"He had this ability to fill up a room with light"— Matthew Perry's sister Caitlin Morrison reflects on actor's death a year after his passing 

Nearly a year after Matthew Perry’s tragic demise, his younger sister, Caitlin Morrison, has opened up about the loss and how the family is trying to honor his memory. In an interview with HELLO! Canada published on October 23, 2024, Caitlin spoke about the Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada and how being an executive director of the foundation helps her to keep him close to her.

Speaking on her role, Caitlin said:

"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. I have this treasure of getting to keep him very, very close to my life all the time, which is wonderful."

She continued and stated about Matthew Perry’s personality:

"He had this ability to fill up a room with light. When people were in a room with him, there was this magnetic energy. Everybody just had a smile on their face and they clung to everything that he said."

Matthew Perry passed away on October 28, 2023. At the time, he was found lying unconscious in his jacuzzi by his assistant. Autopsy results later confirmed that he passed away due to acute effects of ketamine. The authorities also stated that the actor died due to drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine.

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“It was incredibly shocking”— Matthew Perry’s stepdad Keith opens up about the F.R.I.E.N.D.S. actor’s passing

As Matthew Perry’s sister, Caitlin Morrison, opened up about the Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada, she was accompanied by the late actor’s stepfather, Keith Morrison, who also expressed his grief and efforts to honor Matthew's legacy. In an interview, Keith shared:

"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. What we have decided to do is hang on to that determination and try to do something useful."

Keith, who married Matthew’s mother in 1981, shared how the foundation is now helping others with addiction. He also claimed that he “would like to be remembered for doing something to help people suffering from addiction."

According to the foundation’s website:

“The Matthew Perry Foundation is the realization of Matthew’s enduring commitment to helping others struggling with the disease of addiction. We are guided by his words and experiences and inspired by his passion for making a difference in as many lives as possible. The Matthew Perry Foundation supports organizations that are directly tackling addiction within their communities.”

The late actor's sister and stepfather shared that the reason they have been so passionate about the foundation is because Matthew was heavily dependent on ketamine. Many outlets, like The Hollywood Reporter, revealed that the actor had been on ketamine to relieve his anxiety.

This isn't the first time Matthew’s sister has spoken up on the death of her brother. She previously wrote an op-ed for the Toronto Star, expressing the pain the family went through after Perry’s death. At the time, she wrote:

"People often assume that the unusual things make the loss harder. They say things like, 'I'm sorry for your loss. Especially with all the attention. It must make it so much harder.' I thank them with sincerity but am often tempted to tell them they are wrong. Loss is a lonely business, and sharing my loss with the world took some of the loneliness out of it."

Several months after Perry’s death, the LAPD began investigating, resulting in charges against his assistant, two doctors, and two drug dealers. Out of these, three pleaded guilty. Furthermore, fans continue to remember Chandler Bing from F.R.I.E.N.D.S., as many still post about Matthew’s roles and how his death impacted the lives of his followers.