Matthew Perry's last Instagram post was a haunting photo of himself relaxing in a hot tub

Matthew Perry, the renowned actor widely recognized for his role in the hit sitcom 'Friends', was found dead of an apparent drowning in a hot tub at his California home near Los Angeles, according to reports from TMZ.

Prior to his tragic demise, Perry had shared a haunting Instagram post a few days earlier, in which he was pictured relaxing in a hot tub.

Earlier on the same Saturday morning, Perry was reported to have engaged in a lengthy pickleball session before dispatching his assistant on errands. Upon the assistant's return, an emergency call was promptly placed to 911 upon finding Perry in an unresponsive state.

The authorities have indicated that no evidence of foul play has been uncovered, with no drugs found at the scene despite Perry's long-standing battle with substance abuse. Law enforcement responded to a report of a  cardiac arrest around 4 in the afternoon. 

His struggles with addiction were well-documented, detailed in his memoir, 'Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing', wherein Perry openly shared his trials and triumphs, striving to offer solace and support to others facing similar challenges.

During various talk show appearances discussing his book, Perry frequently found himself overcome with emotion, shedding light on the difficulties he had endured and expressing his own regrets, while his 'Friends' cast members stood firmly by his side.

Notably, the 'Friends' reunion special had drawn attention to Perry's apparent struggles, with reports indicating that he appeared to be exhibiting slurred speech and an altered demeanor.

'Friends', which enjoyed a successful 10-season run, featured Perry in all 234 episodes alongside the tightly knit cast, including Matt LeBlanc, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, and David Schwimmer, propelling them all to stardom.

In recent times, the show has encountered criticism from some quarters, with claims that it lacked diversity, drawing the ire of activists advocating for greater representation in media. Jennifer Aniston herself acknowledged the shifting sentiments, remarking on how the show is now viewed as "offensive" by certain segments of the audience.

Beyond his prominent role in 'Friends', Perry had also graced numerous other television shows, including 'Silver Spoons', 'Growing Pains', 'Charles in Charge', 'Beverly Hills 90210', 'Ally McBeal', 'The West Wing', and 'Scrubs', among others.