Episode #197 | 09.17.24

Matthew Perry: The One Where He Dies

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In this episode

Friends star Matthew Perry battled addiction through the white-hot glare of fame while having the number one show on television and the number one movie in theaters at the same time while dating the biggest movie star on the planet. He was a celebrity who experienced unimaginable popularity and crushing loneliness, a dichotomy that drove his addiction, an addiction that caused him to suffer through a coma, various stints in rehab, nine surgeries, broken teeth, broken ribs, and ultimately forced him to succumb to predatory drug dealers and crooked doctors, but not before finding real purpose in this life and helping millions of other addicts fight their own addictions.

Sources

Matthew Perry Ketamine Investigation - New York Times, Matt Stevens

Matthew Perry Drug Investigation Nearing End - ABC News, Nadine El-Bawab and Alex Stone

I was a ketamine addict - Independent, Nathan Harmer

Matthew Perry’s death - New Zealand Herald

Probe Into Matthew Perry’s Acquisition of Ketamine That Led to His Death Has Multiple Suspects - Hollywood Reporter, Kevin Dolak

How Friends Cast Got 1 Million Per Episode Salary - Business Insider, Jethro Nededog

How the cast of ‘Friends’ stuck together - and changed television - CNN, Brian Lowrey

Matthew Perry almost asked Lizzy Caplan to marry him — ‘never’ spoke again after ‘harsh’ email - NY Post, Stephanie Webber

Matthew Perry Wanted to Be Remembered for Helping Others in Recovery From Addiction - Time, Megan McCluskey

Matthew Perry shares his incredible story - Q with Tom Power

Matthew Perry’s final days were a mix of nicotine lollipops, ketamine and testosterone shots that left him ‘angry and mean’ - Page Six, Sara Whitman

'RECIPE FOR DISASTER': Inside Matthew Perry's final days - Toronto Sun, Mark Daniell

Multiple people charged in connection to Matthew Perry’s death - CNN, Scott Glover, John Miller and Lisa Respers France

Credits

Hosted and written by Jake Brennan.

Copy edited by James Sullivan.

Scored and mixed by Matt Beaudoin.

Additional music and score elements by Ryan Spraker.

DISGRACELAND theme song, “Crenshaw Space Boogie,” written and produced by Jake Brennan. Performed by Jake Brennan, Bryce Kanzer, Jay Cannava, and Evan Kenney. Mixed and engineered by Adam Taylor.

*illustrations by Avi Spivak @avispivak