Matthew Perry told his assistant 'shoot me a big one' just hours before his death from ketamine overdose
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: According to new reports regarding 'Friends' star Matthew Perry's death on October 28, 2023, his live-in personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa reportedly administered ketamine shots at around 8.30 am the day he died.
Four hours later, as Perry was watching a movie at his LA home, Iwamasa gave him another dose. Barely 40 minutes later, Perry reportedly requested yet another shot. "Shoot me up with a big one," he urged Iwamasa, before asking him to prepare the hot tub.
Matthew Perry's assistant accused along with five others
Obliging to Matthew Perry's request, Kenneth Iwamasa administered a third dose and left to run some errands. When he returned, the unthinkable had happened— Perry lay face down in the water, lifeless.
Authorities in California revealed that Iwamasa, Perry's trusted assistant, was among five individuals charged on August 15 for their alleged roles in the death of the beloved actor in October 2023, with conspiring to distribute ketamine to the actor, as per The New York Times.
Reportedly, the arrests include two doctors, Salvador Plascencia and Mark Chavez, who were supposed to safeguard Perry's health but instead betrayed their oaths.
Among the accused were Perry’s longtime assistant; alleged street dealer Erik Fleming; and Jasveen Sangha, infamously known as the “Ketamine Queen of Los Angeles.”
These individuals are accused of exploiting Perry’s vulnerability, deceitfully extracting thousands of dollars for ketamine vials that reportedly cost just $12.
Perry, who had battled addiction for years, found himself increasingly dependent on ketamine in the weeks leading up to his death on October 28 at the age of 54.
As court documents revealed, Perry's desperation grew after local clinic doctors refused to up his dosage, pushing him to seek illegal sources.
Despite the warning signs—episodes where Perry lost consciousness, and instances where his speech and movement were impaired—those around him continued to enable his ketamine use.
Prosecutors, after a seven-month investigation, accused several of the defendants of knowingly facilitating Perry’s drug abuse, fully aware of his struggles with addiction and his efforts to reclaim sobriety.
Matthew Perry's assistant gave actor 27 ketamine shots
The harrowing details of Matthew Perry's final days come to light through the indictment and plea agreements involving his assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, and two other defendants.
Despite multiple attempts, none of the accused could be reached for comment. In August, Dr Plasencia and Sangha, both set to stand trial in October, pleaded not guilty.
However, texts between the doctor and Perry's assistant revealed the doctor's intent to profit from Perry's struggles, as noted in an indictment.
“I wonder how much this moron will pay” for the powerful tranquilizer, Plascencia said in a message, according to the indictment.
In the tragic final days of Matthew Perry's life, Iwamasa—who had been living with the actor since 1994 and had no medical training—administered at least 27 shots of ketamine, following the instructions of Plascencia
At a press conference in downtown Los Angeles, Martin Estrada, the US attorney for the Central District of California, delivered a damning statement: “These defendants took advantage of Mr Perry’s addiction issues to enrich themselves. They knew what they were doing was wrong. They knew what they were doing was risking great danger to Mr Perry. But they did it anyway. In the end, these defendants were more interested in profiting off Mr. Perry than caring for his well-being.”
As Matthew Perry’s personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa's primary duties were to coordinate Perry’s doctor’s appointments and ensure that he took the proper medication.
However, what should have been a role focused on care and support took a dark turn, contributing to the actor's untimely demise.
