Matthew Perry death: Autopsy reveals ketamine as cause

"Friends" actor Matthew Perry's autopsy reveals accidental death from ketamine use, drowning, and other contributing factors. Shocking news for fans and co-stars.

Actor Matthew Perry, who was best known for his iconic role as "Chandler" in the beloved series "Friends," tragically passed away on October 28th after being found unresponsive in his pool in Los Angeles. The autopsy results, released on Friday, revealed that his death was ruled as an "accidental" result of consuming ketamine.

The official cause of death for the 54-year-old actor was determined to be the acute effects of ketamine, with contributing factors including drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine, which is used to treat opioid use disorder. The autopsy report also noted that Perry had a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/emphysema, diabetes, and a past history of drug use, although he had reportedly been clean for 19 months. Additionally, Perry was a heavy tobacco user for many years, but was not smoking at the time of his death. He had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy, with his most recent session taking place one and a half weeks before his passing.

The examination revealed that the ketamine may have contributed to "cardiovascular overstimulation" and "respiratory depression," potentially causing Perry to lose consciousness and ultimately drown in the pool. Perry's rise to fame came from his role in "Friends," a beloved sitcom that followed the lives of a group of six friends portrayed by Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer over the course of ten seasons from 1994 to 2004. He also appeared in films such as "The Whole Nine Yards," where he starred alongside Bruce Willis.

In his 2022 book, "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing," Perry candidly shared his struggle with drug and alcohol addiction during his time on "Friends." His untimely death came as a shock to fans of the series and his former co-stars, who shared emotional tributes in honor of his memory.