Matthew Perry’s sudden death in October 2023 shocked the world, and newly released court documents have shed light on the tragic circumstances surrounding the actor’s final moments. The Friends star, who passed away at the age of 54, reportedly succumbed to the acute effects of ketamine, a powerful anesthetic known for its dissociative properties.
According to documents obtained by NBC News and published on Friday, August 16, Perry’s last words were directed toward his personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa. The documents reveal that Perry, who was found unresponsive in his hot tub, had asked Iwamasa to administer the drug multiple times in the hours leading up to his death. Referring to ketamine, Perry allegedly told Iwamasa, “shoot me up with a big one.”
Iwamasa, who had been living with Perry as his personal assistant, was among five individuals indicted on federal charges connected to the actor’s death. The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the charges on Thursday, August 15, marking a significant development in the investigation.
An autopsy confirmed that Perry died from the acute effects of ketamine on October 28, 2023. In addition to Iwamasa, four others—Jasveen Sangha, also known as “the Ketamine Queen,” Mark Chavez, Salvador Plasencia, and Erik Fleming—have been charged in connection with the case. Iwamasa has since pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, leading to death.
The court documents detail the series of events on the day of Perry’s death. Iwamasa reportedly administered three doses of ketamine to the actor, beginning at 8:30 AM, with subsequent doses four hours later and then 40 minutes after that. Following the third dose, Iwamasa prepared the hot tub for Perry before leaving the residence to run errands. Upon his return, he found Perry unresponsive in the hot tub.
Prosecutors allege that these three injections were the fatal doses, though Iwamasa claimed that he had administered a total of 27 ketamine injections during the last five days of Perry’s life. Despite his involvement, Iwamasa had no medical training and was acting under the guidance of Dr. Salvador Plasencia, one of the other indicted individuals.
The news of Iwamasa’s arrest has left Perry’s friends and family devastated. According to Us Weekly, those close to Perry were “blindsided” and deeply saddened by the revelations. A source close to Perry told the publication that the actor had kept his struggles hidden, with only Iwamasa fully aware of the extent of his addiction in his final days. “Matthew kept secrets,” the source said. “I wouldn’t be shocked if Kenny was the only one who knew how bad it really was.”
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Perry had been open about his past struggles with addiction in his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. In the book, Perry detailed his experiences with various substances, including ketamine, which he described as a drug that he used to “disassociate” and as part of a prescribed treatment for pain and depression. He wrote, “Has my name written all over it—they might as well have called it ‘Matty.’ It was something different, and anything different is good.”
Perry’s death has left a void in the entertainment industry and among his fans worldwide. His family, who were “heartbroken” by his sudden passing, released a statement on October 29, 2023, expressing their grief. “Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and as a friend,” they said.
As the legal proceedings continue, Perry’s legacy as an actor and his candidness about his struggles with addiction remain central to the public’s memory of him. His death serves as a somber reminder of the devastating impact of substance abuse and the importance of seeking help.
