Matthew Perry’s family is still not over his death. Recently, his stepfather, Keith Morrison, and half-sister, Caitlin Morrison, have shared their journey in coming to terms with his death. Caitlin Morrison still feels his presence around her, while Keith Morrison doesn’t believe the pain of Perry’s loss will go away.
Matthew Perry’s family was thrown into mourning in October 2023 when news of his death broke. The actor was 54 when he lost consciousness and drowned in the hot tub of his home in the ritzy Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. Investigation results blamed the death on the “acute effects” of Ketamine plus other factors.
Speaking in an interview with Hello! Canada, Keith Morrison, who is a journalist, described the devastation the family felt by the loss. “When [Perry] suddenly died, it was incredibly shocking … anybody who has lost a child will tell you that, even if you are in some way prepared for the possibility, it’s shattering.”
He further stated that the family wants to ensure that Perry’s legacy lives on. “What we have decided to do is hang on to that determination and try to do something useful.” Keith and Caitlin have focused this resolve on running Matthew Perry’s Foundation of Canada, which the family opened to honor the actor after his death.
Speaking about the foundation, which they set up to help people with substance abuse challenges, Keith added, “He would like to be remembered for doing something to help people suffering from addiction.” Caitlin, who is an Executive Director of the foundation, described herself on its website as a “wide-eyed girl who thought her brother was the coolest human being who has ever existed.”
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A Difficult Recovery
After Matthew Perry’s death, the family released a statement saying how they were heartbroken by the loss. Also, during an interview the family granted to mark the first anniversary of his death, Perry’s mother, Suzanne Morrison, expressed sadness over her inability to help him with his substance abuse challenge.
“I’m a very lucky woman. But there was one glitch, there was one problem that I couldn’t – I couldn’t conquer it. I couldn’t help him,” she stated. Before his death, Perry had been taking Ketamine to treat depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, he began to take the drug outside his doctor’s prescription. Eventually, he became addicted.
Five people have been accused and charged for the actor’s death. They include two of his doctors and the late actor’s assistant, some of whom have pleaded guilty to the charges. Despite that, the family has decided to do all it can to concentrate on the future. One major aspect of that is the running of the foundation.
Caitlin Morrison described the special feeling she experienced while working in the foundation. “The work that I’m doing now is very selfish because it kind of feels like I’m sitting right next to Matthew, working with him every day on something important to him. I have this treasure of getting to keep him very, very close to my life all the time.”
Who Is Keith Morrison?
77-year-old Keith Morrison is more than Matthew Perry’s stepfather. He is a Canadian broadcast journalist who has worked for several reputable media organizations in his decades-old career. Born on July 2, 1947, Keith has worked for Dateline NBC since 1995.
He started his journalism career in the 1960s as a reporter in local stations in Canada. In 1973, he became a newsreader, reporter, and producer at CTV’s Canada AM. He later worked at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation before relocating to California in 1986. He began working at NBC in 1995 and has remained there to date.
How Is Keith Morrison Related to Matthew Perry?
Keith Morrison is Matthew Perry’s stepfather. Until the actor’s death, Keith and Perry shared a cordial relationship. In another interview about the actor’s death, Keith said that Perry and his mom got closer in the few months before his death. “I don’t think I’m giving away too much by saying that toward the end of his life, they were closer than I had seen them for decades.”
When Did Suzanne Perry Marry Keith Morrison?
Keith Morrison married Matthew Perry’s mother, then Suzanne Perry, in 1981. At the time, the “Friends” actor was just 12. Before they tied the knot, Suzanne had been single for about ten years following her divorce from Mathew Perry’s father, John Bennett Perry.
Suzanne Perry is a Canadian who also worked as a TV anchor. She held the prestigious position of press secretary for Canada’s Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau.
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Did Keith Morrison Raise Matthew Perry?
Keith Morrison played a significant role in raising Mathew Perry. By the time he met Suzanne, Mathew Perry was only 10. Keith Morrison also had a child, Michael, from a previous relationship.
Afterward, the couple had four more children: Caitlin, Emily, Will, and Madeline. Speaking on the family bond, Keith called it a “wonder.” He was amazed at how they all found peace and unity. “When we’re all together, it’s just a brew that you could not mix no matter how hard you tried if you did it by hand,” he stated.
During Perry’s addiction struggles, Keith teamed up with Suzanne to provide support. At a point, the couple had to arrange for him to receive treatment in a rehabilitation center.
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