Have any of the “Friends” actors died?

The sitcom Friends (1994-2004) is one of the most popular and beloved TV shows of all time, with fans spread across the globe who still love and re-watch the show nearly 20 years after its conclusion. The show starred Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer as the titular ‘friends’, each with dedicated fan followings of their own.

Matthew Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing on Friends, passed away on 28th October 2023, in his home in Los Angeles at the age of 54. Ron Liebman, Ron Glass, Taylor Negron, Stan Kirsch, James Michael Tyler, and Mike Hagerty are some of the other actors who played key roles in “Friends” who are not among us anymore.

David Crane and Marta Kauffman's sitcom ran for ten seasons, influencing '90s pop culture and fashion and providing countless hours of laughter, and it is still being enjoyed today. The loss of cast members from the show, which had a profound impact on an entire generation, always has a profound effect on the fans.

Matthew Perry

Matthew Perry played the role of Chandler Bing, one of the six titular friends in the sitcom. Known and loved for his improvised one-liners and endearing sarcasm, Perry as Chandler was one of the most beloved characters on the show, cherished just as much in real life. Chandler’s sarcasm and wit provide a perfect counter-act to the rest of the gang, who are more upbeat and innocent, and this character trait is perfectly embodied by Perry, who saw the character as a reflection of his own personality.

His personal life, however, had its own share of challenges related to drug and alcohol addiction. A jet ski accident left him addicted to pain medication, and his alcoholism found its way into his professional life as he would show up drunk on set. Mirroring their on-screen characters, his castmates showed concern and supported him through his alcohol addiction until he achieved sobriety.

On 28th October 2023, Matthew Perry was found dead in his bathtub at his Los Angeles residence. Fans across the world grieved the passing of this beloved personality as the media world expressed their collective feelings in heartfelt memoirs and write-ups.

James Michael Tyler (Gunther)

If the close-knit titular six on “Friends” had a seventh friend, or a character that even casual viewers would be most familiar with, it would be Gunther, the owner of the group's favorite coffee shop. Invariably sporting a tie, a loud shirt, and tightly cropped bleached-blonde hair, he was frequently spotted flitting around in the background at Central Park, serving customers and pulling espresso shots. When Gunther did speak during one of his more than 150 appearances, it was either to deliver a stinging rebuke to Rachel's on-again off-again boyfriend Ross or to quietly and mournfully express his unrequited love for her former coworker Rachel.

Actor James Michael Tyler worked at The Bourgeois Pig in Hollywood in real life to help pay the bills in between jobs in addition to his ongoing role as Gunther. He told BuzzFeed in 2014, “I was one of their first baristas—I think I started there in 1990 or so.” He participated in the eagerly anticipated and protracted “Friends” reunion special on HBO Max in 2021, but via Zoom due to medical issues.

In 2018, Tyler received an advanced prostate cancer diagnosis; the disease had already spread to his bones, as he revealed to NBC's Today. NBC News reports that the 59-year-old actor passed away in October 2021. “'Friends' would not have been the same without you,” Jennifer Aniston said in an Instagram post. “Thank you for the laughter you brought to the show and to all of our lives; you will be so missed.”

Mike Hagerty (Mr. Treeger)

Mr. Treeger appeared in the plot of five episodes of “Friends”, from 1995 to 2001. He was the stern, no-nonsense superintendent of the New York City apartment building where Monica, Rachel, Chandler, and Joey lived. His appearance in “The One with the Ballroom Dancing” is probably the most memorable: in response to Mr. Treeger's decision to eject Rachel and Monica from the building after catching them stuffing the trash chute and making Rachel cry, Joey stands up for his friends and agrees to be Treeger's ballroom dance partner in preparation for the superintendents' ball.

According to a report, “Friends” actor Mike Hagerty allegedly passed away due to a medication reaction that put him into a coma. According to sources close to the actor, Hagerty's energy level was still low following a leg infection in April. The 67-year-old actor was sent to the hospital for a checkup because he was about to start filming Season 2 of the HBO comedy “Somebody Somewhere.” According to reports, Hagerty received a new antibiotic there that caused him to have a seizure, fall into a coma, and ultimately pass away.

Ron Liebman (Dr. Green)

Dr. Leonard Green, Rachel's controlling father, may only appear in four episodes of “Friends,” but his presence has a significant impact on the entire series and particularly Rachel's character. Dr. Green was very successful in his career but equally absent-minded with his kids. As a result, his three daughters have turned into utterly spoiled brats who have no idea how anything in the world works.

The actor Ron Liebman had a long and illustrious career in theater, television, and film, winning a Tony Award for his performance in “Angels in America.” At the age of 82, Liebman died in December 2019 from complications related to pneumonia.

Ron Glass (Russell)

Given how dysfunctional his relationships are, Ross Gellar and Russell, his divorce lawyer, are on a first-name basis. Ross' compulsive behavior constantly disturbs him, but he also knows a cash cow when he sees one, and as a result of all the business, he refers to Ross as one of his favorite clients.

Please keep in mind that Ross divorced twice in a single year, first from Emily Waltham (Helen Baxendale) after mentioning Rachel's name at the altar, and then from Rachel following a drive-through Elvis wedding in a blackout of excessive drinking in Vegas. At the age of 71, Glass passed away in November 2016 from unspecified causes.

Taylor Negron (Allesandro)

A significant aspect of Monica's character arc involves her pursuing her lifelong ambition of becoming a chef. As she struggles to follow that dream, she writes a review of Allesandro's Italian restaurant for the Chelsea Reporter that so utterly despises the diner that Allesandro visits Monica at her apartment. While there, Monica discovers that Allesandro doesn't actually know how to cook, which is why the food was so terrible. Additionally, he is Lebanese and not even Italian.

After trying Monica's food, Allesandro reluctantly asks her to become his new head chef. This leads to yet another major conflict because the previous head chef was literally related to every member of the staff, and their outrage turns toward her until she concocts pranks with Joey to win over their respect. The actor Taylor Negron, who immortalized Allesandro, received a liver cancer diagnosis in 2008 and passed away from the disease in January 2015 at the age of 57.

Stan Kirsch (Young Ethan)

As part of Monica's dating antics, she pretends to be 22 years old at a college party rather than her actual age of 26. While there, she meets a cute man named Ethan, who introduces himself as a senior. Monica accepts his invitation to go on a date despite her deception that he is a college student.

After sleeping together, Monica learns that he is a high school senior, and is only 17 years old. This turns the relationship from an “ick factor” to a crime that the “SVU” detectives could arrest her for. Stan Kirsch, who played the young Ethan character and was best known for his lengthy appearances on the “Highlander” television series, sadly committed suicide in January 2020 at the age of 51.