Matthew Perry’s sister, stepdad Keith Morrison speak out about actor’s death 1 year later: ‘It’s shattering’

nypost.com:

“Hello! Canada” on Wednesday about the tragic loss. Perry overdosed on ketamine on October 28, 2023 at age 54.“He had this ability to fill up a room with light,” Caitlin said in her first interview since her famous half-brother’s death.“When people were in a room with [Perry], there was this magnetic energy,” she added. “Everybody just had a smile on their face and they clung to everything that he said.”Keith, 77, also remembered the late “Friends” actor. “When [Perry] 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,” the journalist said. “What we have decided to do is hang on to that determination and try to do something useful.”In the year since Perry’s death, Keith and Caitlin have started the Matthew Perry Foundation, aimed to help those battling substance abuse.“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, the executive director of the charity.“I have this treasure of getting to keep him very, very close to my life all the time,” she also said, “which is wonderful.”Keith added of Perry, “He would like to be remembered for doing something to help people suffering from addiction.”Perry’s parents were John Bennett Perry and Suzanne Perry.

Suzanne served as press secretary to Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau before pivoting to political consulting and fund-raising.The former couple split in 1970, less than one year after Perry was born, and Suzanne went on to marry Keith in 1981.