A doctor involved in the drug-related death of actor Matthew Perry has pleaded guilty in the case. Dr. Mark Chavez, 54, changed his plea to guilty in a Los Angeles court for conspiring to distribute the surgical anaesthetic ketamine.
Chavez operated a ketamine clinic and sold ketamine lozenges to Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who ultimately supplied them to Perry, the star of NBC’s sitcom Friends. In his plea agreement, Chavez admitted to obtaining ketamine from both his former clinic and a wholesale distributor using a fraudulent prescription, as per court records.
He is one of five individuals charged in connection with Perry’s death, which occurred in October 2023 when the 54-year-old actor was found dead in his backyard jacuzzi in Southern California. A post-mortem examination revealed a high concentration of ketamine in Perry’s blood, concluding that “acute effects” of the drug were responsible for his death.
I was at the LA hearing of a doctor charged over the death of Friends star Matthew Perry. Mark Chavez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine. His lawyer Matthew Binninger told reporters that Mr Chavez was remorseful – I am stood behind him in the footage. pic.twitter.com/yKdKEsVrkI
Ketamine is an anaesthetic that is often used to treat depression, anxiety, and pain, and it is known to be 50 times more potent than heroin. Prosecutors allege that Perry’s assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, collaborated with the two doctors to provide the actor with over $50,000 (£38,000) worth of ketamine in the weeks leading up to his death.
According to the indictment, the two doctors exchanged text messages discussing how much they could charge Perry for vials of the drug, with one message stating: “I wonder how much this moron will pay.”
Chavez’s plea allows him to plead guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for his cooperation with the investigation, although he could still face up to 10 years in prison. “He has accepted responsibility. He is cooperating,” his attorney stated in court.
Chavez has surrendered his passport and agreed to relinquish his medical license immediately. He is currently out on bail, with sentencing scheduled for April 2, 2025.
Five people were charged and at least one person was arrested Thursday in connection with the death of “Friends” star Matthew Perry, multiple outlets reported, months after an autopsy revealed the 54-year-old died from a ketamine overdose, spurring law enforcement to relaunch an investigation.
Prosecutors charged Jasveen Sangha and Salvador Plasencia with conspiracy to distribute ketamine, distribution of ketamine resulting in death, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and altering and falsifying records related to a federal investigation, among others, according to an indictment obtained by The New York Times.
Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s personal assistant, was charged separately, along with Mark Chavez and Erik Fleming, who each face charges of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, a person with knowledge of the situation told the Times.
The Los Angeles Police Department launched a joint investigation into Perry’s death with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in May, after an autopsy determined Perry died of “acute effects of ketamine.”
Prosecutors allege Sangha—who they reportedly referred to as “the Ketamine Queen”—contacted Chavez, a physician, about purchasing ketamine to sell to Perry and later sold 25 vials of ketamine to Fleming, a friend of Perry’s who delivered them to Iwamasa.
Plasencia, another physician, sold thousands of dollars worth of ketamine to Iwamasa and personally injected Perry with the drug at Perry’s home in the weeks leading up to his death, including one dose that caused Perry to “freeze up,” prosecutors allege.
An arrest was made in southern California on Thursday morning, though the person was not identified, according to NBC News, which cited anonymous law enforcement officials.
Matthew Perry’s autopsy report reveals death from “acute effects of ketamine” and subsequent drowning, according to the Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s Office.
Perry’s blood tested positive for ketamine, a substance known to treat depression and anxiety.
“At the high levels of ketamine found in his postmortem blood specimens, the main lethal effects would be from both cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression,” the report states. The death was ruled an accident, according to the report.
Matthew Perry was discovered floating face down in his Pacific Palisades home pool on October 28, with authorities ruling out foul play.
The 54-year-old actor, found unconscious in a stand-alone jacuzzi, was reportedly undergoing ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety, according to the autopsy report.
Ketamine, known for its dissociative nature, is used medically as an anesthetic and is also a recreational drug with short-duration hallucinatory and psychedelic effects.
According to the autopsy, Perry received his last known treatment a week and a half before he passed away, which is far sooner than the amount of time the medication would have remained in his system.
According to the investigative summary of Perry’s autopsy report, his live-in assistant returned from running errands to find his unconscious body in the pool.
“The assistant jumped into the pool, moved the decedent into a sitting position on the steps, and called 911,” says the report.
Drowning is considered a contributing factor to Perry’s death “due to the likelihood of submersion into the pool as he lapsed into unconsciousness,” the autopsy states.
“The assistant did not report any recent illnesses, complaints, drinking, or drug abuse,” the report states.
What medical experts are saying
Ketamine is a powerful medication used in hospitals primarily as an anesthetic, although studies have also found that it has significant promise in treating severe depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. It can be used illegally as a club drug that creates an intense high and dissociative effects.
In 2019, the US Food and Drug Administration approved a close relative called esketamine, which is used as a nasal spray, for treatment-resistant depression.
Experts say that although the levels of ketamine in Perry’s system were very high, it’s unclear whether they would have been deadly on their own.
Dr. Ed Boyer, a professor of emergency medicine at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, said that “the elevated concentrations of ketamine suggest high levels of use.”
“Considering his last ketamine therapy was at least a week before, misuse – even recreational use – cannot be ruled out,” he added
Dr. Victor Weedn, a professor in the George Washington University Department of Forensic Sciences, said that people can react differently to different levels of ketamine and that it could become fatal because of its effects on breathing.
Perry was ‘happy’ and ‘heathy’ before his death
Perry was open about his past experience with addiction. While promoting his book “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir,” which was released in November 2022 and addressed his addiction at length, Perry said on the “Q With Tom Power” podcast, “The best thing about me, bar none, is that if somebody comes to me and says, ‘I can’t stop drinking, can you help me?’ I can say ‘yes’ and follow up and do it.”
The autopsy report this week notes that Perry had reportedly not used drugs for 19 months before his death. It also states that though he was a “heavy tobacco user for many years,” he was not a smoker when he died.
His “Friends” costar Jennifer Aniston said this month that she had been in contact with Perry on the day of his death, and that he “was happy.”
“I was literally texting with him that morning, funny Matty,” she said in an interview with Variety. “He was not in pain. He wasn’t struggling.”
“He was happy. He was healthy,” she added. “He had quit smoking. He was getting in shape.”
Popular sitcom “Friends” star Matthew Perry was laid to rest at a private funeral that was attended by close friends and family, including his Friends co-stars.
Matthew Perry’s Friends co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer said their farewells to the late actor on November 3, 2023.
The funeral took place at the Forest Lawn Church of the Hills in Los Angeles. The cast of Friends, as well as some of Perry’s family members, were in attendance.
Jennifer Aniston arrived early and spent most of her time alone until the rest of the group joined her. Lisa Kudrow, Courtney Cox, David Schwimmer, and Matt LeBlanc were all dressed in black to pay their respects to their dear friend.
Perry’s father, John Bennett Perry, and stepfather, Keith Morrison, were also present at the service. Exclusive photos obtained by the New York Post captured the moment when Perry’s loved ones carried his coffin into the church.
In the pictures, which were also shared on X (formerly Twitter), the emotions ran high as Perry’s family and friends were seen embracing each other. The cemetery where he was laid to rest is located opposite the Warner Bros studios, where the iconic sitcom Friends was filmed for 10 years.
Perry was discovered unconscious in a hot tub at his Los Angeles mansion. While it is suggested that he died from an apparent drowning, an official cause of death has not yet been confirmed. At the time of his passing, Perry was 54 years old, and his sudden death was a shock to many of his fans and acquaintances.
The Seventeen Again star battled with drug addiction throughout his life, a journey he candidly recounted in his memoir titled “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.” Furthermore, in the days leading up to his passing, the late actor grappled with loneliness. His longtime barber disclosed Perry’s yearning to find a companion and his desire to have children, although he faced difficulties in establishing trust with potential partners.
Matthew Perry’s life was marked by numerous challenges, including a near-fatal overdose, from which he received a second chance at life.
"Friends" stars and Matthew Perry’s family have gathered for a final farewell just days after the actor died at the age of 54.
The cemetery, which is opposite the Warner Bro Studios where "Friends" was filmed for a decade, was seemingly selected as the location for Perry’s… pic.twitter.com/1FK7WPui36
Matthew Perry’s death was not caused by fentanyl or methamphetamine, according to preliminary tests conducted after the “Friends” star’s sudden passing over the weekend.
He died of an apparent drowning in a hot tub at his Pacific Palisades residence at the age of 54.
It is still uncertain whether Perry had lethal levels of prescription medications, as numerous prescription drugs were discovered at his residence, or if he had any illicit substances in his system.
A complete toxicology report is anticipated to take a minimum of six weeks, with a more probable range of 4 to 6 months, and an official cause of death has not yet been established.
The Los Angeles County medical examiner had classified his autopsy status as “deferred” on Sunday, with no indications of foul play.
Authorities discovered prescription anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medications, and medication for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at Perry’s home, which affects breathing. No illegal substances were found.
If the toxicology report eventually reveals narcotics, the Robbery Homicide Division of the Los Angeles Police Department will continue the investigation.
Perry, the author of “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” passed away alone at home after playing pickleball earlier on Saturday and sending his assistant on an errand. Law enforcement sources reported to TMZ that Perry’s body was not waterlogged when paramedics arrived at the scene, indicating that he had not been submerged for an extended period.
People close to the actor, who had been open about his struggles with substance abuse and alcoholism, mentioned that he had been sober in recent weeks and was feeling happier than ever.
Ione Skye is grieving the passing of her former boyfriend, Matthew Perry.
The 53-year-old actress posted two screenshots of her final conversation with Perry, who tragically passed away from an apparent drowning at his Los Angeles home on Saturday.
In her tribute, she fondly remembered the beloved actor.
Skye and Perry had previously co-starred in Perry’s film debut, “A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon,” in 1988.
“Hi! I hope all is well. I was meditating (I meditate now) and ‘In Your Eyes’ started playing. And I instantly thought of how beautiful you are,” Perry, 54, wrote in a text message sent to Skye on Oct. 15, referencing the song from her 1989 film Say Anything.
She replied, “Awe. I love that. Xo,” to which he responded, “Hope you are healthy and happy.”
Skye told Perry it was “good to hear” from him, adding, “I only have nice memories with you.”
Skye also shared a throwback photo with the Friends star where they both look to be teenagers. “My last exchange a week ago. I’m very, very sad. Loved this guy,” she wrote in the post’s caption.
Matthew Perry was discovered deceased on Saturday afternoon at his residence in Los Angeles. In an exclusive statement provided to PEOPLE, his family expressed their deep sorrow and heartbreak.
“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother,” they said. “Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend. You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love.”
Since the news of his passing became public, tributes like Skye’s have been pouring in. Fellow actors such as Hank Azaria, Shannen Doherty, and Selma Blair have been expressing their love and fond memories of the late actor.
Azaria, 59, described his friend as the “funniest man ever” in a lengthy video posted on Instagram Sunday.
“Matthew and I became really good friends and we were really more like brothers for a long time,” the comedian said. “We drank a lot together, we laughed a lot together, we were there for each other in the early days of our career.”
“Our friendship spanned a long time. A lifetime really,” Doherty, 52, wrote on Instagram of Perry. “Right now, shock and sadness prevail.”
Blair, 51, paid tribute to Perry, who she called “my oldest boy friend.”
“All of us loved Matthew Perry, and I did especially. Every day. I loved him unconditionally. And he me. And I’m broken. Broken hearted. Sweet dreams, Matty. Sweet dreams.”
American actress Kate Hudson has paid tribute to Matthew Perry after the actor’s passing at the age of 54.
On Monday night, Hudson shared a heartfelt tribute on her Instagram Story, posting a photo of herself and Perry presenting an award at the 2004 MTV Movie Awards. Above the image, she wrote some words in memory of her late friend.
“We played tennis and played more tennis, talked endlessly about trials and tribulations of love and then would talk some more as we would laugh our a—- off and then laughed some more,” she began.
“I share the same sadness with all our film and TV community who shared time with Matthew,” Kate continued. “As you can see, to know him was to adore him.”
She concluded by offering her support to the Friends star’s loved ones.
“I send my love and condolences to his family and his work families,” Kate wrote. “We love you Matthew.”
The cause of Matthew Perry’s death remains uncertain, and it has been “deferred” pending further investigation.
Reports from the LA Times and TMZ, which initially broke the news of the Friends actor’s passing, indicated that he was discovered unresponsive in a hot tub at his residence on Saturday.
Although a post-mortem examination yielded inconclusive results, officials are awaiting the outcome of toxicology tests.
An LA Police spokesperson confirmed to CBS News that there were no apparent signs of trauma.
This usually means that the post-mortem is complete but more detail is needed.
On Sunday, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department informed the BBC that first responders had been dispatched to an address in the Pacific Palisades area due to a “water emergency” of an unspecified nature but did not disclose Matthew Perry’s name.
Matthew Perry, the renowned actor who portrayed the wisecracking Chandler Bing on the immensely popular ’90s TV sitcom Friends, passed away at the age of 54.
Friends, a show that followed the lives of six young friends living in New York City, was broadcast from 1994 until 2004. Its final episode attracted 52.5 million viewers in the United States, making it the most-watched TV episode of the 2000s.
Despite his fame, Perry grappled with addiction to painkillers and alcohol during that time and sought treatment in rehabilitation centers on several occasions.
In a 2016 interview with BBC Radio 2, he disclosed that he could not recollect three years of filming Friends due to issues related to alcohol and drugs.
Matthew Perry, the American actor who was famous for playing the funny character Chandler Bing on the popular TV show Friends in the 1990s, has sadly passed away at 54 years old.
The sources from law enforcement in the US told the media that the actor was discovered dead in his house in Los Angeles.
Friends was a TV show about six friends who lived in New York City. It was on from 1994 to 2004.
The last episode of the show was seen by 52. 5 million people in the US, which made it the most-watched TV episode of the 2000s.
The LA Times and TMZ were the first to say that Perry had died. They reported that Perry was found in a hot tub at his house, not responsive.
A spokesperson from the Los Angeles Fire Department told the BBC that emergency workers went to a place in the Pacific Palisades area because of a problem with water, but they didn’t mention Perry.
Warner Bros, the company that made the popular show liked by many people around the world even today, said that Perry was a really special and wonderful person for all of us. Perry was born in Massachusetts in 1969. He grew up in Ottawa, Canada, and went to elementary school with Justin Trudeau, who is now the prime minister of Canada.
The leader of Canada expressed that they were surprised and saddened by the death of Matthew Perry. I will always remember the games we played at school, and I believe people all over the world will never forget the happiness he brought them. Thank you, Matthew, for making us laugh so much. You were cared about and we will feel sad because you’re gone.
Perry went to live in Los Angeles when he was a teenager. He played the character Chazz Russell in Boys Will Be Boys and also appeared in other TV shows like Growing Pains.
However, he became famous all around the world because of his role on a TV show called Friends. The show was about six people from New York and their experiences with dating, work, and being friends with each other. The comedy show, which had Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, and Lisa Kudrow in it, became very popular and successful.
Perry got chosen to play the character Chandler Bing, who is known for making funny and sarcastic comments and acting immaturely with his roommate Joey Tribbiani. He was nominated for an Emmy award in 2002 because of his role. However, even though Perry was very popular, he struggled with addiction to painkillers and alcohol. He had to go to rehab centers multiple times for help.
In 2016, he said on BBC Radio 2 that he couldn’t recall three years of filming Friends due to alcohol and drugs.
Last year, during an interview, he talked about not watching the show.
“I didn’t see the show and haven’t seen it because I was tempted to engage in risky behavior involving drugs and alcohol,” he explained. I could tell the time of year based on how I appeared. That’s why I don’t want to watch it, because it shows what I see.
But I think I’m going to start watching it because it’s been amazing to see how it has affected people from different age groups.
In 2018, Perry had health issues because he used drugs. One of his organs, called the colon, burst and he needed to have multiple surgeries to fix it.
The entertainment reporter, Sean Mandell, said that people in Los Angeles were very surprised and had a hard time believing that Perry had passed away.
He told BBC News that Perry played a very important role in the success of Friends and was someone who was central to everything happening.
“He said that he had a great mix of cleverness and kindness, and he had a strong sense of reality. ”
Perry also acted in some movies like Fools Rush In, Almost Heroes and the Whole Nine Yards. However, he never found a movie that was as successful and famous as Friends.
His later TV work was well liked by many people.
He got nominated for an Emmy Award twice for his role as Joe Quincy in The West Wing, a show about the White House. He was the main actor in Sorkin’s later TV series, Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip. After that, he made his own TV show called Mr Sunshine where he was the main character and also worked as a writer and producer.
His last important television show, besides the Friends reunion, was a TV version of The Odd Couple. It was on American TV for three seasons. In 2017, Perry sent a message on Twitter saying he found out the show was being stopped when he went to the place where they film and saw that his picture on the door had been covered in green paint.
Maggie Wheeler, the actress who portrayed Chandler’s difficult ex-girlfriend Janice in Friends, was the first among Perry’s fellow actors to openly honor the actor.
Wheeler said that Perry made many people happy during his short time alive, and that happiness will continue even after his death. “I feel extremely fortunate for all the creative moments we have shared,” she wrote on Instagram.
Morgan Fairchild, the actress who played Perry’s mom in the show and portrayed an author of sexy books named Nora Bing, expressed her deep sadness about Matthew Perry’s unexpected passing by saying, “I am devastated about the sudden death of my ‘son,’ Matthew Perry. ”
“She said it was surprising and sad that such a talented and young actor passed away. ”
Actress Selma Blair, from the movie Cruel Intentions, referred to Perry as her “longtime friend,” and said that she loved him, along with everyone else. Each day I loved him with no conditions or limitations. He told me.
And I feel damaged or imperfect. Feeling very sad because of a broken heart. Have peaceful and happy dreams, Matty. Have good dreams.
Lucy Davis, who acted in Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, said it was a great privilege to work with Perry on the show.
In a message on X, she said: “He was just as funny when not filming as he was when filming. ” He was really nice to me. I had a tough time at work for one week, and he approached me and reassured me that he would support me and take care of any problems I had.
“He would often give me kind compliments when we worked together,” said The Office star.
Thank you Matthew for making us laugh so much. You really influenced me a lot.
Perry’s last picture on Instagram, which he shared a few days ago, shows him enjoying himself in a swimming pool on the rooftop. It has received many kind messages from fans.
Perry’s parents are John Bennett Perry and Suzanne Perry. They separated when he was just a baby. He has five siblings that share only one biological parent with him.
He never got married and did not have any kids.
Perry said his dad, who was an actor and appeared in a Friends episode in 1997, inspired him. His dad played Mr. Burgin, the father of Rachel’s love interest, Josh.
Matthew Perry‘s cause of death is still a mystery and is being put on hold until more investigation is done.
The LA Times and TMZ were the first to say that the actor from Friends had passed away. They said that he was found not responsive in a hot tub at his house on Saturday.
They couldn’t figure out what caused Perry’s death from examining his body, so they need to wait for the toxicology tests to get more information.
The LA Police spokesperson told CBS News that there were no clear signs of harm or injury. This information was also confirmed by the BBC’s US partner.
The LA County Medical Examiner’s office made a change to their file on Sunday to say that the case had been postponed.
This usually means that they have finished examining the body after death, but they still need more information.
A spokesperson from the Los Angeles Fire Department said on Sunday that emergency workers were called to an address in the Pacific Palisades area for a water problem, but they did not mention Perry’s name.
The actor from Friends, who died when he was 54 years old, was most famous for his role as the funny Chandler Bing in the very successful television show from the 90s.
The show was about six young friends who lived in New York City. It was on TV from 1994 to 2004.
The last episode of the show was seen by 52. 5 million people in America, which means it was the most popular TV episode of the 2000s.
However, even though Perry was very famous, he struggled with using too many painkillers and drinking too much alcohol. He had to go to rehab centers more than once to try and get better.
In 2016, he said on BBC Radio 2 that he couldn’t recall three years of filming for Friends. This was because he was using alcohol and drugs.
US actor Matthew Perry, renowned for his iconic portrayal of Chandler Bing in the beloved ’90s TV series Friends, has passed away at the age of 54.
Law enforcement sources in Los Angeles have disclosed that the actor was discovered lifeless at his residence.
Friends, the show that chronicled the lives of six close-knit friends residing in New York City, ran from 1994 to 2004.
The series’ final episode captured the hearts of 52.5 million viewers in the United States, cementing it as the most-watched TV episode of the 2000s.
The LA Times and TMZ, the first to break the news of Perry’s demise, reported that he was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his residence.
A spokesperson from the Los Angeles Fire Department informed the BBC that emergency responders were dispatched to an address in the Pacific Palisades area, responding to a “water emergency” of an unspecified nature, but refrained from confirming Perry’s identity.
Warner Bros. TV, the production company behind Friends, expressed profound sorrow at the loss of their cherished friend, Matthew Perry.
“Matthew was an incredibly gifted actor and an indelible part of the Warner Bros. Television Group family,” the statement read.
“The impact of his comedic genius was felt around the world, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of so many. This is a heartbreaking day, and we send our love to his family, his loved ones, and all of his devoted fans.”
Image caption, Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston and Matthew Perry in a scene from Friends
Matthew Perry, born in Massachusetts in 1969, spent his formative years in Ottawa, Canada, where he attended elementary school alongside Justin Trudeau, who would go on to become the Canadian prime minister.
As a teenager, Perry relocated to Los Angeles, where he made his acting debut as Chazz Russell in Boys Will Be Boys and took on various roles in TV shows, including Growing Pains.
However, it was his role on Friends that catapulted him to international stardom. The show chronicled the lives of six New Yorkers as they navigated the complexities of dating, careers, and friendship. Co-starring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, and Lisa Kudrow, Friends became one of the most iconic and successful television series of all time.
Matthew Perry portrayed the endearingly awkward Chandler Bing, renowned for his sharp-witted one-liners, earning him a Primetime Emmy nomination in 2002.
Throughout his life, Perry grappled with addiction to painkillers and alcohol, seeking help through rehabilitation clinics on multiple occasions. In a 2016 interview with BBC Radio 2, he disclosed that he could not recollect three years of filming Friends due to the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Image caption, Perry (far left) with the other stars of Friends in 1997
In a more recent interview last year, he shared that he chose not to watch the show.
“I didn’t watch the show, and haven’t watched the show, because I could go, ‘Drinking, opiates, drinking, cocaine,’” he said. “I could tell season by season, by how I looked. That’s why I don’t wanna watch it, because that’s what I see.
“But I think I’m going to start to watch it because it’s been an incredible thing to watch it touch the hearts of different generations.”
Perry also appeared in several films, including Fools Rush In, Almost Heroes and the Whole Nine Yards.
Maggie Wheeler, who played Janice in Friends, was the first of Perry’s co-stars to publicly pay tribute to the actor.
Ms Wheeler said the joy Perry brought to “so many” in his “too short lifetime will live on”.
“I feel so very blessed by every creative moment we shared,” she wrote on Instagram.
Morgan Fairchild who played Perry’s on-screen mother and erotic novel writer Nora Bing, said: “I’m heartbroken about the untimely death of my ‘son’, Matthew Perry.”
“The loss of such a brilliant young actor is a shock,” she added.
Cruel Intentions actress Selma Blair said Perry was her “oldest boy friend”, adding: “All of us loved Matthew Perry, and I did especially. Every day. I loved him unconditionally. And he me.
On The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Canadian-American actor Matthew Perry shared a story about a rumour that he mayhave beaten up Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in grade school. He was on the show to promote his new memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing.
When Colbert asked him if he did, Perry responded “I don’t think so.”
Perry recalled the story after Colbert asked him who is more recognizable in Canada: him or Justin Trudeau. Though he conceded and said Trudeau is more easily recognizable, he then told the story about how his friends Chris and Brian Murray alleged that they had beaten up Justin Trudeau in elementary school. Without any evidence or recollection of that moment, Perry said he “just believed them.”
According to Perry, Trudeau eventually got word of the story and reached out to him on Twitter and asked Perry if he wanted to have a fight.
“You have your own army. No thanks,” Perry said, who added that their online scuffle ended there.
That’s not Perry’s only brush with a Canadian celeb on his current book tour. He apologized for writing in the memoir: “Why is it that the original thinkers like River Phoenix and Heath Ledger die, but Keanu Reeves still walks among us?”
Matthew Perry questions why Keanu Reeves is still alive.
The 53-year-old actor takes jabs at Reeves, 58, in his upcoming memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. According to excerpts published by Variety, Perry mentions the John Wick star multiple times throughout the book, specifically when reflecting on the deaths of legendary actors like Heath Ledger, Chris Farley, and River Phoenix.
“The list of geniuses who were ahead of their time is too long to detail here—suffice to say, near the top of any such list should be my costar in A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon, River Phoenix,” Perry wrote. “This movie was my first job, and I’m acutely aware it would be a better story if the movie was a huge hit, but all that really matters is that I learned how to make a film, and I got to know River, who personified beauty in every way.”
Phoenix died in 1993, just five years after the premiere of A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon. An autopsy report listed the actor’s cause of death as “acute multiple drug intoxication.” He was 23 years old.
“River was a beautiful man, inside and out—too beautiful for this world, it turned out,” Perry continued. “It always seems to be the really talented guys who go down. Why is it that the original thinkers like River Phoenix and Heath Ledger die, but Keanu Reeves still walks among us? River was a better actor than me; I was funnier. But I certainly held my own in our scenes—no small feat, when I look back decades later.”
Elsewhere in the book, Perry reflects on the death of Farley, the legendary comedian who died at 33 from a drug overdose. The Friends alum had worked with Farley on Almost Heroes, a 1998 comedy that was released just months after Farley’s death.
“His disease had progressed faster than mine had. (Plus, I had a healthy fear of the word ‘heroin,’ a fear we did not share),” Perry wrote about Farley. “I punched a hole through Jennifer Aniston’s dressing room wall when I found out. Keanu Reeves walks among us. I had to promote Almost Heroes two weeks after he died; I found myself publicly discussing his death from drugs and alcohol. I was high the entire time.”
It was unclear why Perry specifically targeted Reeves, as they’ve never worked on any projects together or hinted at some kind of beef. And indeed, in an apology after the news got out, he said it was an arbitrary name-check.
In a statement to Deadline, he wrote, “I’m actually a big fan of Keanu. I just chose a random name, my mistake. I apologize. I should have used my own name instead.”
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing also details Perry’s years-long battle with drug and alcohol addiction, including the life-threatening moment his colon exploded because of opioid use.
Matthew Perry is sharing his realizations about sobriety and addiction, and looking to help others who are struggling.
In a new preview clip of the 53-year-old actor’s upcoming interview with Diane Sawyer on ABC News, Perry explains the importance of having a support system when trying to overcome addiction and substance abuse.
“Your disease is just outside, just doing one-arm push-ups, just waiting for you,” Perry explained in the preview, which aired Tuesday evening on World News Tonight with David Muir. [It’s] waiting to get you alone. Because alone, you lose to the disease.”
In the interview with Sawyer — slated to air Oct. 28 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC — Perry explains that, after decades of serious struggles and a near-death experience just a few years ago, he is now doing well and getting back to some semblance of normal.
“Now, I finally feel OK, and feel like I’ve got some strength,” Perry says. “I’ve developed some safety nets around this, and I’m doing really well now.”
For Perry, being healthy after facing the very real possibility of death along his road to sobriety is an opportunity to use his platform and his fame to help others.
“For some reason — it’s obviously because I was on Friends — more people will listen to me. So I’ve got to take advantage of that,” he shares in the preview. “I’ve got to help as many people as I can.”
In an earlier preview of the candid interview, released last week, Perry revealed that it was Friends co-star Jennifer Aniston was the one who reached out the most when his drinking spiraled out of control.
Perry, who confirmed taking Methadone, Xanax and consuming a “full quart of vodka” a day in addition to 55 Vicodin a day, admitted Aniston told him, “We know you’re drinking.”
“Yeah,” Perry confirmed. “Imagine how scary a moment that was. She was the one that reached out the most. I’m really grateful to her for that.”
The actor’s opening up like never before ahead of the release of his memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, out Nov. 1.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Perry revealed, “I’ve probably spent $9 million or something trying to get sober.”
The actor detailed his long history with substance abuse, which he says began with drinking at age 14 and later having an addiction to painkillers which lead to multiple hospitalizations and medical emergencies.
According to Perry, he’s now been sober since early 2021, shortly before shooting the highly publicized Friends reunion special for HBO Max, which aired in May 2021.
Perry also opened up to People about his struggles with alcohol and opioids. He was 24 when he landed the iconic role of Chandler Bing, but Perry was already struggling with heavy alcohol use. The situation turned dire when he turned to Vicodin and got down to 128 pounds.
His addiction continued well past his time on Friends, and he faced a near-death experience just a few years ago as a result of his battle with addiction. Perry recalled suffering a gastrointestinal perforation at age 49 when his colon burst from opioid overuse. The actor fought for his life, spending two weeks in a coma and five months in the hospital, and had to use a colostomy bag for nine months.
“The doctors told my family that I had a two percent chance to live,” he told People. “I was put on a thing called an ECMO machine, which does all the breathing for your heart and your lungs. And that’s called a Hail Mary. No one survives that.”
