'Friends' star Matthew Perry's death caused by ketamine intake

Europe 1 with AFP / Photo credit: GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP 06:49 a.m., December 16, 2023

The death of "Friends" star Matthew Perry was caused by "the acute effects" of taking ketamine, the Los Angeles County Bureau of Forensic Medicine said Friday. However, other factors also contributed to his death, which was determined to be an "accident," the same source detailed: "drowning," "coronary artery disease," and "effects of buprenorphine," a drug used to treat opioid addiction. Ketamine is an anesthetic that is sometimes misused for stimulant or euphoric purposes.

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Years of struggle

"With the elevated levels of ketamine discovered in postmorterm blood samples, the primary lethal effects would come from both cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory failure," the Bureau of Forensic Pathology report said. Matthew Perry, 54, was found unconscious on Oct. 28 by his assistant in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home. The man who played "Chandler Bing" in the sitcom "Friends" had been struggling with his addiction to drugs and alcohol for years.

In his memoirs published last year, he said he had gone through 65 withdrawal sessions, spending more than $2018 million. He had also undergone several surgeries related to his drug addiction problems, including a seven-hour operation on his colon in <>, which once went so far as to say, "I should be dead." His unexpected death sparked an outpouring of tributes, from Hollywood stars to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Cultural phenomenon

Matthew Perry, born in Massachusetts to Canadian and American parents, was raised in Canada before moving to Los Angeles. During a television appearance shortly before his death, the actor surprised the audience by admitting that he suffered from severe anxiety "every night" during the filming of "Friends." A true cultural phenomenon, the series broadcast between 1994 and 2004 has left its mark on an entire generation of viewers.

It tells the story of a group of merry friends -- Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Ross and Chandler -- in New York City, punctuated by romantic relationships, including between Monica and Chandler and the never-ending saga between Rachel and Ross. Alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry has made the success of this television series adored by American youth and beyond.

In the end, the six heroes were paid about $2 million per episode. According to Variety, they even negotiated a fee of $5.2021 million each for filming a reunion show in <>. During this episode, Matthew Perry had aroused the fears of his fans, visibly stammering his words. Two days after his death, the other five actors issued a joint statement saying they were "totally devastated". In addition to the success of "Friends" which brought him worldwide fame, Matthew Perry has starred in films such as "Love at First Sight and Consequences" and "My Neighbor the Killer."