Getty Image
Over the weekend, it was reported that former Friends star Matthew Perry had passed away at the age of 54 years old following a suspected drowning.
Authorities say that Perry was found unresponsive in the hot tub of his Los Angeles home at around 4 p.m. local time on Saturday, October 28. Furthermore, police say there were no signs of foul play at the sign.
On Sunday, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office provided its first official update in regards to Perry’s autopsy, with the coroner’s office saying that the cause of death had been “deferred.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, a cause of death being classified as “deferred” typically means an “autopsy has been completed but the examiner needs more time and additional investigation into the death.” This means it could be another few weeks until his cause of death is officially confirmed.
“Deferred means that after an autopsy, a cause of death has not been determined and the medical examiner is requesting more investigation into the death, including additional studies,” a spokesperson for the department previously explained, when the coroner deferred the case of death for Lisa Marie Presley, who died in January.
“Once the tests/studies come back, the doctor evaluates the case again and makes the cause of death determination.” [via The Hollywood Reporter]
Perry was best known for his portrayal of Chandler Bing on the hit NBC sitcom Friends, which ran from 1996 to 2004.
Perry also had roles on TV series such as Ally McBeal, The West Wing, and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, while also appearing in films such as Fools Rush In, The Whole Nine Yards, The Whole Ten Yards, and 17 Again.
At this time, it is unclear when and where the memorial services for Perry will be held. Our thoughts are with his various friends, family, fans, and loved ones during this difficult time.