Keith Morrison: In an emotional reflection marking the first anniversary of Friends star Matthew Perry’s death, his family, led by stepfather and Dateline correspondent Keith Morrison, shares poignant memories and details their ongoing efforts to honor his legacy. In an exclusive interview on NBC’s Today show, Morrison, along with Perry’s mother Suzanne Morrison and his sisters Caitlin, Emily, and Madeline Morrison, spoke candidly about Perry’s life, his long battle with addiction, and how his family is turning their grief into a mission to help others.
“Matthew could light up a room like no one else,” Morrison reflected. “But he struggled deeply within himself, facing battles most people never saw. It’s that memory of his strength and compassion that drives us to carry forward his legacy in a way he would have wanted.”
To honor Perry’s commitment to helping others with addiction, his family has founded the Matthew Perry Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues. With chapters in both the U.S. and Canada, the foundation seeks to fund addiction research and provide long-term support to those on the path to recovery. Caitlin Morrison, who serves as the executive director, shared that her brother’s dedication to helping others defined his life.
“Matthew felt his real legacy would be his work to encourage others to seek help. He wanted people to see it as a sign of strength, not weakness,” Caitlin shared, noting how Perry would drop everything to support anyone who came to him for help.
Perry, who passed away at age 54, had spoken openly in his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, about his journey through addiction, attending thousands of recovery meetings and spending nearly $9 million on treatment. Yet, despite these efforts, his struggles continued. He died from an accidental overdose of ketamine in his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023, leaving his family devastated but determined to continue his mission of support and advocacy.
Suzanne Morrison shared a heartbreaking revelation about her son’s final days. “I’m a very lucky woman, but there was one part of his life I couldn’t conquer for him. I couldn’t save him from this battle,” she said, adding that her own peace now comes from supporting Caitlin’s work with the foundation.
The family’s dedication to the foundation goes beyond their personal loss. “Matthew taught the world that no amount of wealth can cure addiction,” Keith Morrison emphasized. “The solution lies in compassion, in real support, and in creating spaces where people can seek help without judgment.”
According to Suzanne Morrison, Perry had a deep love for Canada, where he spent much of his childhood. To honor his roots, the foundation’s Canadian chapter has a special focus on mental health resources for Canadians, aiming to bridge gaps in addiction support across the country. “Canada was incredibly important to Matthew, and Canadians cherished him,” Caitlin Morrison noted. “Our goal is to ensure his impact lives on in both the U.S. and Canada.”
The Friends star’s family continues to witness the impact he left on fans and friends worldwide. Suzanne revealed that visitors still leave heartfelt notes at Perry’s gravesite, sharing how he helped them during tough times. “I save them all. People loved him because they could see his humanity, his struggles, and that meant a lot to him.”
As they mark a year since his passing, the Morrisons want Perry’s story to inspire others to seek help and break the stigma surrounding addiction. Through the Matthew Perry Foundation, they aim to turn tragedy into hope, building a future where fewer families endure the pain they have known.
