The creator of “Friends” hopes fans remember Matthew Perry's legacy, not his death

Friends Co-creator of the series Marta Kauffman hopes that fans remember Matthew Perry for his legacy and not for his death from an accidental drug overdose.

“He is the one I have had the most contact with. About two weeks before [he died] he and I talked over FaceTiming and he seemed really good,” said Kauffman, 67, who co-wrote the sitcom with David Cranesaid in an interview with London's The times will be released on Friday, August 16, to mark the 30th anniversary of the sitcom classic.

“Two things come to mind [about how to celebrate him]: One is to donate to drug treatment centers – let’s fight the disease,” she told the outlet. “And the second option is to watch Friends and remember him not as a man who died this way, but as a man who was incredibly funny and brought joy to everyone.”

Perry died of an accidental overdose on October 28, 2023, at the age of 54. An autopsy revealed that his death was caused by “acute effects of ketamine.”

Related: Celebrities who have spoken about ketamine use: Matthew Perry, more

Celebrities such as Matthew Perry, Chrissy Teigen and others have spoken openly about using ketamine infusion therapy to treat mental illness. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), ketamine is a “dissociative anesthetic with some hallucinogenic effects” and “can produce a state of sedation, immobility, analgesia and amnesia.” It […]

On Thursday, August 15, authorities announced that five people had been charged in the investigation into Perry’s death, including his former personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, Erik Fleming, Jasveen Sangha (also known as “the Ketamine Queen”), Mark Chavez And Salvador Plasencia.

“These defendants exploited Mr. Perry’s addiction problems to enrich themselves,” said the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California. Martin Estrada told reporters when the charges were announced, according to CBS. “They knew what they were doing was wrong. They knew they were putting Mr. Perry at great risk, but they did it anyway. Ultimately, these defendants were more interested in profiting from Mr. Perry than in caring about his well-being.”

A source close to Perry reported exclusively We weekly that his friends and family were “surprised” and “sad” by Iwamasa's arrest, as he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. “Matthew had secrets,” the insider said. “It wouldn't shock me if Kenny was the only one who knew how bad it really was.”

The agreement said Iwamasa administered “approximately 6 to 8 injections” of ketamine to the actor daily and “found Perry unconscious in his apartment at least twice” in October 2023.

Related: Investigation into the death of Matthew Perry: A complete timeline

Two months after Matthew Perry died in October 2023 at the age of 54, his death was ruled an accident. However, that ruling was far from the end of the story. A December 2023 toxicology report concluded that Perry died from “the acute effects of ketamine.” The report noted that Perry had been receiving ketamine on a regular basis. […]

At a performance on Today Shortly after Perry's death, Kauffman recalled the last time she spoke to him. “It was great. He was happy and cheerful,” she recalled in November 2023. “He didn't seem to be burdened by anything. He was doing really well, which is why this seems so unfair.”

She added: “He seemed better than I had seen him in a long time. I was so thrilled to see that. He was doing well emotionally. He looked good. He had quit smoking… He was sober.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please call the SAMHSA Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.