Matthew Perry is seen above arriving at the GQ Men of the Year Party on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, in West Hollywood. Local and federal authorities are investigating Perry’s death and looking into how he obtained the prescription drug ketamine. The actor was found dead at his Pacific Palisades home on Oct. 28, 2023. (File photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)
Local and federal authorities are investigating how “Friends” actor Matthew Perry obtained the prescription drug ketamine, which contributed to his death in October.
A Los Angeles Police Department representative told City News Service there is an “open investigation” into the actor’s Oct. 28 death. The 54-year-old Perry was found unresponsive in the pool at his Pacific Palisades home and he died at the scene.
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner later announced that the cause of death was “the acute effects of ketamine.”
“Contributing factors in Mr. Perry’s death include drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine, used to treat opioid use disorder. The manner of death is accident,” the medical examiner’s office said in a statement.
Matthew Perry arrives at the LA Premiere of “Ride” in Los Angeles. On Monday, Dec. 11, 2023 the California-based tech giant released its annual “Year in Search,” which includes top global inquires ranging from 2023’s unforgettable pop culture moments (hello, Barbenheimer), to the loss of beloved figures and tragic news carrying worldwide repercussions. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP, File)
File – Matthew Perry poses for a portrait on Feb. 17, 2015, in New York. Perry, who starred as Chandler Bing in the hit series “Friends,” has died. He was 54. The Emmy-nominated actor was found dead of an apparent drowning at his Los Angeles home on Saturday, according to the Los Angeles Times and celebrity website TMZ, which was the first to report the news. Both outlets cited unnamed sources confirming Perry’s death. His publicists and other representatives did not immediately return messages seeking comment. (Photo by Brian Ach/Invision/AP)
FILE – Matthew Perry arrives at the premiere of “Ride” at The Arclight Hollywood Theater in Los Angeles. Perry, who starred as Chandler Bing in the hit series “Friends,” has died. He was 54. The Emmy-nominated actor was found dead of an apparent drowning at his Los Angeles home on Saturday, according to the Los Angeles Times and celebrity website TMZ, which was the first to report the news. Both outlets cited unnamed sources confirming Perry’s death. His publicists and other representatives did not immediately return messages seeking comment. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP, File)
Actor Matthew Perry, seen in the office of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), not seen, as they met about the critical need for Drug Court funding, Tuesday, July 16, 2013, in Washington. (Nick Wass/AP Images for National Association of Drug Court Professionals)
Matthew Perry speaks during “The Odd Couple” panel at the CBS/Showtime 2015 Winter TCA on Monday, Jan. 12, 2015, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
National Association of Drug Court Professionals All Rise Ambassador actor Matthew Perry, right, meets with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) to discuss her support for the expansion of Drug Courts at a meeting at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, May 7, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Paul Morigi / AP Images for National Association of Drug Court Professionals)
Actors Matthew Perry and Kristen Johnston show their support for Drug Courts by attending the NADCP 19th Annual Conference on Monday, July 15, 2013 at National Harbor in Ft. Washington, Md. (Paul Morigi/AP Images for National Association of Drug Court Professionals)
Matthew Perry arrives at the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theatre on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
Matthew Perry, left, and Scott Silveri attend NBCUniversal’s 2012 Summer Press Tour at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Actor Matthew Perry, spokesman for the National Association of Drug Court, meets with Rep. Patrick Meehan, R-Pa., not shown, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
Matthew Perry arrives at the premiere of the film “17 Again” in Los Angeles, Tuesday, April 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Actors Sarah Paulson, left to right, Matthew Perry and Amanda Peet attend the 9th annual benefit for the Lili Claire Foundation held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel Saturday, Oct. 14, 2006 in Beverly Hills, Calif.(AP Photo/Phil McCarten)
Matthew Perry of ”Studio 60 On th Sunset Strip,” poses for photographers during red carpet arrivals at NBC’s All Star Party, Saturday, July 22, 2006, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Rene Macura)
Actor Matthew Perry attends “Le Reve: Indulge the Dream, Play 4 Parkinson’s Casino Gala” benefit at the Puck Building, Tuesday, April 22, 2008 in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)
“Friends” cast member Courteney Cox, left, gives Matthew Perry a kiss backstage as Lisa Kudrow looks on, after the actors won Outstanding Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Series at the 2nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, Saturday, Feb. 24, 1996, in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Actors Matt LeBlanc, left, David Schwimmer, center, and Matthew Perry, of the television show “Friends,” pose for photographers as they arrive at the 28th annual People’s Choice Awards show in Pasadena, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 13, 2002. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Actor Matthew Perry arrives at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Ca., Sunday, Feb. 8, 2004. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Matthew Perry arrives at the Lili Claire Foundation 10th annual benefit dinner in Los Angeles on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Actor Matthew Perry poses for a portrait during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah on Monday, Jan. 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)
Actress Lauren Graham, right, and actor Matthew Perry, left, pose for a portrait during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah on Monday, Jan. 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)
Actor Matthew Perry, spokesman for the National Association of Drug Court, meets with Rep. Patrick Meehan, R-Pa., not shown, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
Matthew Perry arrives for the NBC network upfront presentation at Radio City Music Hall, Monday, May 14, 2012 in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)
Matthew Perry attends NBCUniversal’s 2012 Summer Press Tour at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Matthew Perry attends NBCUniversal’s 2012 Summer Press Tour at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Matthew Perry attends NBCUniversal’s 2012 Summer Press Tour at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
National Association of Drug Court Professionals ‘All Rise Ambassador ‘ Actor Matthew Perry testifies before the House Commerce, Justice & Science Appropriations Subcommittee in support of funding for Drug Courts and Veterans Treatment Courts, programs that save money and cut crime by putting seriously addicted offenders in treatment rather than prison, on March 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Paul Morigi / AP Images for The National Association of Drug Court Professionals)
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 21: 20th TV’s Tal Carter, Matthew Perry and Lindsay Sloane at the African Millennium Foundation Fundraiser Partnered with Grey Goose to raise funds to buy solar ovens for AIDS orphans at Private Residence on November 21, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision/AP Images)
Actor Matthew Perry, talks in the office of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), not seen, about the critical need for Drug Court funding, Tuesday, July 16, 2013, in Washington. (Nick Wass/AP Images for National Association of Drug Court Professionals)
Actor Matthew Perry, seen in the office of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), not seen, as they met about the critical need for Drug Court funding, Tuesday, July 16, 2013, in Washington. (Nick Wass/AP Images for National Association of Drug Court Professionals)
American actor Matthew Perry poses for a portrait in promotion of his role in the upcoming CBS network comedy series “The Odd Couple” on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015 in New York. (Photo by Brian Ach/Invision/AP)
Matthew Perry and Matt LeBlanc seen at Showtime’s Annual Summer Soiree at 2015 TCA held at the Pacific Design Center on Monday, August 10, 2015, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Showtime/AP Images)
Matthew Perry arrives at a special screening of “The Kennedys – After Camelot” at The Paley Center for Media on Wednesday, March 15, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Katie Holmes, left, and Matthew Perry arrive at a special screening of “The Kennedys – After Camelot” at The Paley Center for Media on Wednesday, March 15, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Reelz CEO Stan E. Hubbard, from left, Katie Holmes and Matthew Perry arrive at a special screening of “The Kennedys – After Camelot” at The Paley Center for Media on Wednesday, March 15, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
FILE – In this Sunday, Sept. 22, 2002 file photo, the stars of “Friends,” from left, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, Courteney Cox Arquette, Jennifer Aniston and Matt LeBlanc pose after the show won outstanding comedy series at the 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Almost 15 years after it was canceled, “Friends” is still there for British viewers. The catchphrase-generating New York sitcom is the most popular show on U.K. streaming services, beating big-budget original productions from Netflix and Amazon it was announced on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, file)
FILE – David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston and Matt LeBlanc pose after “Friends” won outstanding comedy series at the 54th Primetime Emmy Awards Sept. 22, 2002, in Los Angeles. Perry, who starred as Chandler Bing has died. The actor was found dead of an apparent drowning at his Los Angeles home on Saturday, according to the Los Angeles Times and celebrity website TMZ, which was the first to report the news. Both outlets cited unnamed sources confirming Perry’s death. His publicists and other representatives did not immediately return messages seeking comment. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)
FILE – Matthew Perry arrives at the premiere of “The Invention of Lying” in Los Angeles on Monday, Sept. 21, 2009. Perry, who starred as Chandler Bing in the hit series “Friends,” has died. He was 54. The Emmy-nominated actor was found dead of an apparent drowning at his Los Angeles home on Saturday, according to the Los Angeles Times and celebrity website TMZ, which was the first to report the news. Both outlets cited unnamed sources confirming Perry’s death. His publicists and other representatives did not immediately return messages seeking comment. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File)
A person takes pictures of a makeshift memorial for Matthew Perry outside the building known as the “Friends” building in New York, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023. Fans lingered in the rain, taking pictures and leaving flowers on the corner outside the building shown in exterior shots on the popular TV show. Perry, who played Chandler Bing on NBC’s “Friends” for 10 seasons, was found dead at his Los Angeles home on Saturday. He was 54. (AP Photo/Brooke Lansdale)
Mourners stand outside the home of actor Matthew Perry, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. Perry, who starred as Chandler Bing in the hit series “Friends,” has died. He was 54. (AP Photo/Eugene Garcia)
Flower are placed outside the home of actor Matthew Perry, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. Perry, who starred as Chandler Bing in the hit series “Friends,” has died. He was 54. (AP Photo/Eugene Garcia)
FILE – Matthew Perry, from left, Courteney Cox Arquettte, David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston and Matt LeBlanc of the television show “Friends” arrive for NBC’s 75th Anniversary event on May 5, 2002 in New York. Perry, who starred as Chandler Bing has died. The actor was found dead of an apparent drowning at his Los Angeles home on Saturday, according to the Los Angeles Times and celebrity website TMZ, which was the first to report the news. Both outlets cited unnamed sources confirming Perry’s death. His publicists and other representatives did not immediately return messages seeking comment. (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg, File)
A makeshift memorial for Matthew Perry is seen outside the building known as the “Friends” building in New York, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023. Fans lingered in the rain, taking pictures and leaving flowers on the corner outside the building shown in exterior shots on the popular TV show. Perry, who played Chandler Bing on NBC’s “Friends” for 10 seasons, was found dead at his Los Angeles home on Saturday. He was 54. (AP Photo/Brooke Lansdale)
A makeshift memorial for Matthew Perry is seen outside the building shown in exterior shots of the television show “Friends” on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, in New York. Perry, who played Chandler Bing on NBC’s “Friends” for 10 seasons, was found dead at his Los Angeles home on Saturday. He was 54. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
People gather by a makeshift memorial for Matthew Perry outside the building shown in exterior shots of the television show “Friends” on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, in New York. Perry, who played Chandler Bing on NBC’s “Friends” for 10 seasons, was found dead at his Los Angeles home on Saturday. He was 54. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
A makeshift memorial for Matthew Perry is seen outside the building shown in exterior shots of the television show “Friends” on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, in New York. Perry, who played Chandler Bing on NBC’s “Friends” for 10 seasons, was found dead at his Los Angeles home on Saturday. He was 54. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
People gather by a makeshift memorial for Matthew Perry outside the building shown in exterior shots of the television show “Friends” on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, in New York. Perry, who played Chandler Bing on NBC’s “Friends” for 10 seasons, was found dead at his Los Angeles home on Saturday. He was 54. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
People gather by a makeshift memorial for Matthew Perry outside the building shown in exterior shots of the television show “Friends” on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, in New York. Perry, who played Chandler Bing on NBC’s “Friends” for 10 seasons, was found dead at his Los Angeles home on Saturday. He was 54. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
TMZ initially reported Tuesday that both local police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration have been investigating the actor’s death for several months, trying to determine the source of the ketamine found in Perry’s system.
According to the DEA’s website, “Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that has some hallucinogenic effects.”
“Ketamine distorts the perception of sight and sound and makes the user feel disconnected and not in control. It is referred to as a ‘dissociative anesthetic hallucinogen’ because it makes patients feel detached from their pain and environment,” the DEA website says.
The drug is sometimes used to counter the effects of depression.
Perry had openly spoken of his years-long struggle with addiction. He became addicted to Vicodin during his time on “Friends” — and had done multiple stints in rehab, including during filming of the show.
In 2022, Perry published a memoir detailing his troubles with drugs and alcohol, his issues with weight gain and loss, and other facets of his at-times tumultuous lifestyle, including a harrowing account of an emergency surgery following a gastrointestinal perforation that nearly took his life.
There was no evidence of illicit drugs in Perry’s system when he died, according to the medical examiner’s report on the actor’s death.
The medical examiner noted in the autopsy report that Perry had been undergoing ketamine infusion treatments for depression and anxiety, but his most recent known treatment had occurred roughly a week and a half before his death — meaning the ketamine found in his system came from a source other than that treatment.
