Suvechha Sarkar
The death of the beloved ‘Friends’ actor, Matthew Langford Perry, in his home in Los Angeles, California, sent shockwaves across the world. It prompted a quick investigation by the authorities, which uncovered a troubling network of individuals who supplied him with ketamine, a drug that was later determined to have played a primary role in his death. Netflix’s documentary, ‘The One About Matthew Perry,’ sheds light on the individuals who were federally charged in the case, including his personal assistant, Kenneth “Kenny” Iwamasa, and one of the actor’s doctors, Salvador Plasencia. Moreover, it features in-depth interviews with Matthew’s friends and sister, Mia Perry Bowick.
Kenneth Iwamasa Was the Live-in Assistant of Matthew Perry at the Time of the Actor’s Death
In 1964, Kenneth Iwamasa, also known as Kenny, was born to Ruby and Robert Iwamasa. He was raised in Midland, Michigan, where he graduated from H.H. Dow High School in 1982. The following year, he enrolled at the University of Colorado Boulder to pursue a degree in Environmental Design and studied there until 1984. In 1983, Kenneth began pursuing an Associate of Science in Photography at Lansing Community College. After just 2 years, he moved on to study Cinematography and Film/Video Production at Columbia College Hollywood before graduating in 1986. Kenneth began his career as the CEO of Sharmat Entertainment Associates in 1985 and served there until 1988.
Kenneth eventually joined Danmark Ltd. as an Executive Assistant to the CEO. He left the role in 1989 and became an Assistant to the Producer at Warner Bros. Inc. in August of that same year, holding the position until 1992. That November, he assumed the role of Executive Assistant to Doug Chapin through Krost/Chapin Management, Inc., and remained there until March 1994. The following month, Kenneth joined Doug Chapin Management as the Executive Assistant to the President. In that role, he took on the personal managerial responsibilities for the actor Matthew Perry and other artists.
By June 2017, Kenneth had also become the Talent Manager at the organization. In 2022, he took on the role of Matthew’s live-in personal assistant. Kenneth came under suspicion on October 28, 2023, when the 54-year-old actor was found dead in a jacuzzi inside his home in Los Angeles, California. Once authorities arrived at the scene, they collected the actor’s and Kenneth’s cellphones. According to official reports, the phone records revealed that the assistant was in contact with a doctor, Salvador Plasencia, who had started supplying ketamine to Matthew since September 2023. Salvador reportedly bought the drug from another doctor, Mark Chavez, as per the federal documents.
Kenneth Iwamasa Faced Federal Charges Based on a Trail of Digital Evidence
Police records specify that Kenneth had paid Salvador around $4,500 for the ketamine on September 30, 2023. Apart from that, the messages between both of them revealed that the doctor had left vials of the drug and syringes with the assistant, who later administered the drug to Matthew, as per court records. Federal records indicate that Kenneth contacted one of the actor’s acquaintances, Erik Fleming, in October to arrange for further purchases of the drug. According to reports, the text messages between Kenneth and Erik revealed that they discussed ketamine deliveries and prices. Other cellphone data disclosed that Erik eventually contacted an actress, Jasveen Sangha, to buy the drug.
By 2024, Kenneth was formally charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, resulting in death and serious bodily injury. Erik and Mark were also charged with providing the ketamine to Matthew that same year. In August 2024, Jasveen and Salvador were taken into custody. Jasveen faced the charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to distribute ketamine, possession with intent to distribute ketamine, maintaining a drug-involved premises, and five counts of distribution of ketamine. Salvador was charged with conspiracy to distribute ketamine, seven counts of distribution of ketamine, and two counts of altering and falsifying documents or records related to the federal investigation.
Kenneth Iwamasa Remains Incarcerated at an Alabama Federal Prison Today
After charging Kenneth, the prosecution alleged that Salvador had taught the defendant how to administer ketamine, although the assistant was not a medical professional. Kenneth eventually avoided a jury trial by entering into a plea agreement with the prosecution. On August 7, 2024, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, causing death. As part of the plea deal, the defendant admitted to administering ketamine to the actor around 8:30 am on that fateful day and once again around 12:45 pm.
In his statements, Kenneth told authorities that he administered a larger dose for the third time to Matthew after the actor allegedly requested it. He admitted that he then went out to run errands, but found Matthew unresponsive in the jacuzzi upon returning. On August 8, Erik pleaded guilty to one count each of distribution of ketamine resulting in death and conspiracy to distribute ketamine. Mark entered a guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine in October 2024. He was subsequently sentenced to three years of probation and eight months of home detention.
In July 2025, Salvador entered a guilty plea to four counts of distribution of ketamine and received a sentence of 2.5 years in prison that same year. Jasveen was sentenced to a 15-year prison term while Erik received a 2-year prison term in early 2026. In May, Kenneth was finally sentenced to 3 years and five months (41 months) in federal prison. Additionally, the presiding judge ordered the defendant to pay a $10,000 fine. As of writing, Kenneth is serving his sentence at the Federal Prison Camp (FPC) Montgomery in Alabama. His current projected release date is set for May 15, 2029.
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