The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is currently leading a criminal investigation into how actor Matthew Perry obtained the ketamine that resulted in his death, as disclosed by LAPD Captain Scot Williams to CNN. This investigation also includes participation from two federal entities, the US Drug Enforcement Administration and the US Postal Inspection Service.
Matthew Perry, famously known for his role as Chandler Bing on “Friends,” was discovered deceased, floating face down in his swimming pool at his Pacific Palisades residence on October 28, 2023. According to a report by the Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s Office, cited by CNN, Perry died from the acute effects of ketamine combined with drowning. He was 54 years old.
The investigation into Perry’s death initially started under the LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division due to his celebrity status and continued after the autopsy findings were published in December, nearly two months following his death. Captain Williams emphasized the potential for criminal charges pending the results of the ongoing investigation, which aims to determine the origin of the ketamine and the identity of the supplier.
While the DEA has declined to comment, referring all inquiries back to the LAPD, it was noted in the autopsy report that Perry had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety, with his last treatment occurring approximately a week and a half before his death.
Matthew Perry was an Emmy-nominated actor whose career spanned decades, most notably including his role on “Friends” and films such as “Fools Rush In,” “The Whole Nine Yards,” and “17 Again.”
