Beloved “Friends” actor Matthew Perry passed away at the age of 54 due to an accidental ketamine overdose, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office. The autopsy report revealed that the sedative had acute effects on Perry, with drowning and heart disease listed as contributing factors in his death. Additionally, the effects of buprenorphine, a drug used to treat opioid abuse, were also identified as contributing factors.
Perry had been open about his struggles with alcohol and opiate addiction and had reportedly been undergoing ketamine treatment for anxiety and depression. Although his last known infusion was more than a week before his death, the drug was still detected in his system.
The autopsy did not find alcohol or other drugs such as cocaine, heroin, or fentanyl in Perry’s system. In his 2022 memoir, Perry wrote about his use of ketamine to help with addiction, pain, and depression.
The sudden death of Perry, who played the wise-cracking Chandler Bing, stunned his castmates, friends, family, and fans worldwide. Jennifer Aniston, who played Rachel on “Friends,” expressed her deep sorrow on Instagram, describing Perry as a part of their chosen family that forever changed their lives.
Perry’s unexpected passing has led to an outpouring of heartfelt tributes for the Canadian-born actor, who became one of the world’s most recognized actors during the show’s 10-year run from 1994 to 2004. The groundbreaking sitcom “Friends,” which also starred Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer, followed the lives of six young singletons in New York and remains a cultural phenomenon even years after its conclusion.
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