    Andy Machala
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As an Ex-recovering alcoholic I have a problem. Becoming a role-model for recovering alcoholics puts a lot of pressure on a person. If you "back-slide" it becomes a whole deal that can be devastating. Or course we still don't know what happened but I been there.

    Sergy Yeltsen
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    unfortunately, there are going to be so many hangers-on and sideline people who may have seen him from 50m away selling their story. As a person, I don't even pretend to know Matthew Perry. All I know is that I can't even give up sugar, and this person has pulled himself out of (or damn close to) addiction to many hard drugs and that is to be commended.

    Nothing to see here
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If he was extra fatigued, he could have been having heart problems. I would suspect it will be said that he suffered a heart attack in the hot tub. Just my $0.02

    Jaaawn
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I still refuse to accept his death. I feel so, so incredibly bad for poor Matthew. He wanted nothing more in this world than a wife and children- I'm devastated for him that he never got the chance to do it. He will leave such a massive hole in my history now, as a F.R.I.E.N.D.S fan I practically grew up with the show. Now anytime I watch an episode it's gonna be forever tainted with a bitter sadness, and lord knows it's gonna be a LONG time before I'm able to watch an episode again. I even have the 2 official Lego sets- in the apartments set, the little Chandler is sitting next to Joey in their matching recliner chairs. In the Central Perk set he's in his iconic green chair. Rest in heavenly peace. Matthew was a firm believer in existence after physical death- I really hope you got there buddy. I love you and will never forget you Mr Chandler Bingl

    Libstak
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It takes someone closer than a pickleball partner to recognise anything more than common fatigue..give her a break fgs. Always someone has to be torn down by strangers who know less than zero about the people, it's tiresome. I am in shock though, he was too young and I really loved his smile.

    Lydsylou
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Exactly fatigue doesn't exactly mean that he's going to be dead in 12hrs it just means he's tired.

    Load More Replies...
    Bored Potato
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm really sad about Matthew Perry, but give the pickleball partner some slack ffs. Fatigue doesn't mean he's going to die, and it's not her fault that he's dead. People on the internet love to play the blame game, don't they

    Emma S
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How is his pickle ball partner supposed to have foresaw his death because he seemed fatigued? Fatigue can mean a lot of things. Matthew was an addict, albeit a recovering addict, and addicts will often take things to the extreme. Whether that be gambling, sex, exercise, relationships, food, shopping etc to 'fix' themselves. That's how the mind of an addict works. I should know as I'm a recovering addict myself. Sounds like that's what he was doing with pickleball. He'd had a lot of health issues over the years, so it sounds like his body just had enough.

    Jaaawn
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He had been sober since 2020. Even though that can be the case, the toll it takes on your body over time can be devastating. His heart had too much strain put on it throughout his shirt life and simply gave up.

    Load More Replies...
    Nea
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The One Where We Lost My Favorite Friend :(

    Jay Son
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Hindsight is always 20/20. Don't judge or assume you know the situation when you weren't there.

    Counselor Bob
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow, why highlight these judgy comments. I'm sure his friends are feeling sad enough without some randos on the internet interjecting their opinions.

    Manny
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Still in shock. I usually don't get too emotional when celebs pass but this one hit me hard. He was my favorite. RIP Matthew

    Erick Blood
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Listen, BP. C**p like this has no place here. Let’s be a positive website, not some low-rent National Enquirer. The community here deserves better than this trash.

    Corvus
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Reminder: YOU choose what to read.

    Load More Replies...
    KimToo
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Of course it's Billy Bush. He has no shame.

    Rostit. .
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So BP is riding the dead celebrity wave. They don't really care.

    Jaaawn
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    BP stopped caring a long time ago. They often copy articles from Buzzfeed literally days after they publish them and BP even have the audacity to copy Buzzfeed articles WORD FOR WORD! I e-mailed a couple of the authors here to point out I knew what they were doing and I got my old account banned!

    Load More Replies...
    Cat Chat
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Nothing has been confirmed by the medical examiner, yet. So all the "speculations" by "friends" and anyone who posts articles about it from these unofficial not actually sources only does him a disservice. IF it comes out as drug related (prescription or otherwise), there really is no need for judgement articles either. Addiction is something one struggles with from the time it starts until death.

    ynyrhydref56
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Shocked! I hadn't heard. So sad. I loved him.

    Corvus
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Chandler was a characters that many of us bored pandas (especially the millennial segment) probably identify with... RIP, friend.

    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Poor man :( And yeah cut the pickleball partner some slackkk There is no way she could've guessed that he was going to die Now that we know he died, we think that it was obvious, but... it wasn't.

    Andy Machala
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As an Ex-recovering alcoholic I have a problem. Becoming a role-model for recovering alcoholics puts a lot of pressure on a person. If you "back-slide" it becomes a whole deal that can be devastating. Or course we still don't know what happened but I been there.

    Sergy Yeltsen
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    unfortunately, there are going to be so many hangers-on and sideline people who may have seen him from 50m away selling their story. As a person, I don't even pretend to know Matthew Perry. All I know is that I can't even give up sugar, and this person has pulled himself out of (or damn close to) addiction to many hard drugs and that is to be commended.

    Nothing to see here
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If he was extra fatigued, he could have been having heart problems. I would suspect it will be said that he suffered a heart attack in the hot tub. Just my $0.02

    Jaaawn
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I still refuse to accept his death. I feel so, so incredibly bad for poor Matthew. He wanted nothing more in this world than a wife and children- I'm devastated for him that he never got the chance to do it. He will leave such a massive hole in my history now, as a F.R.I.E.N.D.S fan I practically grew up with the show. Now anytime I watch an episode it's gonna be forever tainted with a bitter sadness, and lord knows it's gonna be a LONG time before I'm able to watch an episode again. I even have the 2 official Lego sets- in the apartments set, the little Chandler is sitting next to Joey in their matching recliner chairs. In the Central Perk set he's in his iconic green chair. Rest in heavenly peace. Matthew was a firm believer in existence after physical death- I really hope you got there buddy. I love you and will never forget you Mr Chandler Bingl

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