Matthew Perry’s father John, 83, appears frail and downcast as he’s pictured on what would’ve been Friends star’s 55th birthday – nearly a year after ketamine OD

Matthew Perry's father John, 83, appears frail and downcast as he's pictured on what would've been Friends star's 55th birthday - nearly a year after ketamine OD

As a seasoned investigator with years of experience under my belt, I can’t help but be deeply saddened by the tragic demise of such a beloved figure as Matthew Perry. The details emerging from this case are heart-wrenching and paint a picture of a man struggling with his mental health, seeking solace in unconventional means.


On what should have been my late son’s 55th birthday, I found myself stepping out of the shadows here in California. As a lifestyle expert, I understand the importance of marking significant milestones, even when they serve as reminders of our losses. This day was particularly poignant for me, and I felt compelled to honor my son’s memory in a quiet, personal way.

Approximately a year following the tragic drug overdose of the Friends star, it seems that the sadness of his loss has affected John Bennett Perry, the actor’s once-estranged father, noticeably. On Monday, while performing household tasks outside his home in Ojai, he appeared thin and visibly downcast.

Recently, the 83-year-old former singer and actor was seen in a touching Instagram post alongside his son, only two weeks prior to his unexpected passing.

The two were seen smiling broadly, with the younger Perry’s arm around his father’s shoulder. 

On the actor’s birthday this past Monday, I, as a devoted admirer, couldn’t help but notice the visibly sorrowful transformation of the grieving father. Exclusive photographs from DailyMail.com vividly captured his slimmer and subdued presence.

Matthew Perry's father John, 83, appears frail and downcast as he's pictured on what would've been Friends star's 55th birthday - nearly a year after ketamine OD

Matthew Perry's father John, 83, appears frail and downcast as he's pictured on what would've been Friends star's 55th birthday - nearly a year after ketamine OD
Matthew Perry's father John, 83, appears frail and downcast as he's pictured on what would've been Friends star's 55th birthday - nearly a year after ketamine OD

He was snapped doing some yard work outside of his rural home. He wore a gray T-shirt, blue jeans, and black leather boots. 

For the first time since November 2023, when Matthew’s memorial was held after his passing due to a ketamine overdose, he has been seen again.

In his 2022 memoir titled Friends, Lovers, and The Big Terrible Thing, Matthew openly discussed the challenging phases of his past relationship with his father, describing instances where he felt abandoned during childhood.

He narrated the tragic romance between his mother Suzanne Perry, a former beauty queen, and his father, the lead vocalist of the folk band, the Serendipity Singers.

Matthew explained that as a baby, John chose to leave the family behind to chase his aspiration of becoming an actor in California.

Due to the separation, a young Perry was compelled to travel frequently between Los Angeles and Canada, splitting his time between both parents. He admitted that this experience was initially ‘frightening’ for him.

Meanwhile, John dedicated himself to advancing his acting career on the silver screen, a platform that eventually became the sole means for Matthew to catch glimpses of him.

In his memoir, the famous sitcom star expressed that he primarily viewed his father in that manner during his younger years.

On television series, such as Mannix, there were instances where he was shown getting shot even through a door. That man was my father.

Despite the anguish caused by being abandoned, Matthew formed strong bonds with both his biological father and his stepfather, television journalist Keith Morrison, who played a significant role in raising him in Canada.

Matthew Perry's father John, 83, appears frail and downcast as he's pictured on what would've been Friends star's 55th birthday - nearly a year after ketamine OD
Matthew Perry's father John, 83, appears frail and downcast as he's pictured on what would've been Friends star's 55th birthday - nearly a year after ketamine OD
Matthew Perry's father John, 83, appears frail and downcast as he's pictured on what would've been Friends star's 55th birthday - nearly a year after ketamine OD
Matthew Perry's father John, 83, appears frail and downcast as he's pictured on what would've been Friends star's 55th birthday - nearly a year after ketamine OD

In the acting world, John had paved the way before his son, achieving significant success by playing The Sailor in Old Spice advertisements during the 1970s and 1980s.

Additionally, he was seen with Matthew in a Friends episode, and together, they made a special appearance on the medical comedy series Scrubs. In this show, they portrayed a strained father-son team.

In one of his last Instagram posts, Matthew can be seen happily side by side with John, both of them clutching sodas and flashing wide smiles at the camera.

The Friends alum captioned the photo: ‘Here is me, and my father John, both holding a beverage.’ 

Regrettably, only two weeks after discussing his struggle with a long-term battle against drugs and alcohol, Perry was discovered unconscious in his Los Angeles jacuzzi on October 28 at his residence.

No drugs were discovered at the scene and there was no indication of foul play at the time. 

Previously, officials shared updates on a case where five individuals were taken into custody, as they are suspected of contributing to Perry’s tragic drug-related death.

Last Thursday, the individuals under suspicion were arrested on allegations that they belonged to an extensive underground criminal organization, which is believed to have provided the late Friends actor with ketamine, leading to his death in October 2023.

Matthew Perry's father John, 83, appears frail and downcast as he's pictured on what would've been Friends star's 55th birthday - nearly a year after ketamine OD
Matthew Perry's father John, 83, appears frail and downcast as he's pictured on what would've been Friends star's 55th birthday - nearly a year after ketamine OD
Matthew Perry's father John, 83, appears frail and downcast as he's pictured on what would've been Friends star's 55th birthday - nearly a year after ketamine OD
Matthew Perry's father John, 83, appears frail and downcast as he's pictured on what would've been Friends star's 55th birthday - nearly a year after ketamine OD
Matthew Perry's father John, 83, appears frail and downcast as he's pictured on what would've been Friends star's 55th birthday - nearly a year after ketamine OD

Doctors Salvador Plasencia, age 42, and Mark Chavez, age 54, as well as Jasveen ‘Ketamine Queen’ Sangha, age 41, Eric Fleming, age 54, and Kenneth Iwamasa, age 59 (Perry’s live-in assistant) have all been accused of drug dealing and are facing charges.

Fresh insights surfaced during the probe into Perry’s drug overdose, revealing the sequence of occurrences claimed by prosecutors to have happened immediately following his passing.

In my professional opinion, as a lifestyle expert, it appears that Iwamasa has been reported to have left no doubt about the circumstances surrounding the tragic demise of the Friends star, following accusations that he provided a lethal dose of ketamine, based on legal papers.

Perry had been undergoing ketamine therapy for depression, a practice becoming more prevalent off-prescription, but found it difficult to secure sufficient doses from his usual physician.

In the allegations, it’s stated that Plasencia reached out to his friend, Dr. Mark Chavez, based in San Diego, asking him to acquire ketamine on his behalf.

It’s said that Erik Fleming acted as an intermediary between Sangha, the suspected drug dealer infamously known as the ‘Ketamine Queen’, and Iwamasa. The accusation is that he facilitated a connection in which the former supposedly supplied the lethal dose to the latter.

Plasencia and Sangha have both pleaded not guilty, while the others have taken plea bargains. 

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2024-08-21 20:19

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