Matthew Perry’s official cause of death finally revealed to be ‘effects of ketamine’ after toxicology report completed
MATTHEW Perry's official cause of death has been revealed after the results of the actor's toxicology report have been confirmed.
The Friends star tragically died in his hot tub in October, to the shock and dismay of fans around the world.
Now the official cause of Matthew's death has been revealed after his toxicology report has reached completion.
The star's death has been ruled an accident from the "acute effects of ketamine," the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner confirmed.
Contributing factors included "drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine," - which is used to treat opioid use disorder.
The report revealed Matthew had taken ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety a week-and-a-half before his death.
However, the ketamine in his system at the time of his death, "could not be from that infusion therapy, since ketamine's half-life is 3 to 4 hours, or less.
There was no evidence of alcohol, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, PCP or fentanyl in the actor's system.
"The manner of death is accident," The County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner confirmed in the report.
TRAGIC END
Matthew died on October 28 at his Los Angeles home at the age of 54.
At the time that his body was discovered, there were no signs of foul play.
The comedian's friends have insisted that he was clean and sober in the final years of his life and was known for being active at his home in the Palisades.
The star's longtime barber, Pierre Johnson Jr, exclusively told The U.S. Sun that Matthew had even tried to cut back on smoking which was his "last bad habit."
"He had a home gym inside of his place in the Palisades, and I knew he’d taken up pickleball again," Pierre said.
"It was his last bad habit, he was so keen to quit, it’s why he took up pickleball.
“It was enjoyable, you didn't need to be some gym-crazy person in order to have fun doing it. And it's cardio."
He went on: “His fingers were brown from smoking. He even went to see a hypnotist to try and quit. Often we smoke because we’re stressed.
"On his last day, he played pickle ball, that’s the lungs. I wonder if that had something to do with [his death]."
Pierre said he never saw Matthew drink an alcoholic beverage and believed he was clean and sober in his final years after opening up fully about his struggles in his memoir.
"His story was changing lives, and I was so glad to see that he was on the other side of [his addiction]," he said.
FRIENDS FOR LIFE
After a period of silence following his heartbreaking death, Matthew's Friends co-stars finally released statements to their social media profiles in November.
Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer each spoke from the heart.
Lisa was the final star to share a post for her lost buddy, and next to a throwback photo of the two co-stars, she wrote: "Shot the pilot, Friends Like Us, got picked up then immediately, we were at the NBC Upfronts.
"Then…You suggested we play poker AND made it so much fun while we initially bonded. Thank you for that.
"Thank you for making me laugh so hard at something you said, that my muscles ached, and tears poured down my face EVERY DAY.
"Thank you for your open heart in a six-way relationship that required compromise. And a lot of 'talking.'
"Thank you for showing up at work when you weren’t well and then, being completely brilliant.
"Thank you for the best 10 years a person gets to have.
"Thank you for trusting me.
"Thank you for all I learned about GRACE and LOVE through knowing you.
"Thank you for the time I got to have with you, Matthew."
Jennifer, 54, shared a screenshot of text messages between the two and wrote in a caption: "Matty, I love you so much and I know you are now completely at peace and out of any pain. I talk to you every day… sometimes I can almost hear you saying 'could you BE any crazier?'"
Courtney, 59, shared a blooper clip from the show and captioned the video: "In this scene, before we started rolling, he whispered a funny line for me to say. He often did things like that. He was funny and he was kind."
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Matt, 56, posted a series of photos of them together on set and wrote: "It was an honor to share the stage with you and to call you my friend. I will always smile when I think of you and I’ll never forget you. Never. Spread your wings and fly brother you’re finally free. Much love. And I guess you’re keeping the 20 bucks you owe me."
David, 57, posted a throwback photo of him and Matthew on the set of Friends and wrote: "I imagine you up there, somewhere, in the same white suit, hands in your pockets, looking around— 'Could there BE any more clouds?'"
