Actor Matthew Perry's Death Shocks Fans

Perry (far left) was one of the stars of the hit sitcom Friends

Shocking news from Los Angeles tonight -- Friends' star Matthew Perry died at the age of 54 of an apparent drowning at his home.

He was best known as Chandler Bing, a successful executive on the hit sitcom Friends that also starred Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer. They played a group of friends navigating their professional and personal lives in a comedy series that lasted 10 seasons, or over 200 episodes. 

He had written a memoir released last year

On social media, some Chinese fans are posting their sadness of hearing of Perry's passing.

While Friends was never shown legally in China, everyone born in the 90s watched bootlegged versions of the show as a way to learn English. Many of my colleagues in Beijing told me it was their favourite American show.

One person posted on X, formerly known as Twitter:

"Friends was my first sitcom. My first English TV show. For kids in China growing up in the 2000s, Friends has some symbolic significance that cannot be summarised that easily. It was our first experience of the outside world. Matthew Perry, I'm forever grateful to you. RIP."

He did have a Canadian connection -- his mother worked for Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in Ottawa, and Perry and Justin Trudeau went to school together.

Tonight Justin Trudeau paid tribute on X as well:

"Matthew Perry's passing is shocking and saddening. I'll never forget the schoolyard games we used to play, and I know people around the world are never going to forget the joy he brought them. Thanks for all the laughs, Matthew. You were loved -- and you will be missed."