Matthew Perry 1969 - 2023

'Friends' Star Matthew Perry's Official Death Certificate Revealed

Home / Exclusive / 'Friends' Star Matthew Perry's Official Death Certificate Revealed

By Afouda Bamidele on November 8, 2023 at 1:34 PM EST
Updated on November 8, 2023 at 4:25 PM EST

Matthew Perry's death certificate lists the actor's cause of death as 'deferred' adding more mystery to the conditions and cause of his death.

According to the death certificate obtained by The Blast, Perry's official cause of death is being deferred pending further investigation and toxicology reports.

As we reported, the beloved "Friends" star mysteriously died on October 28 after he was found drowned in his jacuzzi. Perry was only 54.

The document lists Perry's career as 38 years in the Entertainment industry and lists the "informant" on his death as his famous step-father Keith Morrison. The document also confirms he was laid to rest at Forest Lawn in Los Angeles.

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Last month, Perry was found lifeless by his assistant at a Los Angeles area home, where he seems to have drowned. He had just finished playing a 2-hour game of pickleball in what was his last sighting. At the time, authorities confirmed that no foul play was involved, and no narcotics were found around him.

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Investigators Waiting On Toxicology Report Before Confirming Official Cause Of Death

Matthew Perry Was '100% Sober When He Passed' Away
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Police officials initially believed they were attending a possible "water rescue" at Perry's Pacific Palisades home after a call came in at 4:07 p.m. PST Saturday. However, when they arrived, they found him already unresponsive.

The late actor endured a life of severe substance and alcohol abuse. He was quite open about his struggles, especially following the release of his memoir "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing." Before his death, Perry claimed to be sober, and sources close to the late actor confirmed his sobriety after his passing.

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However, prescription anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications were discovered on the scene. In addition to the anti-anxiety and anti-depressant meds, police also found a prescription COPD drug — a medication for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, usually used for people with emphysema or chronic bronchitis.

It wasn't confirmed if the drugs found contributed to Perry's shocking death, but an autopsy was immediately scheduled to get to the bottom of the issue. Following the autopsy, the cause of death was listed as "deferred" pending a toxicology report. That meant authorities had to perform blood work before concluding on what the exact cause of death was.

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Perry's family mourned his heartbreaking loss via a statement released a day after he was found. "We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother. Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend."

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See Matthew Perry's Official Death Certificate

'Friends' Star Matthew Perry's Official Death Certificate Revealed
The Blast

The statement concluded, "You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love." Also, the main "Friends" castmates — Lisa Kudrow, Jennifer Aniston, Dave Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, and Matt LeBlanc — who could be likened to his second family mourned his death in a joint statement.

"We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family. There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss."

The message continued, "In time, we will say more, as and when we are able. For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty's family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world." The message is then signed by Aniston, Cox, Kudrow, LeBlanc, and Schwimmer.

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Matthew Perry Laid To Rest Surrounded By Family & 'Friends' Cast

Six days after Perry passed, he was laid to rest at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Los Angeles' Hollywood Hills neighborhood in an intimate memorial consisting of just family and close friends.

His "Friends" co-stars, except Le Blanc, were all photographed looking somber and walking together to attend the apparent funeral. Days before the funeral, Perry's surviving sisters and his mother, Suzanne Perry, were at Forest Lawn, making preparations.

The location of the "Fools Rush In" actor's resting place is exceptionally sentimental given that it is located across from Warner Bros. studios, where "Friends" was filmed. Forest Lawn Memorial Park is also the resting place of many A-listers in the industry, including Michael Jackson, Carrie Fisher, and Paul Walker.

Matthew Perry Laid To Rest, 'Friends' Co-Stars Spotted At Memorial
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While promoting his best-selling memoir last year, Perry said he would like to be remembered as "a guy who lived life, loved well, lived well, and helped people. That running into me was a good thing and not something bad."

RIP Matthew Perry.

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