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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 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. 

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.

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.” 

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“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.”

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

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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

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

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View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Billy Bush (@billybush)

Image credits: mattyperry4

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.

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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

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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

Mindaugas Balčiauskas

Mindaugas Balčiauskas

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I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

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Mindaugas Balčiauskas

Mindaugas Balčiauskas

Author, BoredPanda staff

I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

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Libstak
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated 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
1 year ago DotsCreated 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.

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Bored Potato
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated 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
1 year ago DotsCreated 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
1 year ago DotsCreated 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.

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Libstak
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated 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
1 year ago DotsCreated 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
1 year ago DotsCreated 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
1 year ago DotsCreated 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
1 year ago DotsCreated 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.

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Load More Comments
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