This year, there’s one question on the internet- why are so many celebrity couples divorcing recently? No one knows the answer to that. But amid the internet, enjoying a light-hearted joke about this came devastating news. Actor Matthew Perry was no more.
The internet was in shock. The news of his passing came out of nowhere. The 54-year-old FRIENDS star was known for his lovable character Chandler Bing on the network show that’s still quoted and watched.
Since the announcement of his death, fans of the actor have been eager to know about the people he surrounded himself with in his last days. One such person was Briana Brancato, his assistant, who once saved him and has been a part of his life since then.
Matthew Perry employed 34-year-old Briana Brancato from 2015 to 2023 as his personal assistant after she saved his life during a colon rupture when he was in rehab. Apart from being a personal assistant, she aims to become a personal trainer and has also been a stuntwoman with film credits like Not Done (2020). Perry didn’t mention a romantic relationship between them in his memoir- Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.
How Did FRIENDS Star Matthew Perry Die?
This is the question everyone wants to know the answer to. As per the LA Times, Matthew Perry was found dead on October 28 due to apparently drowning in his bathtub at his home in the Pacific Palisades. Authorities received a medical call from the actor’s house at about 4 p.m.
But by the time they reached his residence, he was unresponsive in his hot tub and not breathing. Law enforcement didn’t obtain any illicit drugs from his house, even though it was initially speculated online that his death was the result of his long-standing drug abuse.
LAFD released this statement regarding Perry’s death:
“An adult male patient was deceased prior to first response arrival. The patient was found by a bystander who had re-positioned the victim where the head was out of the water (of the bathtub).”
Authorities haven’t disclosed the identity of the person who called them. Online, people speculate that the person who called the officials for help might have been Briana Brancato, his assistant.
Who Is Briana Brancato? Matthew Perry’s Friend And Assistant?
Briana Brancato is a name not many will be familiar with. But the 34-year-old woman had been a part of Matthew Perry’s life for multiple years. In his 2022 memoir- Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, the actor didn’t only mention her but thanked her for saving his life. Here’s what he wrote about Brancato, whom he fondly called Erin in his book:
“I’d met her two years earlier at another rehab where she had been working at the time. I didn’t get sober back then, but I saw how wonderful she was in every way and promptly stole her from that sober living rehab and made her my assistant, and she became my best friend.”
Since then, she has been by his side through thick and thin as a friend, assistant, and confidant. Perry credited her for saving his life in 2019 after she took him out of the rehab center he was in against the wishes of the staff.
She drove him for emergency medical care to the UCLA Medical Center after his colon ruptured and even stayed with him overnight for five months there. It’s abundantly clear in the memoir that Perry is thankful to Brancato for what she did for him that day. After all, he wrote:
“She saved my life at the rehab when my insides exploded, and she still saves it every day. Who knows what I’d do without her? I intend to never find out.”
The 17 Again film star didn’t hint at romantic entanglement with her in his memoir.
What Did Briana Brancato Say About Matthew Perry’s Death?
Briana Brancato wrote in an Instagram post on October 30, after the passing of her boss and friend:
“I’ve expressed my deepest gratitude to him on numerous occasions, not only for guiding me into a career I cherish but also for allowing me to take care of him for 7 years. Along w the countless other experiences I’m thankful for. From witnessing him in his genius to sharing in his worldly adventures living around the world, he took me on a remarkable journey.”
She further poured her heart out and wrote:
“My heart is heavy, but celebrating my memories is the most profound way to honor his legacy. I hope that up there, in the great beyond, Mattman is sending us signs. We truly need them. You’ll forever be in my heart. I love you, Matty.”
As of now, authorities haven’t been able to determine the exact cause of Matthew Perry’s death, but they don’t suspect any foul play. However, the LA County coroner’s office has begun an investigation.
But fans shouldn’t hold their breath for an early assessment because the investigation will likely take months and involve multiple tests.
What are your thoughts about the online speculation that Briana Brancato is the one who called the authorities after allegedly finding Matthew Perry dead in his bathtub?
Let us know in the comments below.
Source: LA Times
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