Matthew Perry spotted at French Open in Paris months before his death

Celebrities

matthew perry

By Jack Hobbs

Lifelong tennis fan Matthew Perry attended the French Open four months before his untimely death on Saturday.

The “Friends” star, who was found unresponsive at his Los Angeles home, made his final major public appearance on June 9 at the Stade Roland-Garros in Paris, where he watched the semifinals with a group of friends.

Photos from the star-studded tournament capture the “Fools Rush In” star, 54, laughing and clapping along as he watched the players.

In 2002, the “17 Again” star told The New York Times that he had loved the sport since the age of 4 and would dedicate almost 10 hours a day to improving his own game.

By 13, Perry had become the No. 2 junior player in his hometown of Ottawa, Canada.

“I needed to succeed at whatever I was doing so I could feel better about myself. I had this incredible drive on the tennis court, and that translated into acting,” Perry told the outlet.

Perry’s dreams of playing professional tennis came to a screeching halt in the early ’80s when “The Whole Nine Yards” star was utterly obliterated in a Los Angeles match.

“I got killed. He kicked my butt, this guy,” Perry told David Letterman in 1995. “My whole family, they kind of put their head down, and they were hoping I would have some kind of other career choice.”

“I quickly realized being a nationally ranked tennis player in Canada is like being a good hockey player in Burbank,” Perry laughed.

After giving up his dream of playing professionally, Perry decided to pursue acting.

“I realized I wouldn’t be playing tennis for a living, so I went for acting. Are tennis and acting alike? I don’t know,” the “Serving Sara” star told Men’s Health in 2012. “They’re both very mental games. They’re both very heavy things to be a part of.”

Perry’s stepfather and “Dateline” host Keith Morrison, 76, recalled the star’s passion for the game in 2020.

“He’s one of those people who always is the center of the room for a reason and it was so as a kid,” Morrison told People. “He was extremely, extremely good on the tennis court and very intense.”

“He’s an intense, talented, focused character,” he added. “He’s very bright. That was always the case as he was growing up.”

Perry had taken up pickleball in recent years, reportedly playing a game mere hours before his death.

Tennis and pickleball weren’t Perry’s only passions.

“The Odd Couple” star was also a fan of the Ottawa Senators ice hockey team, which paid him tribute on Saturday.

“One of Ottawa’s proudest sons and the biggest hockey fan,” the hockey team wrote on X alongside a clip of Perry in a Senators jersey.

Perry was also honored by the Los Angeles Kings, which played the “Friends” theme song, “I’ll Be There for You” by the Rembrandts, during their game against the Las Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday.

On Sunday, Perry’s family issued a statement saying they are “heartbroken by the tragic loss.”

“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother,” Perry’s family told People. “Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend.”

“You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love,” the family added.

The official cause of the actor’s death has yet to be confirmed, pending toxicology tests — anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medications were found inside his Pacific Palisades home, TMZ reported, citing law enforcement sources.