Matthew Perry, the renowned actor from the hit sitcom “Friends,” passed away at his Pacific Palisades, California home on October 28, at the age of 54. The official cause of death, as per his autopsy report, was the acute effects of ketamine, leading to accidental drowning. Perry had a known history of coronary artery disease.
Ketamine, a legal drug in California when prescribed, was found in Perry’s system at the time of his death. The actor was undergoing ketamine infusion therapy, a treatment often used for conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, chronic pain, and substance abuse issues. Perry had 3,540 nanograms per milliliter of ketamine in his bloodstream, approximately three times the normal dosage, according to pathologist Dr. Michael Baden.
Perry, who had been sober for 19 months prior to his death, had prescription medications at his residence, but no illegal substances or loose pills were found. The autopsy report also revealed the presence of buprenorphine, a drug used to treat narcotic addiction, in his system.
Despite the high levels of ketamine, it’s important to note that the drug does not remain in a person’s bloodstream for more than 24 hours. Perry’s last transfusion therapy occurred over a week before his death, ruling it out as a direct cause. Perry was found submerged underwater and facedown by a bystander, who then alerted the authorities. The report found no evidence of foul play.
Perry’s struggles with substance addiction were well-documented. He once estimated that he had spent around $9 million in his quest for sobriety. In his 2022 memoir, “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing,” Perry revealed that he had attended 6,000 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, been to rehab 15 times, and undergone detox 65 times.
Following Perry’s death, his family and “Friends” co-stars — Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, and Matt LeBlanc — paid tribute to him on November 3. He was interred at the Forest Lawn cemetery in Hollywood Hills, California, across from where “Friends” was filmed for a decade.
Aniston, in a recent interview, shared that she had been in touch with Perry on the day of his death. She remembered him as happy, healthy, and on a journey towards better health. The entire cast released a joint statement expressing their devastation and grief over Perry’s loss, referring to themselves as more than just castmates, but a family.