'Friends' star Matthew Perry remembered on what could have been actor's 55th birthday
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Matthew Perry may no longer be with his fans to mark his 55th birthday, but his 'Friends' continue to celebrate him on social media.
Perry's birthday comes 10 months after he was found dead in his pool at his home in the Pacific Palisades. Five individuals were recently arrested in connection with allegedly supplying the 'Fools Rush In' actor with the ketamine that led to his overdose
Heartfelt birthday tributes paid to Matthew Perry on Instagram
On August 19, the official 'Friends' Instagram page honored the late actor with a touching tribute: "On this day, we remember the light that was Matthew Perry."
Accompanying the post was a cherished photo of Perry, forever remembered as the quick-witted Chandler Bing, alongside his 'Friends' co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer.
Perry’s untimely death on October 28, 2023, due to an accidental drug overdose, left a deep void in the entertainment world.
View this post on Instagram
In the wake of the tragedy, his 'Friends' family released a heartfelt joint statement through PEOPLE in October 2023, honoring the man who brought so much joy to their lives and millions of fans worldwide.
"We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family," their statement read. "There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss."
"In time we will say more, as and when we are able," it continued. "For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world."
Not only his 'Friends', but the creators of the series, Marta Kauffman and David Crane, along with executive producer Kevin Bright also shared their heartfelt grief following the death of Matthew Perry.
In a statement, they expressed, "We are shocked and deeply, deeply saddened by our beloved friend Matthew’s passing,” they wrote at the time. “It still seems impossible. All we can say is that we feel blessed to have had him as part of our lives. He was a brilliant talent.”
“It’s a cliche to say that an actor makes a role their own, but in Matthew’s case, there are no truer words,” they remembered of Perry. “From the day we first heard him embody the role of Chandler Bing, there was no one else for us.”
Perry, who was undergoing ketamine infusion therapy at the time of his death, had discussed his struggles with addiction in his memoir 'Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing'.
Five individuals charged in connection with Matthew Perry’s demise
Last week, California authorities charged five individuals in connection with Matthew Perry's fatal drug overdose.
Among them is Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry's assistant, who now stands accused of conspiring to distribute ketamine to the actor, according to The New York Times.
The arrests also include two doctors, Salvador Plascencia and Mark Chavez, who were supposed to protect Perry’s health but allegedly betrayed their medical oaths.
Alongside them are Perry’s longtime assistant, alleged street dealer Erik Fleming, and Jasveen Sangha, who has earned the notorious title of the 'Ketamine Queen of Los Angeles.'
These individuals are accused of exploiting Perry's vulnerability and manipulating him into spending thousands of dollars on ketamine vials that reportedly cost just $12.
Perry, who had struggled with addiction for years, became increasingly dependent on the drug in the weeks leading up to his untimely death at the age of 54.
As per People, United States Attorney Martin Estrada said, "These defendants took advantage of Mr Perry’s addiction issues to enrich themselves," adding, "In the end, these defendants were more interested in profiting off Mr Perry than caring for his well being."
It was also reported that his live-in personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa reportedly administered at least 27 shots of ketamine in the five days leading up to his death, following the instructions of Dr Plascencia.
