Matthew Perry’s official cause of death listed as ‘acute effects of ketamine’
Matthew Perry’s official cause of death has been confirmed.
The “Friends” star died of “acute effects of ketamine,” according to the LA County Medical Examiner’s Office. The manner of death was accidental.
The autopsy report also lists drowning, coronary artery disease and buprenorphine, an opioid, effects as other conditions that contributed to his death.
Perry — who was clean from drugs for 19 months — was on “ketamine infusion therapy” at the time of his passing, according to the report. His last treatment occurred a week and a half before his death.
The medical examiner notes, however, that ketamine’s half-life is only three to four hours, thus the drug in his system could not have been from his final infusion.
At this time, it’s unclear how Perry got the ketamine that was found in his system.
While multiple prescription medications were found at his residence, there were no drugs or drug paraphernalia present at the scene.
According to Pacific Neuroscience Institute, “Ketamine therapy is used to treat of depression, anxiety, PTSD, end-of-life distress, chronic pain, drug/alcohol problems, and more.”
The late actor was found dead in his pool at his Pacific Palisades, Calif., home on Oct. 28. He was 54.
The “Fools Rush In” star had been open about his struggles with drug addiction over the years, but longtime pal and “Friends” co-star Jennifer Aniston insisted he was “really healthy” at the time of his shocking death.
“He had quit smoking. He was getting in shape. He was happy — that’s all I know,” an emotional Aniston recently told Variety.
“I want people to know he was really healthy, and getting healthy,” the actress said, adding, “He really was dealt a tough one. I miss him dearly.”
In a 2002 interview with the New York Times, the actor revealed that his fear of dying led him to get clean.
“I didn’t get sober because I felt like it,” Perry said. “I got sober because I was worried I was going to die the next day.”
The “Whole Nine Yards” star was last seen six days before his death while out with a friend in Los Angeles. He was photographed looking casual and relaxed outside of the Apple Pan hamburger spot.
In his final Instagram post, which was uploaded Oct. 23, Perry shared an eerie photo of himself lounging in a jacuzzi.
Read more about Matthew Perry’s life and struggles:
- 55 Vicodin & a quart of vodka: The most shocking tales from Matthew Perry’s tell-all memoir
- Matthew Perry: How to tell which drugs I used during ‘Friends’
- Matthew Perry reveals why he broke up with Julia Roberts in the ’90s
- Matthew Perry claims Cameron Diaz once punched him in the face on secret date
- Matthew Perry, Valerie Bertinelli made out while Eddie Van Halen was passed out
“Oh, so warm water swirling around makes you feel good? I’m Mattman,” he wrote in the caption.
Perry’s loved ones and former co-stars have been mourning the loss on social media following his passing and subsequent funeral.
Meanwhile, an insider told Page Six that Perry’s “Friends” castmates, Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow and Matt LeBlanc — who all attended a private memorial service for their late pal — were in shock by the news of his death.
“The cast is reeling from the loss of their brother, because that’s what Matty was — their brother,” an industry source told us at the time.
The late actor’s family also released a statement regarding his “tragic” death.
“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother. Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend,” they shared with People.
“You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love.”
Aniston honored her late co-star online alongside a screenshot of their text messages and a video clip from “Friends.”
“Oh boy this one has cut deep,” she wrote on Instagram Nov. 15. “Having to say goodbye to our Matty has been an insane wave of emotions that I’ve never experienced before.”
The “Murder Mystery” star said she and her “Friends” co-stars were a “chosen family” and Perry had been a huge part of their DNA.
“He made all of us laugh,” she added. “And laugh hard. In the last couple weeks, I’ve been poring over our texts to one another. Laughing and crying then laughing again. I’ll keep them forever and ever.”
Schwimmer thanked Perry “for ten incredible years of laughter and creativity,” while Kudrow expressed gratitude to the late actor for “making me laugh so hard at something you said, that my muscles ached, and tears poured down my face EVERY DAY.”
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