Matthew Perry dead: Friends actor found dead at California home aged 54

Beloved Friends actor Matthew Perry was found dead at his Los Angeles home on Saturday.

Friends star Matthew Perry has died in an apparent drowning accident aged 54.

Emergency services were called to his Los Angeles home on Saturday, reportedly after an assistant found him unresponsive.

An LA Fire Department spokesman confirmed that their first responders had been called just after 4pm for a “water rescue or water emergency”, but the body of water involved was not specified.

No foul play is suspected.

A source told TMZ the star had been found in a hot tub, while shortly after another told the US site that he had just returned home from a game of pickleball.

“We responded to the 1800 block of Blue Sail Rd for a death investigation on a male [at] 4:10 pm this afternoon,” LA police confirmed.

“He was in his 50s.”

Friends star Matthew Perry has died aged 54 after an apparent drowning, but it was later claimed he collapsed after a game of pickleball.

A friend of Perry’s said that his inner circle was in “a total state of shock” following his tragic death.

“People are crying on the phone and struggling to accept this news,” the source said.

“It’s no secret that he struggled with drugs and alcohol for years but the last time I spoke to him, which was within the last few weeks, he seemed to be in a good place.

“He was upbeat and sounded sober and positive.”

The official Friends social media accounts have paid respect to the beloved cast member.

In posts to Instagram and Twitter, the account wrote: “We are devastated to learn of Matthew Perry’s passing. He was a true gift to us all. Our heart goes out to his family, loved ones, and all of his fans.”

Throughout his career, Perry also appeared in numerous other TV shows including Boys Will Be Boys, Growing Pains, Ally McBeal, The West Wing and Scrubs.

The actor is most famous for his role as Chandler Bing on Friends, in which he appeared for its entire decade-long run from 1994 until 2004.

The series also starred Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc and Lisa Kudrow.

Throughout his career, Perry also appeared in numerous other TV shows including Boys Will Be Boys, Growing Pains, Ally McBeal, The West Wing and Scrubs, as well as in blockbuster films such as The Whole Nine Yards, 17 Again, Fools Rush In and Three To Tango.