At least one person has been arrested in connection with the ketamine overdose death of “Friends” actor Matthew Perry last year, U.S. media reported Thursday.
NBC, citing law enforcement officials, said one arrest had been made, while TMZ said “multiple” arrests had been made, including a doctor, as investigators look into how Perry obtained the drug.
Perry, who played Chandler Bing in the hit TV sitcom from 1994-2004, was found unconscious in his pool in October last year at the age of 54, sparking an outpouring of grief from his fans and colleagues.
The autopsy found that the cause of his death was “an acute effect of ketamine”, a controlled substance that the recovering addict had taken as part of monitored therapy.
Although small amounts were found in his stomach, high levels were found in his bloodstream.
How the actor – who had reportedly not been given the medication under supervision for several days – obtained the drug became the subject of a legal inquiry, with Los Angeles police confirming in May that they were investigating the death.
Celebrity news site TMZ, citing law enforcement sources, reported that “at least one doctor has been arrested, as well as several dealers who helped arrange and deliver ketamine to Perry.”
Doctors and veterinarians often use ketamine as an anesthetic, and researchers have explored its use as a treatment for depression. Underground users take it illegally because of its hallucinogenic effects.
“Friends,” which charted the adult lives, dating and careers of six New Yorkers, garnered a massive worldwide fan base and turned previously unknown actors into megastars who became an integral part of the lives of millions of viewers.
But Perry’s comedic talent, which earned him enormous wealth, also concealed a darkness that saw him struggle with addiction to painkillers and alcohol.
His sudden death last year left a sense of shock among Hollywood’s top stars, his co-stars and “Friends” fans around the world.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
