A doctor who illegally supplied ketamine to actor Matthew Perry has been sentenced to jail, marking a meaningful progress in the inquiry surrounding the friends star’s death. Dr. Daniel Rendon, 60, was sentenced to six months in jail after pleading guilty to one count of administering a controlled substance without a legitimate medical purpose.
The case stems from Perry’s accidental drowning in October 2023, with the investigation revealing a complex network of individuals involved in obtaining and providing the actor with ketamine. While the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled Perry’s death an accident,the legal proceedings highlight the dangers of unregulated access to powerful drugs and the struggles Perry faced with long-term addiction. Four other individuals connected to the case have also accepted plea deals and await sentencing in the coming months.
Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett also ordered Rendon to serve two years of probation following his jail term. Rendon had been prescribing ketamine to Perry remotely, outside of standard medical practice, and continued to do so even after Perry had ended therapy with him.
Jasveen sangha,known as “the Ketamine Queen,” Perry’s assistant Kenneth Iwamasa,another doctor,Mark Chavez,and Erik Fleming,an associate of the actor,are among those who have also entered plea agreements.
Perry, who rose to fame playing Chandler Bing on the hit sitcom Friends alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer, publicly battled addiction for years. He starred in all 10 seasons of friends, from 1994 to 2004, and participated in the show’s 2021 reunion special. Tributes poured in from fans and colleagues worldwide following his death.
