Matthew Perry’s mother tearfully remembers her son’s death: ‘I couldn’t help him’

Matthew Perry’s family speaks out on the first anniversary of his death in an emotional interview with Today‘s Savannah Guthrie.

Perry’s mother, Suzanne Morrison, painfully revealed her frustration at not being able to help her son with his addiction issues. “I am a very happy woman. But there was one problem, there was one problem that I couldn’t overcome. I couldn’t help him,” she said.

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Perry’s stepfather and Dateline correspondent Keith Morrison and three of Perry’s sisters – Caitlin, Emily and Madeline Morrison – spoke with Guthrie about his final days and the foundation established just days after his death to continue his life’s work.

“The Matthew Perry Foundation is the realization of Matthew’s enduring commitment to helping others struggling with the disease of addiction,” reads a description on the foundation’s website.

Perry discussed his intention to help people with addiction problems in his 2022 memoir: Friends, lovers and the big terrible thing, saying, “When I die, as far as my so-called achievements go, it would be nice if ‘Friends’ were far behind the things I did to help other people.”

“He made it a major focus of his life to help other people, to encourage other people to say, ‘I need help.’ He tried to show people that that was a courageous thing to do,” Suzanne Morrison said.

Perry, 54, was found dead in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office determined he died from the acute effects of ketamine. Perry had been undergoing treatment with ketamine for depression and anxiety, but prosecutors say the actor had been using the drug unsupervised and had become addicted.

“I don’t even know if he had relapsed in his mind,” said his sister Madeline Morrison.

Keith Morrison agreed, commenting, “I don’t think he did.”

Five people have been charged in connection with the actor’s death, including two doctors and the actor’s assistant, and three have pleaded guilty, according to federal prosecutors.

Suzanne Morrison recalled that shortly before his death, Perry said, “I love you so much, and I’m so happy to be with you right now,” almost as if it was a “premonition.”

‘It was inevitable that something would happen next to him, and he felt that very strongly. But he said, “I’m not afraid anymore.” And it worried me,” Emily Morrison said.

His mother continues to be impressed by the dedication of her son’s fans, who continue to visit his cemetery in Los Angeles.

“Every time I’m there, people will come up to him, even now. That usually disappears,” she says. ‘They leave very nice letters to him. Like, ‘I felt so sad. You helped me through my teenage years,” she said, calling his impact on people “just incredible.”

She said she kept all the notes. “Maybe one day I’ll release them so people can see it. But they really loved him because they could identify with him.”

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