US actor Matthew Perry, renowned for his iconic portrayal of Chandler Bing in the beloved '90s TV series Friends, has passed away at the age of 54.

Law enforcement sources in Los Angeles have disclosed that the actor was discovered lifeless at his residence.

Friends, the show that chronicled the lives of six close-knit friends residing in New York City, ran from 1994 to 2004.

The series' final episode captured the hearts of 52.5 million viewers in the United States, cementing it as the most-watched TV episode of the 2000s.

The LA Times and TMZ, the first to break the news of Perry's demise, reported that he was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his residence.

A spokesperson from the Los Angeles Fire Department informed the BBC that emergency responders were dispatched to an address in the Pacific Palisades area, responding to a "water emergency" of an unspecified nature, but refrained from confirming Perry's identity.

Warner Bros. TV, the production company behind Friends, expressed profound sorrow at the loss of their cherished friend, Matthew Perry.

"Matthew was an incredibly gifted actor and an indelible part of the Warner Bros. Television Group family," the statement read.

"The impact of his comedic genius was felt around the world, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of so many. This is a heartbreaking day, and we send our love to his family, his loved ones, and all of his devoted fans."

caption, Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston and Matthew Perry in a scene from Friends

Matthew Perry, born in Massachusetts in 1969, spent his formative years in Ottawa, Canada, where he attended elementary school alongside Justin Trudeau, who would go on to become the Canadian prime minister.

As a teenager, Perry relocated to Los Angeles, where he made his acting debut as Chazz Russell in Boys Will Be Boys and took on various roles in TV shows, including Growing Pains.

However, it was his role on Friends that catapulted him to international stardom. The show chronicled the lives of six New Yorkers as they navigated the complexities of dating, careers, and friendship. Co-starring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, and Lisa Kudrow, Friends became one of the most iconic and successful television series of all time.

Matthew Perry portrayed the endearingly awkward Chandler Bing, renowned for his sharp-witted one-liners, earning him a Primetime Emmy nomination in 2002.

Throughout his life, Perry grappled with addiction to painkillers and alcohol, seeking help through rehabilitation clinics on multiple occasions. In a 2016 interview with BBC Radio 2, he disclosed that he could not recollect three years of filming Friends due to the influence of alcohol and drugs.

caption, Perry (far left) with the other stars of Friends in 1997

In a more recent interview last year, he shared that he chose not to watch the show.

"I didn't watch the show, and haven't watched the show, because I could go, 'Drinking, opiates, drinking, cocaine,'" he said. "I could tell season by season, by how I looked. That's why I don't wanna watch it, because that's what I see.

"But I think I'm going to start to watch it because it's been an incredible thing to watch it touch the hearts of different generations."

Perry also appeared in several films, including Fools Rush In, Almost Heroes and the Whole Nine Yards.

Maggie Wheeler, who played Janice in Friends, was the first of Perry's co-stars to publicly pay tribute to the actor.

Ms Wheeler said the joy Perry brought to "so many" in his "too short lifetime will live on".

"I feel so very blessed by every creative moment we shared," she wrote on Instagram.

Morgan Fairchild who played Perry's on-screen mother and erotic novel writer Nora Bing, said: "I'm heartbroken about the untimely death of my 'son', Matthew Perry."

"The loss of such a brilliant young actor is a shock," she added.

Cruel Intentions actress Selma Blair said Perry was her "oldest boy friend", adding: "All of us loved Matthew Perry, and I did especially. Every day. I loved him unconditionally. And he me.

"And I'm broken. Broken hearted. Sweet dreams Matty. Sweet dreams."