Matthew Perry’s Cause of Death Remains Under Investigation

Perry was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his house in Los Angeles on Saturday, the police said. It could be weeks or even months before the cause of his death is established, experts said.

Matthew Perry, famous for his role as Chandler Bing on the TV show "Friends," was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home last Saturday. The authorities are trying to determine what caused his death, but it might take some time to get all the answers.

The Los Angeles Police Department received a call about Perry at around 4 p.m. Firefighters arrived at his home and pronounced him dead. Matthew Perry was 54 years old.

Because he was a well-known celebrity, detectives from the Robbery Homicide Division looked into the case. While there were no obvious signs of foul play, the official cause of death is pending the coroner's investigation.

The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner stated that Perry's cause of death was "deferred," indicating that further investigation was required. However, his case is not currently listed on their website.

This investigation may take a while because experts need to conduct a toxicology screening and examine other evidence. Matthew Perry had openly discussed his struggles with addiction, which led to several hospitalizations for various health issues.

In his 2022 memoir, he detailed his health challenges, including pneumonia, an exploded colon, a period on life support, a coma, time with a colostomy bag, and multiple stomach operations in 2018.

Forensic pathologist Dr. Judy Melinek pointed out in a TikTok video that it's crucial to find out if Perry's nose and mouth were below the waterline when he was found. This would help determine if he might have drowned. They also need to consider factors like heart disease or intoxication, which can take weeks to confirm due to a lack of qualified toxicologists, funding, and equipment.

Investigators should also check for home security footage and examine the hot tub to ensure it was safe. If the water was hot but not scalding, it could lead to heat exhaustion and dehydration, potentially causing drowning.

Dr. James Gill, Connecticut's chief medical examiner, emphasized the importance of figuring out whether someone found unresponsive in a hot tub intentionally went underwater, indicating a suicide, or if they were unable to get out, possibly due to a heart attack or substance use. Medical examiners often list the cause of death as "pending" in such cases, allowing the family to proceed with burial or cremation while awaiting toxicology test results, which can take weeks.

Dr. Kathryn Pinneri, a former president of the National Association of Medical Examiners, noted that the authorities haven't confirmed if Perry drowned. She explained that hot tub drownings are usually associated with underlying health conditions, alcohol, medications, or drugs. So, the cause and manner of death are typically pending until test results are available.

Matthew Perry's role as Chandler Bing on "Friends" made him a household name, and the show ran from 1994 to 2004. He continued to act in various television shows and movies, although not all of them achieved the same level of success as "Friends."