Matthew Perry’s live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, was sentenced to three years and five months in prison for his central role in the ketamine overdose death of the Friends star in October 2023.
US District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett criticised Iwamasa’s actions as “reckless”, saying he enabled Perry’s addiction in the days leading up to the actor’s death.
Iwamasa, 60, was the final defendant sentenced in the investigation into Perry’s death at age 54. Prosecutors said he acted as Perry’s drug messenger, injected him with ketamine and was the last person to see him alive before finding him dead in his Jacuzzi.
He later became a key informant in the wider case involving corrupt doctors and drug suppliers, including dealer Jasveen Sangha, known as the “Ketamine Queen”, who received a 15-year sentence.
During the hearing in Los Angeles federal court, defence lawyer Alan Eisner argued that Iwamasa had been loyal to Perry and was heavily influenced by the actor’s demands.
He sought a reduced sentence, saying Perry himself was not blameless in the addiction struggle.
However, the judge rejected the idea that Iwamasa had no choice, saying he “could have said no”.
Perry’s family expressed deep anger and disappointment toward Iwamasa, whom they had trusted to help the actor maintain sobriety.
Perry’s stepfather, veteran journalist Keith Morrison, said the family considered him “part of the family” and accused him of failing to protect the actor despite having opportunities to intervene.
Lisa Ferguson, Perry’s longtime business manager and estate executor, accused Iwamasa of isolating Perry from supportive people and exploiting his addiction for personal gain.
She called him “the monster that killed him” and said Perry “deserved to live”.
In an emotional statement, Iwamasa apologised directly to Perry’s family, saying he was “horribly sorry” and would forever regret his actions. He showed no visible reaction as the sentence was announced.
The court also imposed a $10,000 fine and two years of probation. Iwamasa is scheduled to report to prison on July 17.
Perry, who rose to global fame playing Chandler Bing on the hit sitcom Friends from 1994 to 2004 alongside Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer and Lisa Kudrow, had long struggled with addiction.
Authorities said ketamine was the primary cause of his death, with drowning listed as a secondary factor. (PTI)
