The Closure of the Investigation into Matthew Perry's Death: Official Statement
Matthew Perry's death investigation is concluded; the actor tragically passed away in October 2023 The cause of death has been attributed to the effects of ketamine, resulting in his accidental drowning in a hot tub
Matthew Perry. Kevin Winter/Getty Images
The investigation into the death of Matthew Perry has been closed by authorities. According to People, the Los Angeles Police Department announced on January 9 that they will no longer be pursuing the actor's death.
We have reached out for comment. Perry, aged 54, was discovered unresponsive in a hot tub at his Pacific Palisades residence on October 28, 2023, by authorities. No indication of foul play was found at the scene.
The official cause of Perry's death, according to a toxicology report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office in December 2023, was "the acute effects of ketamine." Contributing factors included drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine, used to treat opioid use. His death was ruled an accident.
Before his passing, Perry mentioned in his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, that he had undergone ketamine treatments to "ease pain and help with depression." Although he did not particularly enjoy the treatment method, Perry detailed his reasons for continually signing up for it.
Perry wrote, "It was a unique experience, and anything unique is positive. Trying K is like getting smacked in the head with a massive joyful shovel. But the aftermath was challenging and overshadowed the shovel."
Munawar Hosain/Fotos International/Getty Images
Despite finding temporary relief from ketamine at certain times, Perry ultimately concluded that it was not the right choice for him. Known for his role as Chandler Bing in the '90s hit show Friends, Perry had a well-documented struggle with substance abuse throughout his career. Recently, he has been candid about his addiction battles, even admitting that he was only "completely sober" for a single season of the iconic sitcom.
"You can monitor the progression of my dependency by observing my weight fluctuation throughout the year - when I'm heavier, it's due to alcohol; when I'm slimmer, it's attributed to pills," Perry wrote. "And when I have a goatee, it's a result of excessive pill usage."
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Despite Perry's behind-the-scenes struggles, he was grateful for the support of his cast members who helped him get the assistance he needed. Perry acknowledged that his costar Jennifer Aniston was a constant source of support during his difficult times.
“She was the one that reached out the most,” Perry said in an October 2022 interview with Diane Sawyer. “I’m really grateful to her for that.”
