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

Matthew PerryThe family is speaking out on the first anniversary of his death in an emotional interview with TodaySavannah Guthrie.

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

Perry’s stepfather and Date correspondent Kate Morrison and Perry’s three sisters — Caitlin, Emily and Madeleine Morrison — spoke with Guthrie about his final days and the foundation set up days after his death to carry on his life’s work.

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

Perry spoke about his intention to help those struggling with addiction in his 2022 memoir. Friends, Lovers, and the Great Terrible Thing saying, “When I die, as far as my so-called accomplishments are concerned, it would be great if Friends would be listed far behind what I’ve done to help other people.”

“He focused on helping other people, getting others to say, ‘I need help.’ He was trying to make people see that it was brave,” said Suzanne Morrison.

Perry, 54, was found dead in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined that he died of acute exposure to ketamine. Perry was treated with ketamine for depression and anxiety, but prosecutors say the actor used the drug unsupervised and became addicted.

“I don’t even know if he had a relapse in his mind,” said his sister, Madeleine Morrison.

Keith Morrison agreed, noting, “I don’t think he is.”

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

Suzanne Morrison recalled Perry saying shortly before he died, “I love you so much and I’m so happy to be with you now,” almost as if it was a “premonition.”

“There was an inevitability of what was going to happen to him, and he felt it very strongly. But he said, “I am no longer afraid.” And that worried me,” said Emily Morrison.

His mother continues to marvel at the devotion of her son’s fans who continue to visit his burial site in Los Angeles.

“Every time I’m there, people will come to see him — and now. It usually passes,” she said. “They leave him really lovely letters. Like, “I was so sad.” You helped me get through my teenage years,” she said, calling his influence on people “just incredible.”

She said she kept all the records. “Maybe one day I’ll release them for people to see. But they really loved him because they could relate to him.”