“It’s appropriate for it to take long,” Melinek said. “Sometimes it takes months to do a proper investigation.”
Perry did not shy away from speaking publicly about his struggles with drinking and drug use, which sometimes led to hospitalizations for a range of ailments. By his own account, Perry had spent more than half of his life in treatment and rehab facilities.
In his 2022 memoir, “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing,” Perry shared in detail some of the health challenges he had faced over the years, including a series of medical episodes in 2018 that included pneumonia, an exploded colon, a brief stint on life support, two weeks in a coma, nine months with a colostomy bag and more than a half-dozen stomach surgeries.
Perry was just 24 when he was cast in “Friends,” a show that would forever change his life and one that would firmly plant his feet in the limelight. That sitcom ran for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004, and eventually earned him and his co-stars $1 million per episode. During “Friends,” Perry starred in a number of movies, some of which failed to capture audiences at the box office, including “Almost Heroes” (1998) with Chris Farley, and “Three to Tango” (1999).
After Perry’s death, tributes from fans and friends washed over the internet, many remembering him for his acting talent, kindness and bravery in the face of his challenges. His fellow “Friends” actors said in a joint statement that they were “utterly devastated” by Perry’s sudden death. “We were more than just cast mates,” the statement said. “We are a family.”
A private funeral for Perry was held on Nov. 3, according to People. The magazine said a service was held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, a cemetery where many of Hollywood’s biggest stars were buried, including Debbie Reynolds, Paul Walker and Bob Barker.
Orlando Mayorquin and Andrew Jacobs contributed reporting.