Matthew Perry’s family remembers his 'magnetic energy' in first interview after his tragic death at 54
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Matthew Perry’s family, including his half-sister Caitlin Morrison, is reflecting on the beloved actor's legacy, as the one-year anniversary of his tragic death approaches.
Perry died from an accidental ketamine overdose on October 28, 2023, at the age of 54.
Matthew Perry's sister says he had an infectious energy
Caitlin Morrison and her father, 'Dateline' journalist Keith Morrison, opened up on the pain of losing Matthew Perry and how they’ve channeled their grief into something positive.
Caitlin described her half-brother as someone who had an infectious energy that captivated everyone around him.
"He had this ability to fill up a room with light," she recalled in a recent interview with Hello! Canada.
"When people were in a room with [Perry], there was this magnetic energy. Everybody just had a smile on their face and they clung to everything that he said,” she said.
Echoing these sentiments, Keith shared how devastating Perry’s sudden death was for their family.
"When [Perry] suddenly died, it was incredibly shocking," he said, adding, "Anybody who has lost a child will tell you that, even if you are in some way prepared for the possibility, it’s shattering."
Launching the Matthew Perry Foundation
In the year since Matthew Perry’s tragic death, Caitlin and Keith Morrison have worked to honor his memory by launching the Matthew Perry Foundation.
The organization is dedicated to helping individuals struggling with substance abuse—an issue that Perry himself was open about throughout his life.
"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 that was important to him," said Caitlin, who now serves as the executive director of the foundation.
"I have this treasure of getting to keep him very, very close to my life all the time, which is wonderful," she added.
Keith also shared that the 'Friends' star would have wanted to be remembered for his efforts to help others.
“He would like to be remembered for doing something to help people suffering from addiction,” he said.
Matthew Perry's family and estate
Matthew Perry was born to actor John Bennett Perry and Suzanne Perry, who served as press secretary to Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau before moving into political consulting.
In 1970, the couple divorced, and Suzanne later married Keith Morrison in 1981.
The 'Fools Rush In' actor grew up with four half-siblings from his mother’s second marriage, Caitlin, Emily, Will, and Madeline, as well as a half-sister, Maria Perry, from his father’s second marriage to Debbie Perry.
Following his death, Perry’s estate was divided among his parents, half-sister Caitlin, and his ex-girlfriend Rachel Dunn.
