New TMZ Documentary on Matthew Perry’s Death Goes Inside Alleged ‘Celebrity Drug Ring’

Nearly a month after five people, including two doctors, were charged in connection with Matthew Perry’s death from a ketamine overdose, a new documentary from TMZ Studios claims to expose a celebrity drug ring in Hollywood.

The hour-long documentary, TMZ Investigates: Matthew Perry and the Secret Celebrity Drug Ring, premieres on Monday, Sept. 16, at 9/8c on FOX and streams on Hulu. An online description of the episode states that “the roles of drug dealers, willing enablers, unscrupulous doctors and unethical rehab centers will be examined.”

The documentary also features interviews with Botched star Dr. Terry Dubrow, TV personality Kelly Osbourne and a former DEA agent, according to a FOX preview of the episode shown below.

In the clip, Bill Bodner, the former DEA agent, tells TMZ’s Harvey Levin about the role doctors can sometimes play in drug-related deaths.

“When there’s money to be made, or when there’s the potential lure of celebrity, that’s what’s causing this diversion outside of ethical bounds,” Bodner says.

Perry, 54, died on Oct. 28, 2023, from an accidental drug overdose. The Friends actor was found dead in his jacuzzi at his home in Los Angeles after he had been injected with three shots of ketamine that day.

An autopsy concluded Perry died as a result of acute effects of ketamine. Contributing factors included drowning, coronary artery disease and effects from buprenorphine, a drug used to treat opioid use disorder.

The Los Angeles Police Department began an investigation into the star’s death in May 2024. On Aug. 15, charges involving the distribution of the ketamine that caused Perry’s death were filed against five people. Federal prosecutors previously alleged that Perry, who had been candid about his struggles with addiction, was taken advantage of by defendants and became addicted to drugs again prior to his death.

Three defendants, Dr. Mark Chavez, one of two doctors charged in connection with Perry’s death; Kenneth Imawasa, Perry’s live-in assistant; and Erik Fleming, an acquaintance of Perry’s who coordinated the sale of drugs to him, have since either pleaded guilty or agreed to plead guilty to charges in connection with Perry’s death.

The two other defendants in the case — Dr. Salvador Plasencia and Jasveen Sangha — have both pleaded not guilty.

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Perry, who was undergoing ketamine infusion therapy at the time of his death, talked about his struggles with addiction in his memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.

“I wanted to share when I was safe from going into the dark side again,” Perry told PEOPLE for a 2022 cover story. “I had to wait until I was pretty safely sober — and away from the active disease of alcoholism and addiction — to write it all down. I was pretty certain that it would help people if I did.”

TMZ Investigates: Matthew Perry and the Secret Celebrity Drug Ring’ premieres Monday, Sept. 16 at 9/8c on FOX and streams on Hulu.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.