The one-year anniversary of Matthew Perry’s passing prompts his family to reflect on his legacy and final days. His unexpected death on October 28, 2023, at the age of 54 due to an accidental drug overdose shocked those close to him.
Keith Morrison, Perry’s stepfather, revealed to PEOPLE that this was not the first time they faced such a situation, stating, “He had been close to it lots of times over the years.”
Recalling the difficult moments, Morrison shared, “There were several times when the doctor would come to us and say, ‘He’s not going to survive the night, not going to survive the week,’ or ‘He’s close to death, get ready for that possibility.’”
Suzanne Morrison remembers her son’s loving words in their last conversation
He emphasized that their family had to prepare for the possibility of losing Perry repeatedly, adding, “It was only heroic efforts by doctors that kept him alive a couple of times.” A year after his death, Morrison notes a noticeable shift in Perry’s demeanor during his last days.
“He seemed to be so at peace,” said Keith, a 77-year-old Canadian broadcast journalist. “He kept reaching out to embrace his family members… You get a sense that he… wanted to embrace those who mattered to him.”
In a heartfelt interview with Today, alongside Keith and their daughters, Suzanne Morrison mentioned the “inevitability” of her son’s fate. She recalled a poignant moment just before his death when he expressed his love, stating, “‘I love you so much and I’m so happy to be with you now.’” She reflected, “How long has it been since we’ve had a conversation like that? It’s been years.”
Suzanne continued, “I think there was something… there was an inevitability to what was going to happen next to him, and he felt it very strongly. But he said, ‘I’m not frightened anymore.’ And it worried me.” In their mourning, Keith emphasized to PEOPLE that they are “finding a reason to be positive” through the establishment of the Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada.
Despite Perry’s global fame, Keith pointed out that many families share similar struggles. “We are like millions and millions of families who wake up one morning and get a phone call that their loved one had suddenly died from a drug overdose,” he shared.
He added, “It tears you apart. Matthew’s mother will never be the same. And every day, every minute, he’s on her mind. He’s on my mind. He’s on all of our minds.”
Keith stressed their experience is not unique, saying, “Our son was famous… But we are just one family among millions who have suffered this same kind of loss. We know that his dying wish was to be remembered for helping other people, more than his famousness for Friends.”
Morrison stated, “That has now become our mission in life is to carry that wish on.” They are dedicated to aiding others facing similar challenges. “It’s about finding ways to help,” he noted, highlighting the necessity of support systems for individuals after rehab.
“The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada is really focused on that as much as anything else,” Keith explained. “Because that was Matthew’s problem. He was through a rehab center, he’d come out, he’d be fine for a few months, and then we discovered that he had secretly been using since leaving rehab.”
He emphasized the need to bridge the gap between rehabilitation and ongoing support, stating, “Finding some way to help people is a big part of this.” The family also endorses the U.S.-based Matthew Perry Foundation.
“I’d be very happy to pitch for both foundations,” Keith expressed. “For those in the U.S., to think about making a contribution to the matthewperryfoundation.org, and for people in Canada, to consider ways they can help the matthewperryfoundation.ca.” He concluded with sentiment, “Yet, the Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada is where our hearts are. It’s where the boy grew up. It’s where our memories are.”
