A documentary exploring the tragic final chapter of Friends star Matthew Perry’s life will air in the UK, as new developments emerge in the criminal case surrounding his death.
The Hollywood Reporter has reported that Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy is scheduled to premiere on ITV on August 18.
The one-hour film, produced by ITN Productions and distributed globally by Blue Ant Studios, originally debuted on Peacock in the US earlier this year and became one of the streaming platform’s top 10 most-watched shows of the week.
The news comes as one of the five people charged in connection with Perry’s death pleaded guilty in a federal court in Los Angeles.
Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 43, admitted to four counts of distributing ketamine, a powerful anaesthetic drug identified as the cause of Perry’s death.
The Friends star, best known for playing Chandler Bing, died in October 2023 at age 54.
An autopsy later ruled he died from “acute effects of ketamine.”
Appearing in court on Wednesday, Plasencia responded only to the judge’s questions, confirming his understanding of the plea agreement.
Speaking after the hearing, his lawyer said the doctor was “profoundly remorseful” for his actions, which included supplying ketamine to Perry in the weeks leading up to his death.
“Dr Plasencia is profoundly remorseful for the treatment decisions he made while providing ketamine to Matthew Perry,” his lawyer said in a statement to AP.
“He is fully accepting responsibility by pleading guilty to drug distribution.
“Dr Plasencia intends to voluntarily surrender his medical license, acknowledging his failure to protect Mr Perry, a patient who was especially vulnerable due to addiction.”
Prosecutors allege that Plasencia administered the drug to Perry on multiple occasions, including in the backseat of a car and at the actor’s Los Angeles home, where he reportedly witnessed Perry’s blood pressure spike and saw him “freeze up.”
Despite this, prosecutors say Plasencia left additional vials of ketamine with Perry’s assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, instructing him to administer future doses.
Court documents allege the doctor knowingly left the drugs behind, aware they would be used again.
As part of the plea deal, prosecutors dropped several charges, including three additional counts of distribution and two of falsifying records.
Plasencia now faces up to 40 years in prison.
Four others have been charged in connection with Perry’s death: Iwamasa, Erik Fleming, Dr. Mark Chavez, and Jasveen Sangha, the latter reportedly known as the "Ketamine Queen."
