Matthew Perry: Doctor Pleads Guilty In Actor's Drug Overdose Death

A doctor has pleaded guilty in the case of Hollywood actor Matthew Perry, who allegedly died due to a drug overdose in October 2023. Dr Mark Chavez changed his plea to guilty in a Los Angeles court on October 2, admitting to conspiring to distribute the surgical anaesthetic ketamine. He is among five individuals charged in connection with the case in August 2024. He admitted he obtained ketamine from both his former clinic and a wholesale distributor through a fraudulent prescription.

Matthew Perry Death

Matthew Perry was reportedly found dead in October 2023 in his Los Angeles apartment, leaving fans and the entertainment industry in shock. According to an initial report by TMZ, he was found in a jacuzzi at his residence, with no evidence of drugs at the scene.

The Los Angeles Police Department responded to a call regarding the passing of a man in his fifties at Perry's residence, but the identity of the deceased was not confirmed at the time. The first responders were summoned to the scene due to cardiac arrest, but they were unable to revive the beloved actor. 

Surprisingly, Perry's postmortem report revealed that he received ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety a week and a half before his death. Toxicology findings reveal significant ketamine levels in Perry's system, surpassing the typical range observed in monitored surgical settings. The involvement of buprenorphine further complicates the picture, as it can amplify ketamine's sedating effects, potentially leading to unresponsiveness.

Who Are The Five Charged?

Five persons have been accused of allegedly taking advantage of Matthew Perry's opioid addiction. These include  Dr Mark Chavez, a 54-year-old licensed physician who admitted in court documents to distributing the ketamine that killed Perry to another doctor, Salvador Plasencia, 42, who was arrested in August 2024. 

Dr Plasencia allegedly worked with Dr Chavez to obtain ketamine and with Iwamasa to distribute that ketamine to Perry. Over two months, they reportedly distributed approximately 20 vials of ketamine to Perry in exchange for $55,000 in cash. The vials cost the doctors $12 but they were selling them for $2,000 a vial to Perry, authorities said. Dr Chavez's plea allows him to plead guilty to a lesser charge for his cooperation in the investigation, though he could still face up to 10 years in prison.

Another accused is 'Ketamine Queen', whose legal name is Jasveen Sangha, 41, who was also arrested for selling large quantities of the drug to Perry. The actor's live-in assistant, 59-year-old Kenneth Iwamasa, was also charged after he admitted in court documents that he administered the ketamine to Perry on the day of his death. Next is 54-year-old Eric Fleming, who admitted that he distributed the ketamine that killed Perry.

Attorney Estrada said, "These defendants took advantage of Mr. Perry's addiction issues to enrich themselves. They knew what they were doing was risking great danger to Mr. Perry, but they did it anyway." He also said that Perry "fell back into addiction" in 2023 "and these defendants took advantage to profit for themselves."

The Tragic End of a Beloved Star

In the hours leading to his passing, Perry engaged in routine activities, including a game of pickleball at the Rivera County Club. Subsequently, he requested a new iPhone and prescription glasses from his assistant.

We are devastated to learn of Matthew Perry’s passing. He was a true gift to us all. Our heart goes out to his family, loved ones, and all of his fans. pic.twitter.com/Xv6HkpSEBl

— FRIENDS (@FriendsTV) October 29, 2023

However, in a mere two hours, Perry was discovered unresponsive in his jacuzzi, leading to a 911 call referencing "drowning," shedding light on the tragic circumstances.

Early Life and Family

Matthew Perry, born on August 19, 1969, in Williamstown, Massachusetts, had a remarkable lineage. His mother, Suzanne Morrison, was a journalist and press secretary to the former Prime Minister of Canada, Pierre Trudeau, who happens to be Justin Trudeau's father. Perry's stepfather, Keith Morrison, is a well-known Dateline anchor. The acting gene ran in the family, as his father, John Bennett Perry, was an accomplished actor and model.

Perry's journey led him from Ottawa, Canada, where he attended elementary school with a future Prime Minister, to the bustling streets of Los Angeles. It was here that the young, aspiring actor started to pave his way in the entertainment industry.

Perry's early career saw him move to Los Angeles as a teenager, where he started to make his mark in the entertainment industry. He secured several TV guest spots, including a recurring role as Chazz Russell on "Boys Will Be Boys" from 1987 to 1988. Roles on "Growing Pains" and "Sydney" followed, but it was his big break in 1994 that catapulted him into stardom.

The Iconic Chandler Bing

Matthew Perry's portrayal of Chandler Bing, the sarcastic commitment-phobic with a heart of gold, became the cornerstone of "Friends" for a full decade, spanning ten remarkable seasons. His performance earned him an Emmy nomination in 2002, and the show itself was the crown jewel of '90s television.

Perry, along with co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer, made history, commanding a staggering $1 million per episode.

Despite his immense success in the spotlight, Matthew Perry battled personal demons behind the scenes. His struggles with addiction led him to seek treatment in 1997 and 2001. In a candid interview with BBC Radio 2 in 2016, he revealed that he had no memory of filming seasons 3 through 6 of "Friends."

"I was 24 when I got on the show," Perry reflected in the 2004 book "Friends … 'Til the End." "I’ll be 34 when it’s over, and those are really important years in somebody’s life. So to do it all in public … was difficult. At first, you have the wave of 'I’m famous, and this is exactly what I’ve wanted my whole life.' But then you go through the whole recluse stage where you think, 'I wish everybody would stop staring at me.' And then you eventually, hopefully, get through all that. You find things in your life that are grounding, like your family and good friends."

The Struggles of a Funnyman

However, behind the laughter and the fame lay a darker side of Matthew Perry's life. In his poignant memoir, "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing," he laid bare his lifelong battle with addiction to alcohol and opioids. This fierce struggle led him to multiple rehab stints and severe health crises, including a near-fatal colon rupture in 2018. Perry candidly admitted that the relentless pressure of performing in front of a live audience night after night fueled his addiction.

In a 2021 Friends reunion special, he confessed to his insatiable thirst for fame and attention, a hunger that he believed would be satiated by the American dream. "Fame does not do what you think it's going to do. It was all a trick," he soberly stated. This raw honesty endeared him to his fans, shedding light on the human beneath the Hollywood veneer.

The near-death experience in 2018 served as a turning point for him. A near-fatal colon rupture in 2018 gave him a mere 2% chance of surviving through the night. Perry found solace in friendship, writing, and regular games of pickleball.

He founded Perry House, a men's sober living facility, in his former Malibu beach home. Perry's advocacy for addiction recovery earned him well-deserved recognition when he was honored by the treatment centre Phoenix House in 2015.

In his own words, he hoped to be remembered as "a guy who lived life, loved well, lived well, and helped people."

A Legacy Beyond "Friends"

While "Friends" will always hold a special place in the hearts of fans, Perry's career extended far beyond the Central Perk gang. He received recognition for his advocacy work for the treatment centre Phoenix House in 2015, underlining the complexity of long-term battles with addiction.

After "Friends," Perry's path in the world of television was marked by a few ups and downs. His next starring role in Aaron Sorkin's "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" aired for a brief 22 episodes from 2006 to 2007. "Mr. Sunshine" in 2011 and "Go On" in 2013, though short-lived, showcased his talent and versatility. Perry also starred alongside Thomas Lennon in CBS's "The Odd Couple" reboot from 2015 to 2017. Matthew Perry's influence extended to the world of theatre. In 2016, he worked on the play "The End of Longing" in London, showcasing his talent and passion for the stage.