Matthew Perry’s Cause of Death Revealed: 'Friends' Star Died from Ketamine Overdose

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office has officially identified ketamine as the cause of death for actor Matthew Perry. The results of the autopsy were announced on Friday, December 15.

Perry, who was best known for his role on Friends, died at 54 on October 28. His death was initially reported to be due to drowning in his house's jacuzzi. Paramedics were summoned to his home in Pacific Palisades when his assistant found him unresponsive, and he was declared dead on site.

Although an autopsy was conducted the day following Perry's passing, the cause of death was "deferred" as preliminary findings were inconclusive, pending a toxicology report. Further tests were needed to establish the cause of death.

A picture of Perry relaxing in his hot tub with a headset on was the last post on his Instagram page, posted five days before his death. In a whimsical post caption, Perry wrote, "Oh, so warm water swirling around makes you feel good? I'm Mattman," an ode to his love for Batman.

No illegal drugs were found at his home by investigators, though prescription medication was reportedly discovered.

Perry had always been candid about his ongoing battle with substance abuse, a topic he discussed extensively in his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing.

He disclosed in his memoir that his attempts to get sober, which included various rehab trips, had cost him $9 million. The actor talked about his transition from heavy drinking before the premiere of Friends in 1994 to using cocaine, opioids, and other drugs.

Despite struggling with alcohol abuse, Perry shared that there were periods of sobriety during his time on Friends. He humorously mentioned how his one season of sobriety coincided with a nomination for best actor.

Perry described a period where he was consuming 55 Vicodin per day and only weighed 128 lbs, highlighting the severity of his addiction. He emphasized the progressively worsening nature of his disease.

His memoir featured sections where he linked his weight fluctuations to his usage of different substances. He stated that when he appeared heavier, it was due to alcohol, while his thinner periods were related to pill abuse.

In 2018, Perry, also known for his role in Fools Rush In, experienced a near-death situation at age 49 when a gastrointestinal perforation led to his colon bursting from opioid overuse. He was admitted to the hospital for five months, with a two-week period in a coma, and was given a two percent survival probability. Following his release from the hospital, Perry had to use a colostomy bag for nine months during his prolonged recovery.