Getty How did the Friends star die?
Matthew Perry, a star of the iconic television series “Friends,” has died. What was his cause of death?
On December 15, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner announced that the effects of ketamine led to Perry’s death.
“The County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner (DME) determined the cause of death for 54-year-old actor Matthew Langford Perry as the acute effects of ketamine. Contributing factors in Mr. Perry’s death include drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine (used to treat opioid use disorder). The manner of death is accident,” the Medical Examiner’s report for “Matthew Langford Perry” says.
“On October 28 at approximately 1600 hours, Mr. Perry was found unresponsive in the pool at his residence. After 911 was called, paramedics responded to the scene and death was pronounced,” the Medical Examiner’s Office wrote. “DME responded, conducted a scene investigation and then transported Mr. Perry’s body to the DME’s Forensic Science Center for examination.”
The Medical Examiner sent Heavy Perry’s autopsy report. Read it here: Full Matthew Perry Autopsy Report.
Variety reported that Perry “had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy prior to his death, reportedly for depression and anxiety.” The toxicology report says, according to Variety, that “at the high levels of ketamine found in his postmortem blood specimens, the main lethal effects would be from both cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression.”
TMZ initially reported that Perry was discovered on Saturday, October 28, 2023, “at an L.A.-area home … where we’re told he appears to have drowned. Our sources say first-responders rushed over on a call for cardiac arrest. It’s unclear where exactly on the grounds this happened.” An autopsy was completed, but the official cause of death was deferred pending toxicology reports, according to People Magazine.
Tributes flooded social media for Perry.
To celebrate the life of Matthew Perry, here’s 1:36 secs of some of his funniest moments from ‘Friends’
Perry is best known as Chandler Bing on the television series “Friends.” He was 54 years old. Perry was never married and does not leave behind children. Over the years, he dated a long list of famous actresses.
Here’s what you need to know:
Matthew Perry Was Found Dead in a Jacuzzi at His Home After Playing Pickleball, TMZ Reported
GettyMatthew Perry’s cause of death is apparent drowning.
Reuters quoted Captain Erik Scott as saying that firefighters called to the address found “an adult male unconscious in a stand-alone jacuzzi.”
“A bystander had brought the man’s head above the water and gotten him to the edge, then firefighters removed him from the water upon their arrival,” Scott wrote to Reuters. But Reuters reported that Perry was dead before first responders got there.
According to TMZ, Perry was found in a jacuzzi at his own home. The outlet reported that Perry had played a “2-hour round of pickleball” in the morning “and that he sent his assistant out on an errand shortly thereafter.” When the assistant returned, he found Perry unresponsive, according to TMZ’s sources.
TMZ further reported that there were “no drugs found at the scene” and that authorities do not suspect foul play in Perry’s death. However, TMZ later updated its reporting to reveal that, although street narcotics were not found, prescription drugs were, specifically “anti-depressants, anti-anxiety drugs and a COPD drug in the house. COPD is short for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.” It’s not clear whether he had ingested any of those drugs before his death, however.
Matthew Perry Last Posted a Picture on Instagram Showing Him in a Jacuzzi 5 Days Before His Death
Perry’s final Instagram post shows him in a jacuzzi five days before he died. “Oh, so warm water swirling around makes you feel good? I’m Mattman,” he wrote.
The photo shows him sitting in the steaming jacuzzi against the night sky. That same night, he posted another picture of the sky.
He also posted a picture of a Jack O’ Lantern. His Instagram profile links to a website for his memoir.
Matthew Perry’s Final Tweets Were About ‘Perfect Movies’ & Mental Health
Perfect movies: 1) Back to the Future, 2) Midnight Run, 3) _________? -I’m Mattman
Perry last posted on X, formerly Twitter, on October 26, 2023.
“Perfect movies: 1) Back to the Future, 2) Midnight Run, 3) _________? -I’m Mattman,” he wrote.
Let’s make stigmas a stigma. -I’m Mattman #mentalhealth
On October 24, 2023, he posted, “Let’s make stigmas a stigma. -I’m Mattman #mentalhealth.”
Before that, he had not posted since November 2022, when he wrote, “Oh Canada, how I’ve missed you! So nice being back to my home country to share a glimpse of my story with you all. To all of you who have come out to @hotdocs to listen to me speak about my journey with @tompowercbc – it means the world, thank you.”
Matthew Perry Was Open About Substance Abuse Over the Years
GettyMatthew Perry with some of his cast members on “Friends.”
According to an article on the Sanctuary Lodge website, Perry was in recovery from substance abuse.
“Perry has now spoken out about how his addictions affected him and the fact that it was all happening in the public eye,” the article says, quoting him as saying, “I’m a pretty private person, but I was on a TV show that 30 million people were watching. So people knew. It was so public what was happening to me.”
The article says Perry had “two stints in rehab,” adding that “the actor is now in recovery and is helping to promote Phoenix House, the rehabilitation centre that helps those dealing with similar problems to his.”
Again, though, it’s not known whether substance abuse played any role in Perry’s cause of death. In a section called “Dark Days” the Sanctuary Lodge wrote, “Perry has admitted that, during his darkest days, he was drinking two pints of vodka each day in conjunction with up to thirty pills. Nevertheless, he now uses his experiences to help others.”
“The best thing about me is that an alcoholic can come up to me and say ‘can you help me?’ and I can say, ‘yes I can,'” he said, according to the site.
Fans Wrote Tributes to Matthew Perry, With Many Saying He Was Part of Their Childhood
chandler has always been such a comfort character growing up, i can’t believe matthew perry is gone 💔💔💔
On X, fan tributes poured in for Perry. “chandler has always been such a comfort character growing up, i can’t believe matthew perry is gone 💔💔💔” wrote one person.
“Watching friends for the first time and falling in love with chandler bing is something i will forever hold dearly. one of the best characters on television, and one of the best actors to play it. im beyond distraught. matthew perry was too young. this is heartbreaking,” wrote another fan.
Another fan wrote, “whether he was chandler bing or matthew perry, he always wanted to make us, the audience, laugh. we were always his first thought. and for that, i will always love you. I know I didn’t know you personally, but you made me so happy. You’re at peace now, Matthew Perry. ♥️”
Matthew Perry Was Born in Massachusetts & His Father Was Also an Actor
Heavy/GettyMatthew Perry’s last Instagram post was him in water.
According to Biography.com, Perry was born Matthew Langford Perry on August 19, 1969, in Williamstown, Massachusetts. “His actor father, John Bennett Perry, split up with his mother, Suzanne, while Matthew was still an infant. He went to live with his mother in Ottawa, Canada,” according to the site.
The site reported that he moved to Los Angeles as a teenager to live with his father and “landed his first film part while still in high school, a supporting role opposite star River Phoenix in A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon (1988).”
“Friends” debuted in 1994, leading Perry to television stardom.
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