Matthew Perry dead at 54: 'Friends' star joins tragic list of celebs who drowned
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Not only are the families of celebrities affected by their deaths but an entire fan base is also left bereaved. Although everyone has to die at some point, the sudden demise of famous individuals usually shocks people to the core.
Matthew Perry, who gained popularity for his role as Chandler Bing on 'Friends', was found dead at his Los Angeles residence.
Perry was discovered in the home's jacuzzi, and no drugs had been found at the scene, according to TMZ.
Furthermore, there was no evidence of foul play, and emergency personnel rushed to the home due to a cardiac arrest, per TMZ.
Indeed, one of the most agonizing ways to die is via drowning. Following the world's grief at the unexpected death of Naya Rivera in 2020, Perry's unintentional death in 2023 serves as a reminder that anybody might experience such a loss.
Famous individuals from the entertainment and arts industries have drowned and died in significant manners.
All celebrities on this list have drowning listed as one of their causes of death, even if it was only one of many contributing factors.
Naya Rivera (1987 — 2020)
The famed 'Glee' actress Naya Rivera went missing on July 8, 2020, while out on a boat with her son in California's Lake Piru. Later that day, four-year-old Josey was discovered in the boat by himself, with no sign of Rivera. Search crews took five days to locate her body.
Whitney Houston (1963 — 2012)
Fans of singer Whitney Elizabeth Houston were shocked when she was found dead in her bathtub in 2012. While undoubtedly one of the most gifted vocalists of her era, Houston was also undoubtedly one of the most troubled.
Her battle with drug addiction overshadowed her career and ultimately contributed to her untimely death. Houston died on February 11, 2012, in a Beverly Hills hotel bathtub. She died of heart problems and cocaine, per an autopsy.
Natalie Wood (1938 — 1981)
Natalie Wood was a prominent actress until her untimely death in 1981. She is most remembered for her role as Maria in the classic film 'West Side Story' (1964).
Wood, her husband Robert Wagner, co-star Christopher Walken from 'Brainstorm', and Dennis Davern were relaxing on a yacht in Santa Catalina. Her body was discovered 1.6 kilometers (or one mile) from the yacht.
Authorities initially believed that she had suffered from serious bruises after inadvertently falling off the yacht in the middle of the night. For decades, there have been suspicions, however, suggesting that Wood's death was not an accident and that her husband was somehow involved.
Jeff Buckley (1966 — 1997)
American guitarist and singer-songwriter Buckley died by drowning on May 29, 1997, while waiting for his band to arrive from New York. Several documentaries have focused on Buckley since his tragic death at the age of 30.
He got stuck in the wake of a passing boat during an impromptu evening swim in the Mississippi River; his body was discovered on June 4.
Brian Jones (1942 — 1969)
Jones, the original Rolling Stones frontman, was a wilder rock celebrity than Mick Jagger or Keith Richards. Sadly, by 1969, his severe drug addiction prevented him from being a valuable member of the band. He died only three weeks after being let go by the Rolling Stones.
The 27-year-old was discovered dead on July 3, 1969, in his own swimming pool. Given that Jones had large amounts of alcohol and drugs in his system, it was declared a "death by misadventure".
Dolores O'Riordan (1971 — 2018)
The Cranberries' lead singer, O'Riordan, was discovered dead in a London hotel room on January 15, 2018. She was 46 years old at the time.
It was discovered that O'Riordan had a high blood alcohol content and had drowned in the bathtub. Her room contained several empty alcohol bottles and she had apparently consumed some prescription medication.
Dennis Wilson (1944 — 1983)
Wilson was among the original Beach Boys members. Unfortunately, his untimely death in 1983 was caused by his lifelong struggles with drugs and alcohol. He was 39 years old.
Over the holidays, Wilson got into a drunken mood and ended up going out on his friend's boat to party. He took one fatal plunge and never surfaced again. He was declared dead when his body was discovered following a 30-minute search.
Carol Wayne (1942 — 1985)
Wayne was a television and film actress who frequently appeared on 'The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson'. She died unexpectedly at the age of 42 under mysterious circumstances.
Several possibilities have been proposed. However, the official verdict was accidental drowning.
Wayne and her boyfriend, Edward Durston were enjoying a holiday at the Las Hadas Resort in Mexico when she disappeared. A local fisherman discovered her dead in the ocean 3 days later.
Mary Mara (1960 — 2022)
Actress Mara was discovered dead in upstate New York's St Lawrence River on June 26, 2022. Mara's most famous role was that of Loretta Sweet from the 1990s television series 'ER'.
The 61-year-old was reported to have died in the water while swimming. No evidence of foul play was found, according to police. The initial accounts indicate that she suffered a head injury and lost consciousness.