December 15, 2023 - The County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner (DME) determined the cause of death for 54-year-old actor Matthew Langford Perry as the acute effects of ketamine. Contributing factors in Mr. Perry’s death include drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine (used to treat opioid use disorder). The manner of death is accident.
On October 28, at approximately 1600 hours, Mr. Perry was found unresponsive in the pool at his residence. After 911 was called, paramedics responded to the scene and death was pronounced.
DME responded, conducted a scene investigation and then transported Mr. Perry’s body to the DME’s Forensic Science Center for examination.
On October 29, the deputy medical examiner completed an autopsy on Mr. Perry. Following the completion and receipt of relevant test results, the cause and manner of death were certified.
The Medical Examiner case number for Mr. Perry is 2023-14789. Media representatives requesting the Medical Examiner’s report can email pio@me.lacounty.gov. All other requests for the report can be made through the Department’s website.
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About LA County Dept. of Medical Examiner
The Department of Medical Examiner is an independent investigative agency, unattached to any law enforcement agency, that annually performs medicolegal death investigation of over 13,000 cases involving certain types of deaths in the community – any suspected homicide, suicide, or accidental deaths – to determine the circumstances, manner and cause of death. These also include any natural death were there either is no physician to sign a death certificate, or the physician is unwilling or legally prohibited from doing so. The goal of these investigations is to determine the medical cause (disease and/or injury) of the death for the protection of the public’s health and safety.
Medical Examiner systems require the Chief Medical Examiner to be a physician, certified by the American Board of Pathology in the medical specialty of Forensic Pathology and experienced in the forensic sciences. The department’s mission is to provide independent, quality, death investigation using advanced forensic science with compassion and objectivity for families, communities, and public health and safety, as well as to work collaboratively to reduce preventable deaths.