The Matthew Perry case (1969-2023) has officially been closed. The Los Angeles Police Department announced to People magazine that the investigation into the sudden death of the “Friends” actor has been closed. The responsible medical examiner’s office has also officially filed Perry’s death on file.
Matthew Perry was found unresponsive in the hot tub of his Los Angeles home on October 28 and was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders. In an initial statement, the authorities announced that there was no evidence of third-party influence or crime. Nevertheless, they ordered an investigation into the circumstances to determine the exact cause of death.
In December, authorities announced the results of the toxicology report and autopsy. The death was caused by “acute effects of ketamine.” Ultimately, Perry drowned. He was also diagnosed with coronary heart disease and buprenorphine, a powerful painkiller from the opioid group, was found in his blood. These factors also contributed to Perry’s death. His death was officially ruled an accident.
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic with hallucinogenic effects that is also used in the treatment of depression, among other things. Buprenorphine, on the other hand, is primarily used to treat severe chronic pain and to wean people off other opioids. Shortly after Perry’s death, US media outlets consistently reported that prescription drugs had been found in his home.
Perry has repeatedly struggled with massive addiction problems in the past and made no secret of it. In his book “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing” he described his severe addiction to alcohol and other drugs. In the end he was said to be doing very well. His “Friends” colleague Jennifer Aniston (54) confirmed this in an interview with “Variety”: “He was healthy. He had stopped smoking. He got in shape. He was happy – that’s all I know. ” She added that she had written to him that tragic morning: “He was in no pain. He had no problems.”
