How Matthew Perry died: the first details of his autopsy

The famous actor Matthew Perry, 54 years old, suddenly passed away on October 28, 2023.

Many knew him as Chandler Bing from the iconic sitcom 'Friends'.

(Here we see him with a guest actress of the show, Julia Roberts)

The age of the actor, his past with substance abuse, and his allegedly healthy state at the final years of his life caused major confusion about what would have caused Matthew Perry's death.

The first news was that the actor had been found unconscious in the jacuzzi of his Los Angeles home. His personal assistant encountered him in the tub around four in the afternoon. Perry could not be resuscitated.

Immediately after the news broke, speculation about his death focused on a possible use of illegal substances. Journalists and fans indicated that this may have led to him drowning in his jacuzzi.

However, TMZ was quick to deny that there were traces of fentanyl or methamphetamine in the actor's body. The news outlet got this information from a preliminary autopsy report.

TMZ also reported that that was the only result the autopsy released so far.

In fact, as People magazine read in the official records, "the status of Perry's cause of death currently listed as 'deferred' since it's 'pending additional investigation.'

TMZ suggests that it could take 4 to 6 months to complete the autopsy and determine the actor's cause of death with certainty.

People magazine, however, noted that the only thing lacking in the autopsy was the full toxicology report. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed to the outlet on Sunday, November 5, "that an autopsy has been completed and results are pending a toxicology report, which can take weeks to come through."

Previously, TMZ had already noted that upon finding the body, police had looked for illegal substances in the mansion and not found any.

Nor did the police see any signs of violence or self-harm. "The LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division is handling Perry's death investigation," People reports, "and 'foul play is not suspected at this time.'"

What police did find, was a number of prescription drugs, including antidepressants and anxiolytics, suggesting that the actor had some mental issues. However, many people have these kinds of medication in their homes.

For the moment we do know that Matthew Perry had moved into his new villa in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, less than a month ago and that he was alone at the time of his death.

He was alone at the house, TMZ reported, because he sent his assistant out to buy a new iPhone and glasses. When the assistant returned, the actor was lying in the hot tub, lifeless. His body was not completely submerged in the water.

Reporters have deduced from this scene that the actor's lifeless body was only in the water for a little while by the time his assistant arrived. Perhaps, if his employee had been there a few minutes earlier, the story would have ended differently.

Upon further questions from news media, police "declined to comment on what may or may not have been recovered on the scene, as 'the investigation is ongoing,'" People magazine says.

While we await the final medical examiner's report, theories about Matthew Perry's death are likely to continue to circulate. It would be best if a definite, reliable explanation arrived as soon as possible.