Matthew Perry’s Former Assistant Sentencing
Kenneth Iwamasa, the longtime personal assistant to late actor Matthew Perry, is set to be sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty to charges connected to Perry’s fatal ketamine overdose in 2023.
Iwamasa admitted to repeatedly injecting Perry with ketamine during the actor’s final weeks and acknowledged administering multiple doses on the day Perry died at his Los Angeles home. Prosecutors argue the assistant played a central role in facilitating illegal access to the drug outside of supervised medical treatment.
Perry, best known for portraying Chandler Bing on the sitcom Friends, died on October 28, 2023, at age 54. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled his death was caused by the acute effects of ketamine, with drowning listed as a contributing factor.
Guilty Plea and Federal Charges
Federal prosecutors say Iwamasa obtained ketamine through a broader underground network involving doctors and drug suppliers who allegedly exploited Perry’s addiction struggles for profit. Court filings state the assistant injected Perry numerous times despite having no medical license or formal healthcare training.
Iwamasa pleaded guilty in 2024 to conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death. Prosecutors are reportedly seeking a prison sentence of more than three years.
Authorities allege Perry had initially been receiving ketamine legally as part of supervised therapy for depression and mental health treatment. Investigators say the actor later began seeking larger quantities outside medical channels, leading to an illegal supply chain that ultimately contributed to his death.
Family Condemns Assistant’s Actions
Members of Perry’s family submitted emotional victim impact statements ahead of the sentencing hearing, accusing Iwamasa of betraying the actor during one of the most vulnerable periods of his life.
Relatives described the assistant as someone entrusted with protecting Perry’s health and recovery, not enabling substance abuse. Court documents reportedly detail frustration and anger from the family over the role Iwamasa played in the actor’s final days.
The case has become one of the most high-profile celebrity overdose prosecutions in recent years and has renewed scrutiny around addiction, enabling behavior, and the people surrounding wealthy public figures struggling with substance abuse.
Wider Drug Network Already Sentenced
Several other defendants connected to the ketamine distribution scheme have already been sentenced or entered guilty pleas.
Federal prosecutors previously charged multiple individuals, including doctors and alleged drug dealers, in what authorities described as a coordinated effort to profit from Perry’s addiction issues. Investigators released text messages between defendants discussing the actor’s willingness to pay large sums for ketamine.
Perry had spoken publicly for years about his battle with addiction and recovery. In his memoir, the actor detailed decades of struggles with opioids and alcohol while navigating fame and the pressures of Hollywood. His death reignited public conversations about the entertainment industry’s long-running addiction crisis and the lack of safeguards around vulnerable celebrities.
