The family members of Matthew Perry (step-sister Caitlin Morrison, whose father is Dateline correspondent Keith Morrison) shared their take on his death and the work they are doing in his name. He was known for his role as Chandler Bing in the sitcom Friends. He died on October 28, 2023, after a ketamine overdose.
Fans and friends have been distraught because of the incident. Keith and Caitlin remembered that Matthew Perry had suffered from addiction and wished to assist other fellow human beings who had faced similar problems.
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Caitlin said to Hello! Canada running the Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada helps her feel:
“Like I’m sitting right next to Matthew, working with him every day on something that was important to him.”
Meanwhile, the family has agreed to continue with the legacy of Perry by continuing the service towards helping people who are recovering from addiction. The reflections of Caitlin and Keith prove that they are devoted to carrying on the legacy through philanthropic work as people keep moving toward recovery.
The shocking and heartbreaking loss of Matthew Perry
For Keith Morrison, losing his stepson was devastating and utterly shocking. He was referring to an irreplaceable void left by Matthew Perry's death to Hello! Canada. That's when he said:
"Anybody who's lost a child will tell you that, even if you're in some way prepared for the possibility, it's shattering."
As everyone knows, Perry suffered from addiction for years, but Morrison noted that the celebrity's fame and methods of wealth frequently found him in a position where he easily accessed substances and recovery proved to be difficult.
Morrison recalled that Suzanne didn't believe that ketamine infusion therapy was appropriate as a treatment for depression when Perry once attempted it. Morrison agreed with Perry that ketamine was "revolutionary" and not addictive.
Unfortunately, this led to ketamine dependence which ultimately proved to be the cause of Mathew Perry's death, indicating the battle he was fighting for even in the effort to rise above his addiction as per CBC.
Caitlin Morrison’s role in preserving her brother’s legacy
Caitlin Morrison reports that as the executive director of the Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada, she finds purpose in supporting addiction recovery efforts. She also noted,
“I have this treasure of getting to keep him very, very close to my life all the time, which is wonderful.”
Caitlin mentioned that whenever Perry entered a room, even the grumpiest of grumps would get up smiling and be wide-eyed. She recalls him teaching her little life lessons, such as comedy timing, and using Who's on First.
In her op-ed for the Toronto Star, dated October 24, Caitlin thinks that it was "unusual" to mourn such a public figure, and says,
“Sharing my loss with the world took some of the loneliness out of it.”
Family’s commitment to helping those affected by addiction
The Canadian and American branches of the Matthew Perry Foundation are still working toward advocacy for addiction recovery resources and mental health support. This is an area that is close to Perry's heart.
As Morrison has told CBC,
“We’re working with amazing people, who are offering opportunities and ideas for treating addiction beyond anything [Matthew] was able to find.”
This shared mission goes straight to the heart of the family, but more so to Caitlin, who indicated that her work with the foundation can only be described as a "continuation of Matthew's legacy," per CBC.
Caitlin's work serves as a reminder of her brother, as she reiterates his words to herself:
“No matter how many times you fail, you haven’t failed until you stop trying.”
During his last days, Matthew Perry spent an important day with his mother, which, according to Morrison, was one of their:
“Sweetest days together in a long time.”
Fans can further celebrate Matthew Perry by continuing to watch Friends on streaming platforms like Max.
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