Matthew Perry death updates — Autopsy shows ketamine killed Friends star days after receiving drug for infusion therapy
MATTHEW Perry's cause of death has been revealed and the toxicology report suggests it was accidental.
The Friends star died from "the acute effects of ketamine," a medication that is used to treat depression while also used recreationally.
The toxicology study, which was just made public by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office, found that ketamine infusion treatment was used by the actor for anxiety and depression one and a half weeks before his death.
However, since ketamine has a half-life of three to four hours or less, the ketamine in his system at the time of his death "could not be from that infusion therapy."
The consequences of buprenorphine, coronary artery disease, and drowning were contributing reasons to Perry's death. Buprenorphine is used to ween users off opioids.
Matthew Perry died on October 28 at his Los Angeles home. His cause of death has been deferred, but there were no signs of foul play. His friends and family gathered for a private ceremony on Friday, November 3. Perry's six co-stars were in attendance.
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Former girlfriend said Perry was not sober in his last post
But mother-of-four Kayti said she spotted red flags that all was not well with Matthew in the days before his death.
The actor, who shot to fame playing Chandler Bing, had been posting much more than usual on social media, which she says was out of character.
His final post, five days before his death, showed him in the Jacuzzi and was signed “Mattman”, his alter ego based on his obsession with comic book character Batman.
Kayti said: “That Mattman thing was not something he did when he was sober.
“Mattman would come out when he was not sober and he felt kind of invincible.
“I was around when he was getting high, although I was not getting high with him, and when I would say maybe he should cool it a little bit with the drugs, he would say, ‘No, I’m Mattman’.”
Former girlfriend provides exclusive information
Ex-girlfriend and former assistant Kayti Edwards told The U.S. Sun last Sunday that she feared he suffered a drug relapse before he died.
She said: “There are a lot of things that aren’t adding up for me.
“I don’t believe he just drowned in his Jacuzzi, that doesn’t sound right.
“I know Matthew and I know that he wouldn’t have just drowned.
“I think he might have taken pills in the week leading up to this.
“They said there were no prescription painkillers at the scene, which doesn’t surprise me, because he didn’t leave drugs lying around.
“He was paranoid and would take them all, so there wasn’t any evidence, and then go out for more when he was ready to.”
Exclusive insight, continued
While the medical examiner ruled that "the ketamine in his system at death could not be from that infusion therapy", they were not able to specify the "exact method of intake" in Perry's case.
The report suggests Perry had been "reportedly clean for 19 months" from drug use, though other close peers have claimed otherwise.
Exclusive insight by the U.S. Sun
Senior deputy medical examiner Raffi Djabourian's summary told The U.S. Sun that there were "high levels of ketamine found in his post-mortem blood specimens."
Thus: "the main lethal effects would be from both cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression.
"Drowning contributes due to the likelihood of submersion into the pool as he lapsed into unconsciousness; coronary artery disease contributes due to exacerbation of ketamine-induced myocardial effects on the hearts."
While the medical examiner ruled that "the ketamine in his system at death could not be from that infusion therapy", they were not able to specify the "exact method of intake" in Perry's case.
The report suggests Perry had been "reportedly clean for 19 months" from drug use, though other close peers have claimed otherwise.
The ketamine used for therapy did not kill Perry
Ketamine is used to treat depression and is also used as a recreational drug.
A report revealed Matthew had taken ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety a week-and-a-half before his death.
However, the ketamine in his system at the time of his death: "could not be from that infusion therapy, since ketamine's half-life is 3 to 4 hours, or less," it was reported.
There was no evidence of alcohol, or other drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, PCP, or fentanyl in the actor's system.
BREAKING: Cause of death confirmed
Matthew Perry passed away due to "the acute effects of ketamine," a medication used both recreationally and to treat depression.
Lisa Kudrow's tribute, continued
Lisa Kudrow's post continued: "Thank you for your open heart in a six way relationship that required compromise. And a lot of 'talking.'
"Thank you for showing up at work when you weren’t well and then, being completely brilliant.
"Thank you for the best 10 years a person gets to have. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for all I learned about GRACE and LOVE through knowing you.
"Thank you for the time I got to have with you, Matthew."
Lisa Kudrow pays tribute
Lisa Kudrow is the last member of the Friends cast to post a tribute to Matthew Perry.
She shared a throwback photo of the two together on the show and wrote: "Shot the pilot, Friends Like Us, got picked up then immediately, we were at the NBC Upfronts. Then…
You suggested we play poker AND made it so much fun while we initially bonded. Thank you for that."Thank you for making me laugh so hard at something you said, that my muscles ached, and tears poured down my face EVERY DAY."
David Schwimmer honors Matthew Perry
David Schwimmer posted a photo of himself and Matthew on the set of Friends.
He wrote alongside the throwback picture: "Thank you for ten incredible years of laughter and creativity."
"I will never forget your impeccable comic timing and delivery. You could take a straight line of dialogue and bend it to your will, resulting in something so entirely original and unexpectedly funny it still astonishes."
"And you had heart. Which you were generous with, and shared with us, so we could create a family out of six strangers."
"This photo is from one of my favorite moments with you. Now it makes me smile and grieve at the same time. I imagine you up there, somewhere, in the same white suit, hands in your pockets, looking around—
"'Could there BE any more clouds?'"
Jennifer Aniston's tribute, concluded
Jen concluded her tribute: "Matty, I love you so much and I know you are now completely at peace and out of any pain. I talk to you every day… sometimes I can almost hear you saying 'could you BE any crazier?'"
"Rest little brother.
You always made my day…"Jennifer Aniston's tribute, continued
Jen's caption continued: "Loss of life or loss of love. Being able to really SIT in this grief allows you to feel the moments of joy and gratitude for having loved someone that deep.
"And we loved him deeply. He was such a part of our DNA. We were always the 6 of us. This was a chosen family that forever changed the course of who we were and what our path was going to be.
"For Matty, he KNEW he loved to make people laugh. As he said himself, if he didn't hear the ‘laugh’ he thought he was going to die. His life literally depended on it.
"And boy did he succeed in doing just that. He made all of us laugh. And laugh hard. In the last couple weeks, I’ve been pouring over our texts to one another. Laughing and crying then laughing again. I’ll keep them forever and ever. I found one text that he sent me out of nowhere one day. It says it all. (See the second slide…)"
Jennifer Aniston posts tribute
Jennifer Aniston has broken her silence following Matthew Perry's death on October 28.
She posted a sweet photo of them on set and revealed text messages of Matthew telling her how making her laugh made his day.
Jen also included a clip from the show when their characters said goodbye.
She captioned the post: "Oh boy this one has cut deep... Having to say goodbye to our Matty has been an insane wave of emotions that I’ve never experienced before. We all experience loss at some point in our lives."
Courteney Cox posts tribute
Matthew Perry’s co-star on Friends, Courteney Cox posted a tribute on her Instagram.
She shared a blooper clip from the show and wrote: "I am so grateful for every moment I had with you Matty and I miss you every day.
"When you work with someone as closely as I did with Matthew, there are thousands of moments I wish I could share. For now here’s one of my favorites."
"To give a little backstory, Chandler and Monica were supposed to have a one night fling in London. But because of the audience’s reaction, it became the beginning of their love story.
" In this scene, before we started rolling, he whispered a funny line for me to say. He often did things like that. He was funny and he was kind."
Matt LeBlanc posts tribute
Matthew Perry's co-star on Friends, Matt LeBlanc has spoken out for the first time since his death.
He honored Perry with a series of photos and wrote: "Matthew - It is with a heavy heart I say goodbye. The times we had together are honestly among the favorite times of my life.
"It was an honor to share the stage with you and to call you my friend. I will always smile when I think of you and I’ll never forget you. Never.
"Spread your wings and fly brother you’re finally free. Much love.
And I guess you’re keeping the 20 bucks you owe me."Gwyneth Paltrow’s heartfelt tribute
The actress posted a heartbreaking tribute to Matthew Perry on her Instagram, writing:
“I met Matthew Perry in 1993 at the Williamstown Theater Festival in Massachusetts. We were both there for most of the summer doing plays.
“He was so funny and so sweet and so much fun to be with. We drove out to swim in creeks, had beers in the local college bar, kissed in a field of long grass.
“It was a magical summer. He had shot the pilot of Friends but it had not aired yet. He was nervous, hoping his big break was just around the corner. It was.
“We stayed friends for a while until we drifted apart, but I was always happy to see him when I did. I am super sad today, as so many of us are. I hope Matthew is at peace at long last. I really do.”
‘Your day was better when you saw him’
Matthew Perry took up pickleball at the end of his life to stay active.
His coach, Matt Manasse spoke to People about their time together.
He stated: “He thought it was something that could help with his recovery and he was doing an awesome job.”
“He loved it. He came out five times a week, would always talk about it. [He] got so much better, always made everyone laugh. He was competitive, just a genuine, good guy — caring for everybody.”
Manasse added: “He cared about everyone — your day was better when you saw him or when he called.”
‘That’s the best thing’
Matthew Perry opened up about his strengths during an interview last year for his memoir.
He said: “Best thing about me, bar none, is if somebody comes up to me and says, ‘I can’t stop drinking, can you help me?’ I can say, ‘Yes,’ and follow up and do it. That’s the best thing.”
Perry added: “I’ve said this for a long time: When I die, I don’t want ‘Friends’ to be the first thing that’s mentioned. I want that to be the first thing that’s mentioned, and I’m going to live the rest of my life proving that.”
The star's last post
Matthew Perry‘s last tweet was signed off by “Mattman,” the actor’s nickname.
The post is seemingly a fill-in-the-blank question, but comments are turned off.
Perfect movies: 1) Back to the Future, 2) Midnight Run, 3) _________? -I'm Mattman— matthew perry (@MatthewPerry) October 26, 2023
What authorities revealed
The LAPD said in a statement: “We responded to the 1800 block of Blue Sail Rd for a death investigation on a male 4:10 p.m. this afternoon. He was in his 50s.”
The caller’s identity is thought to be Perry’s assistant, who made the call after returning from an errand.
“An adult male patient was deceased prior to first response arrival,” the LAFD said in a statement to The Post.
“The patient was found by a bystander who had re-positioned the victim where the head was out of water.”
Friend's co-creators' statment revealed
“Friends” co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane and director Kevin Bright spoke out on Perry's death.
"We are shocked and deeply, deeply saddened by our beloved friend Matthew’s passing,” they said.
“It still seems impossible. All we can say is that we feel blessed to have had him as part of our lives.”
“He was a brilliant talent,” they continued.
“It’s a cliche to say that an actor makes a role their own, but in Matthew’s case, there are no truer words. From the day we first heard him embody the role of Chandler Bing, there was no one else for us.
Concluding: "We will always cherish the joy, the light, the blinding intelligence he brought to every moment – not just to his work, but in life as well. He was always the funniest person in the room. More than that, he was the sweetest, with a giving and selfless heart. This truly is The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken.”
Friend's co-creators' statment revealed
“Friends” co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane and director Kevin Bright spoke out on Perry's death.
"We are shocked and deeply, deeply saddened by our beloved friend Matthew’s passing,” they said.
“It still seems impossible. All we can say is that we feel blessed to have had him as part of our lives.”
“He was a brilliant talent,” they continued.
“It’s a cliche to say that an actor makes a role their own, but in Matthew’s case, there are no truer words. From the day we first heard him embody the role of Chandler Bing, there was no one else for us.
Concluding: "We will always cherish the joy, the light, the blinding intelligence he brought to every moment – not just to his work, but in life as well. He was always the funniest person in the room. More than that, he was the sweetest, with a giving and selfless heart. This truly is The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken.”
Cast of Friends make a statement ahead of funeral
Matthew's co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, and Lisa Kudrow shared a joint statement days after his death.
"We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family," their statement, which was first obtained by People, reads. "There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss."
"In time we will say more, as and when we are able," the statement continues. "For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world."
The note is signed by each of his co-stars.
Matthew Perry’s eerie last post
Matthew Perry’s last post on Instagram featured on picture of himself in a jacuzzi.
He wrote: “Oh, so warm water swirling around makes you feel good? I’m Mattman.”
The post has generated over 2 million likes and many have taken to the comment section to honor Perry.
One comment read: “just realized you’re the only one who never got to grow up watching chandler bing rest in peace.”
Another added: “Thank you for all of the laughter and joy you brought to the world. I hope you are at peace, and know how much you were beloved – truly beloved – by the world. Rest peacefully, F.R.I.E.N.D.”
Video footage shows trio
Video footage caught Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow entering the venue together.
Other images reveal the trio together and obviously emotionally distraught amid a small crowd of around 20.
Significance of Forest Lawn Memorial Park
The moderately famous cemetery is situated just across the street from Warner Bros. studio where Friends was shot.
The Friends cast and family were seem embracing and consoling each other at Perry's graveside.