By james art Actor’s family honor ‘Friends’ star one year since his death and explain how they’re keeping his legacy alive
Keith Morrison; Matthew Perry” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/qzob9raqBN6BWfcmM6zpfg–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/people_218/764dc5360acfddee2228e5624ac4c816″ class= “caas-img”/>
Gilbert Flores/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images; Santiago Felipe/Getty Images
Keith Morrison; Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry’s family are reflecting on his final days and lasting legacy as they mark the one-year anniversary of his death.
As shocking as Perry’s death was to his friends and family when he died on Oct. 28, 2023, at the age of 54 after an accidental drug overdose, the star’s stepfather Keith Morrison tells PEOPLE, “he was close to it many times over the years.”
“There were several times when the doctor would come to us and say, ‘He’s not going to make it through the night, he’s not going to make it through the week,’ or ‘He’s close to death, prepare for that possibility,'” Morrison says. “For years, we had to rearm ourselves repeatedly for the possibility that he would die. And only the heroic efforts of doctors kept him alive several times.
A year after the actor’s death from the “acute effects of ketamine”, Morrison, who is married to Matthew’s mother Suzanne Morrison, says they noticed a change in Perry in his final days.
Related: Matthew Perry’s parents: All about his father John, mother Suzanne and stepfather Keith Morrison
“He seemed so calm,” said Keith, 77, a Canadian journalist and NBC correspondent Date. “He kept reaching out to hug his family members. He wasn’t one to call and say, “God, I love you. i miss you But he did that all the time. You get the sense that he, I don’t know if he had a premonition or accepted the inevitability that he wasn’t going to live as long as some people, and he wanted to embrace those who mattered to him.”
In an exclusive interview with Today along with Keith and their daughters, Caitlin Morrison, Madeline Morrison and Emily Morrison, Suzanne said there was an “inevitability” to what was going to happen to her son.
She said that just before he died, he was showing her around his new houses and said, “I love you so much and I’m so happy to be with you now,” she shared. “It was almost like a premonition. I didn’t think about it at the time, but I thought, ‘How long has it been since we’ve had a conversation like this.’
“I think there was something … there was an inevitability to what was going to happen next to him, and he felt it very strongly,” she continued. “But he said, ‘I’m not afraid anymore.’ And that worried me.”
In a time of grief, Keith tells PEOPLE they are ‘finding a reason to be positive’ with the launch of the Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada.
While on friends actor was famous around the world, Keith says there is nothing unique about his struggles. “We’re like millions and millions of families who wake up one morning and get a phone call that their loved one has suddenly died of a drug overdose,” he says.
“It tears you up,” he adds. “Matthew’s mother will never be the same. And every day, every minute, he’s on her mind. He’s on my mind. He is in the minds of all of us.
Related: friends Creators Reflect on How Matthew Perry’s ‘Huge Loss’ Makes Show’s 30th Anniversary ‘A Little Heavy’
Matthew Perry’s family (clockwise from bottom left): Keith Morrison, Suzanne Morrison, Caitlin Morrison, Madeline Morrison and Emily Morrison. Photo: TODAYshow/X” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/hXDPTs_tEJn0NcG.ojvzuQ–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MQ–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/people_218 /be0a8c958a539f7c38bfbae1da291a3f” class=”caas-img”/>
TODAY show/X
Matthew Perry’s family (clockwise from bottom left): Keith Morrison, Suzanne Morrison, Caitlin Morrison, Madeline Morrison and Emily Morrison. Photo: TODAYshow/X
“We are not unique,” he emphasizes. “Our son was known. And those I meet on the streets who say, “I’m sorry for your loss,” I appreciate each and every one of them. And in a way, I want them to know that I completely understand that we are just one family among millions who have suffered the same kind of loss, and we are one family because we know that his dying wish was to be remembered for helping to other people, more than his fame for friends.”
“Now our mission in life is to continue that desire,” Morrison says.
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They remain focused on supporting others who are struggling. “It’s about finding ways to help,” he says. “One of the problems with rehab – rehab centers are wonderful and absolutely necessary – it’s something we need better access to, especially for people who can’t afford the high cost of some. But after this period of rehabilitation, people are left to fend for themselves and often find they can’t. They need additional help for maybe a year, two years, three years. They need a support system.
“The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada really focuses on that as much as anything else,” explains Keith. “Because that was Matthew’s problem.” He was in rehab, he was going to get out, he was going to get better for a few months, and then we found out that he had been secretly using since he got out of rehab. So finding some way to bridge the gap, for people to be well and not just be clean, is a big part of it.”
The actor’s family also supports the work of the US-based Matthew Perry Foundation. “I will be very happy to represent both foundations,” he says. “For people who live and pay their taxes in the United States to consider making a contribution to matthewperryfoundation.org, and for people who live in Canada to think about ways they can help matthewperryfoundation.ca.”
Still, he adds, “The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada is where our hearts are. The boy grew up there. That’s where our memories are.”
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Read the original People article.