Matthew Perry’s Mother Says Assistant Betrayed Family Trust Ahead of Sentencing

Suzanne Morrison, the mother of late actor Matthew Perry, said in a victim impact statement that the family trusted Perry’s personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, to help protect him from addiction, but believes he instead enabled the drug use that led to Perry’s death.

Perry, best known for “Friends,” died at age 54 on Oct. 28, 2023. His death was ruled the result of the acute effects of ketamine.

Federal prosecutors said Iwamasa repeatedly injected Perry with ketamine despite having no medical training. According to court documents, Perry asked for a “big” injection on the day he died before entering his hot tub. Iwamasa later found him unresponsive.

Iwamasa pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death. Prosecutors are seeking a 41-month prison sentence and three years of supervised release. He is scheduled to be sentenced May 27.

In her statement, Morrison said Iwamasa’s role was supposed to be helping Perry stay sober. She accused him of arranging drug supplies and repeatedly injecting Perry even when the danger was obvious.

Morrison also described how Iwamasa stayed close to the family after Perry’s death, sending messages and asking to speak at the funeral. She said the family later felt betrayed.

She wrote that no legal outcome could bring “closure” for the loss of her son.

Iwamasa was one of five people charged in connection with Perry’s death. Others included alleged ketamine supplier Jasveen Sangha, TV director Erik Fleming, and doctors Salvador Plasencia and Mark Chavez, all of whom pleaded guilty to drug-related charges and received sentences.