Matthew Perry’s stepfather, Keith Morrison, and half-sister Caitlin Morrison are reflecting on the “Friends” star’s death one year after he was found unconscious in his jacuzzi due to a fatal ketamine overdose.
“When [Matthew] 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,” Keith, a “Dateline” correspondent, told Hello! Canada in an interview published Wednesday.
Keith and Caitlin have channeled their grief into the Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada, which was recently created to honor the late actor “by carrying on his commitment to helping others through recovery.”
“He would like to be remembered for doing something to help people suffering from addiction,” Keith added in the interview.
Caitlin, who describes herself on the foundation’s website as “a wide-eyed girl who thought (still thinks) her brother was the coolest human being who has ever existed,” serves as the organization’s executive director.
“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,” she told Hello! Canada.
“I have this treasure of getting to keep him very, very close to my life all the time.”
Caitlin, 43, also remembered Perry as someone with the “ability to fill up a room with light.”
“When people were in a room with [Matthew], there was this magnetic energy,” she said. “Everybody just had a smile on their face and they clung to everything that he said.”
The late actor’s mom, Suzanne Morrison, is also on the board of directors for the Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. She married Keith after divorcing Matthew’s dad, John Bennett Perry.
Suzanne is the mother to Caitlin and three other children from her marriage to Keith.
Matthew was pronounced dead on Oct. 28, 2023, at age 54.
After the news came to light, his family released a statement, saying they were “heartbroken by the tragic loss of” the beloved star.
“Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend,” they said. “You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love.”
In August, five people, including two doctors, were charged in Matthew’s death for conspiracy to distribute ketamine.
Dr. Mark Chavez of San Diego signed a plea deal with prosecutors earlier this month and became the third person to admit guilt in connection to the case.