While mourning, Matthew Perry's family and friends are transforming his passing into a mission to aid others
Matthew Perry frequently expressed his deep desire to aid others. A year following his passing, his loved ones are healing with this sentiment as their guiding light. "It's been tough on everyone," mentioned Perry's sister, Caitlin Morrison, in a recent CNN interview. Morrison, daughter of Suzanne Morrison and Perry's stepfather, 'Dateline' correspondent Keith Morrison, leads the newly launched Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada as its executive director.
Perry long aspired to support individuals grappling with addiction. In his absence, his closest companions are striving to fulfill that dream. The foundation is dedicated to offering housing, mental health, career, and financial assistance to those in their initial year of recovery, a phase Morrison describes as a "very precarious period in early sobriety," which Perry himself struggled with.
"I recall him often saying that the first year was truly a monster. So many obstacles, so many challenges," she reminisced. "We thought it aligned perfectly with what he wished to do, to say, 'Let's assist people. Let's help them overcome that daunting hurdle he faced during his fight.'" Perry's mother, his lifelong friend Brian Murray, and Cara Vaccarino, president and CEO of The Royal, a Canadian mental health research firm, are also involved in the initiative.
Investing herself in this mission has been therapeutic for Morrison. "If my work now prevents another family from experiencing this pain, it eases my own sorrow," she shared.
Perry is cherished for his portrayal of the witty and affable Chandler Bing on "Friends," alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, and Matt LeBlanc from 1994 to 2004. He also played Oscar Madison in the 2015 "The Odd Couple" series reboot and starred in films like "17 Again," "The Whole Nine Yards," and "Fools Rush In." His comedic style was frenetic yet could effortlessly shift to vulnerable humanity. It was uniquely his.
Behind closed doors, Perry battled addiction, a struggle he candidly shared in his 2022 memoir, "Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing." By opening up about it, he aimed to provide solace and healing to those facing similar challenges. Perry passed away at his Pacific Palisades residence in October 2023 at age 54. The Los Angeles Medical Examiner's Office determined his death was due to "acute effects of ketamine" followed by drowning.
Five individuals have been charged in connection with his demise. Three accepted plea deals, while the remaining two are to stand trial this spring. Days after Perry's death in November 2023, his former publicist Lisa Kasteler and manager Doug Chapin founded the Matthew Perry Foundation in California. Chapin humorously referred to it as "our client's final directive."
"And we acted on it immediately," he stated. The National Philanthropic Trust sponsors and maintains the organization, aiding west coast-based addiction-fighting groups with resources and funding. Chapin and Kasteler noted that stigma was a significant barrier in Perry's recovery journey, and eradicating it is a key goal. "If Matthew hadn't felt shame, he'd still be here," Kasteler remarked. "If we accomplish nothing else but eliminate this stigma, I'll be content."
Kasteler, who fondly called Perry her "favorite" client, was set to retire after a long career with PR firm Wolf Kasteler before Perry's passing. She now leads the foundation as its executive director, while Chapin serves as board president. Both acknowledged the rarity of having such a deep, enduring bond with a client in the entertainment industry. Their ongoing work with the foundation has kept Perry close to their hearts. "Retirement didn't quite go as planned," Kasteler admitted. "But it's okay because this is the most meaningful work I've done."
Chapin added, "He still feels very much alive to us. We continue working for him. It keeps him present. It helps on those difficult days." Many of Perry's former co-stars have openly shared their grief. The "Friends" cast released a statement soon after his passing and have continued to express the void his absence leaves. In a tribute, Aniston wrote, "Sitting in this grief lets you feel joy and gratitude for having loved someone so deeply. We loved him profoundly."
Perry's loss reverberated beyond "Friends." Yvette Nicole Brown, who acted with him on "The Odd Couple," remembered him as "an open book" and that his death taught her to "value every moment." "You never know when it'll be the last time you speak to someone," she said. "That's the most profound lesson from him." Brown admired Perry professionally and personally, admitting she was also a fan. Early on, she controlled her enthusiasm, only meeting his gaze when necessary. Perry noticed.
"He said, 'Yvette, come on. It's just me. We're here together,'" she recounted. "He was acutely aware—without conceit—of his influence, and he wanted everyone to feel at ease. Above all, Matthew wanted people to feel comfortable." Perry's compassion extended to everyone, whether co-stars or strangers navigating addiction. "That's why I continue to speak about him, to ensure his heart and kindness aren't overshadowed by scandalous narratives," Brown stated. "The circumstances of his passing shouldn't define him. He was so much more.
