Worries Surrounding Matthew Perry's Demise: Potential Drug Overdose Suspected (Confirmed Sources)
Matthew Perry's friends feared a drug overdose had claimed his life, as the beloved actor grappled with addiction and depression
Before Matthew Perry's cause of death was confirmed, his family and friends had a hunch that he may have succumbed to an overdose.
"He's been battling with sobriety for years," a source exclusively revealed to We. "Each time he relapsed, it brought about a profound sense of shame."
After the end of Friends, there was a great deal of disillusionment and sadness in his career," the source says. "He battled with his mental health but never sought help for it. His way of coping with this was to withdraw. Since the show, he was financially supported and didn't have to work, which created a situation where he could abuse substances."
Perry passed away on October 28 at the age of 54 from "the acute effects of ketamine," as stated in the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's toxicology report, which was released on Friday, December 15. The report also mentioned drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine - a drug used to treat opioid addiction - as contributing factors in his accidental death.
The late actor's struggles with alcohol and opioids were candidly documented in his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing. In the book, Perry openly admitted, "Ketamine has my name written all over it — they might as well have called it ‘Matty.’"
Matthew Perry expressed that despite feeling like he was "dying" during ketamine treatments, he would still "continually sign up for this" because he believed that "anything different is good." He compared the effects of ketamine to being hit in the head with a "giant happy shovel," but noted that the resulting hangover was rough and outweighed the positive effects.
At the time of the book’s publication, Perry revealed that he had been 18 months sober, reflecting on his numerous stints in rehab. Despite his sobriety, his loved ones were concerned that his ongoing struggle with addiction would only get harder as he became increasingly isolated. His battle with loneliness, despite his wealth and fame, was a central theme. Perry used fame as a distraction from his depression and addiction, but once it faded, he found himself living a solitary and isolated life.
Perry's most recent serious relationship was with Molly Hurwitz, a talent manager. They called off their engagement after six months in June 2021, leaving Perry heartbroken. This experience deeply affected him, and he struggled to find a meaningful connection with others in subsequent attempts at dating.
The deceased sitcom star never married or had children. According to a source, a significant source of sadness in his life was not finding a family. Despite a four-year relationship with Hurwitz, Perry never found the person to settle down with, and he felt lonely. Following his death, Hurwitz honored her late ex-fiancé in an Instagram post.
"I loved him more deeply than I could understand, but he was complex and brought me pain like I had never experienced before," she penned. "No one has affected me more profoundly in my adult life than Matthew Langford Perry. I am incredibly thankful for everything I gained from our relationship."
She also noted, "I would be neglectful if I didn't acknowledge the invaluable support of Al Anon for those who love someone dealing with this destructive disease."
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Reporting by Sarah Jones
