Friends actor Matthew Perry passed away on Oct. 28, 2023, at the age of 54. His death shocked fans and rocked the world of entertainment. The beloved star's death was unexpected. And while fans and people in the entertainment industry were quick to share their thoughts and condolences on social media, his Friends co-stars and longtime friends were not.
Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, and Courtney Cox, instead released a joint statement to address Perry's passing. Eventually, each star did pay tribute to Perry and opened up about the heartbreaking loss. And now, several months later, Perry's stepfather Keith Morrison is sharing how he and his wife, Perry's mother, Suzanne Perry, are doing.
Actor Keith Morrison married Suzanne in 1981, when Matthew Perry was 12 years old. Needless to say, Morrison knew his stepson extremely well and has shared that the two were very close. That said, Morrison has kept quiet about Perry's death, only sharing a post on Nov. 27 encouraging his followers to donate to the Matthew Perry Foundation, which helps people struggling with addiction. Perry died from the effects of ketamine. In the post, Morrison wrote "Do what you can; he would have been grateful."
Recently, on Hoda Kotb's podcast, Making Space, Morrison opened up about his stepson's death, sharing that the feeling "...doesn't go away yet. It's with you every day. It's with you all the time." But as hard as Morrison took the loss of his stepson, no one grieves more than Perry's mother, Suzanne.
"There's some new aspect of it that assaults your brain, and it's not easy, especially for his mom."Keith Morrison
According to Morrison, Perry's final days were the best they've ever been "in decades." At least, when it comes to Perry's relationship with his mother and stepfather. The Dateline: Unforgettable star shared with Kotb that Perry and his mom were closer than ever and in constant communication, texting nearly every day.
Matthew Perry is best known for the role of Chandler Bing in the hit sitcom Friends. The actor also starred in the movie 17 Again, the TV series Go On, The Kennedys After Camelot, and other projects. Perry had struggled with addiction since the late 1990s.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, reach out to the SAMHSA's National Helpline.