Matthew Perry's Sister Recounts 'Betrayal' by Assistant Convicted in Actor's Death

Matthew Perry's sister has described the profound sense of "betrayal" she felt from a close associate who supplied the actor with the fatal dose of ketamine that led to his death. Mia Perry Bowick, speaking publicly about her brother for the first time in the new Netflix documentary "The One About Matthew Perry," stated that Kenny Iwamasa "should have known better" than to assist the "Friends" star in obtaining large quantities of the drug.

Iwamasa, who had known Perry for 30 years and worked as his assistant, was convicted in connection with Perry's death. He was sentenced to three years and five months in prison for what a judge characterized as "reckless" conduct, given his awareness of Perry's struggles with addiction. Court proceedings revealed that Iwamasa was the last person to see Perry alive and acted as his enabler and de facto personal doctor.

Bowick expressed feeling "duped, deeply" by Iwamasa, whom she had known for three decades. She recalled being initially excited when Iwamasa began working with her brother in 2022. Perry reportedly paid Iwamasa $150,000 annually for his role as a live-in assistant, which eventually included administering ketamine that Iwamasa procured. "We all really liked him and really really trusted him," Bowick said of Iwamasa at the time. "When he started working with Matthew we were all really happy and thought it was a good fit. Matthew really, really trusted him. They were together every single day."

Perry died in October 2023 at the age of 54 in his Los Angeles home's hot tub, having suffered an accidental overdose of ketamine. Iwamasa was one of five individuals sentenced for their involvement in obtaining and supplying the drug to Perry.

Bowick detailed the powerful effect ketamine had on her brother, noting that Perry believed he had "seen God" while under its influence and that it led him to contemplate the idea of multiple lives. The documentary also touches upon the significant amount of alcohol Perry consumed, with friend Kevin Pollack recalling instances where Perry would request "seven shots" of alcohol in a single drink at parties.

Perry began using ketamine around 2021, reportedly in a clinical setting, telling his family it was aiding his battle with depression. This struggle had previously led him to undergo rehabilitation more than a dozen times. Bowick, a psychotherapist herself, initially harbored skepticism about using one substance to treat addiction but observed positive changes in her brother, describing him as more present and happy.

Perry's friend David Pressman commented on the actor's vulnerability, stating, "Matthew was a serious addict and he couldn't shake it but with people like that in your orbit or taking advantage of your addiction and your wealth, I don’t think he stood much of a chance."

Before his death, Perry was reportedly injecting ketamine six to eight times a day, having spent approximately $55,000 on illegally sourced ketamine in the two months prior. According to Iwamasa's plea agreement, he administered the final dose on October 28, 2023, before leaving Perry alone to run errands.

The documentary also revisits Perry's past, including his time filming the 2000 crime comedy "The Whole Nine Yards" with Bruce Willis. Pollack described elaborate parties at hotels hosted by Willis, where heavy drinking was common, and castmates and others would gather. He recalled Perry's astonishment at these events and the intense drinking habits, noting that the term "addiction" was not openly discussed at that time.