Matthew Perry's Official Cause Of Death Is So Sad
The following article includes mentions of substance abuse and addiction.
More than a month after his tragic passing, Matthew Perry's cause of death has officially been revealed to be "the acute effects of ketamine," per TMZ. Documents obtained by the outlet from the Los Angeles Medical Examiner's Office revealed the "Friends" actor, who tragically passed away at 54 on October 28, 2023, was taking ketamine infusion therapy for his struggles with depression and anxiety. However, the ketamine that was found in the actor's system reportedly "could not be from that infusion therapy, since ketamine's half-life is 3 to 4 hours, or less."
Other contributing factors were reportedly involved in the actor's death, including "drowning, coronary artery disease, and buprenorphine effect." Alcohol, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, PCP, and fentanyl were not found in Perry's system.
Perry's cause of death was deferred in the days after his passing in hopes of discovering more information through various reports, including the toxicology report, per E! News.
Matthew Perry was doing well leading up to his death
Matthew Perry suffered from addiction and depression throughout his life, but leading up to his untimely death, the actor was reportedly doing well. In an interview with Variety in December 2023, Perry's "Friends" co-star Jennifer Aniston revealed that she was texting the actor days before his passing, and he was the healthiest he had been in a while. She shared, "I want people to know he was really healthy, and getting healthy. He was on a pursuit. He worked so hard. He really was dealt a tough one. I miss him dearly." She wasn't the only one who noticed the actor was heading towards a better path.
TMZ reports the medical examiner involved in Perry's case revealed that, according to interviews, the "17 Again" actor had been sober for 19 months. Not just that, but they also discovered the actor had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy for a while, but six months before his death, Perry had seen a new doctor who determined he was "well enough" to start weaning off the treatment. Perry was still reportedly using the therapy up until his death, but it's unclear as to how often. Still, the treatment did not play a role in his passing, based on the medical examiner's findings, despite the actor dying from "acute effects of ketamine."
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Many have mourned Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry's death shocked the world. In the hours, days, and months after his tragic passing, many of those closest to him mourned his loss. Each "Friends" cast member posted their tribute to Perry on social media less than a month after he died. Courteney Cox, who played Perry's on-screen wife, honored the actor in a heartfelt statement on Instagram. Posting a clip of the scene in which the audience discovers Chandler and Monica had a fling, Cox 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 ... 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."
Zac Efron, who worked with Perry on "17 Again," also honored the late actor as he received his Hollywood Walk of Fame star in December 2023, per People. Efron shared, "Collaborating with him and [director Burr Steers] — it was so much fun and really did propel me and motivate me in so many ways. It really pushed me into the next chapter of my career, and for that, thank you so much, Matthew." From strangers to co-stars, Perry affected lives in so many ways and he will forever be remembered.