- Matthew Perry's death has taken the world by surprise
- His cause of death has been confirmed
- Matthew lost his battle with addiction in the end
Matthew Perry and his untimely death is still raising a whole lot of questions. The 'Friends' sensation, adored for his portrayal of the witty "Chandler Bing", was found lifeless in his pool, with ketamine therapy playing a grim role in his untimely death. It seems like Perry couldn't shake off his demons in the end.
Matthew struggled for years with addiction
Perry, a beacon of laughter on-screen, was battling off-screen demons, seeking solace in ketamine infusion therapy for his depression and anxiety. The Los Angeles county medical examiner's revelation has sent ripples across Tinseltown and beyond, declaring the cause of death as the "acute effects of ketamine," with the tragedy compounded by drowning and underlying health issues.
His cause of death was deferred following his initial autopsy, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner said on October 30. The results were determined to be inconclusive pending a toxicology report, and a further investigation into the cause of Perry’s death was requested.
During 'Friends: The Reunion', which premiered in April 2021 on Max, Perry recalled how anxious he felt while filming. "I felt like I was gonna die if they didn’t laugh. It’s not healthy for sure, but I would sometimes say a line and they wouldn’t laugh, and I would sweat and go into convulsions," Perry said.
"If I didn’t get the laugh I was supposed to get, I would freak out. I felt like that every single night."
The star's candid memoir, 'Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,' had laid bare his tumultuous journey with addiction, a battle that cost him dearly in both health and wealth. Yet, in a poignant testament to his resilience, Perry had transformed his struggle into a beacon of hope, founding a sober living facility to aid others in their fight against addiction.
"I would like to be remembered as somebody who lived well, loved well, was a seeker," Perry said on the 'Q With Tom Power' podcast in 2022. "And his paramount thing is that he wants to help people. That’s what I want."
He added: "The best thing about me, bar none, is that if somebody comes to me and says, ‘I can’t stop drinking, can you help me?’ I can say ‘yes’ and follow up and do it. When I die, I don’t want Friends to be the first thing that’s mentioned. I want that to be the first thing that’s mentioned. And I’m gonna live the rest of my life proving that."
He was on the mend
The actor had taken drugs in the past but was "reportedly clean for 19 months," according to the report. The coroner said Perry was reported to have been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy to deal with depression and anxiety, and his last treatment was one and a half weeks before his death.
Perry had played pickleball earlier in the day, the report said, and his assistant, who lives with him, found him face down in the pool after returning from errands.
The assistant told investigators Perry had not been sick, had not made any health complaints, and had not shown evidence of recent alcohol or drug use.
Also interesting:
Another goodbye
A loss that still hurts
Co-star Jennifer Aniston's words paint a picture of a man who had turned a corner, finding joy and wellness in his final days. Her tribute to "funny Matty," with whom she shared texts on that fateful morning, underscores the shock and disbelief at the loss of a man seemingly at peace.
As the curtain falls on a storied career, the legacy of Matthew Perry lives on through the foundation established in his honor, a lasting tribute to a star who shone brightly both on and off the screen.
