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Matthew Perry's mother is sharing the sadness behind her late son's comedic persona.
Matthew's mother, Suzanne Perry, his step-father Keith Morrison, and his step-siblings Caitlin, Emily, and Madeline sat down with Savannah Guthrie for an exclusive interview with Today, released on Monday, October 28 — the one-year anniversary of his death.
Guthrie described the late Friends star — known for playing the beloved character Chandler Bing — as the kind of "light up the room personality," when the family sat down for their first TV interview since Matthew's death at age 54.
Dateline's Morrison — who married Matthew's mother in 1981, when the TV star was still a child — agreed, noting, "Oh gosh, yeah. It's something you're born with or you're not born with, and he was certainly born with it in spades."
Though his family seemed to agree, Matthew's mother felt it important to also talk about the Fools Rush In alum's inner turmoil. "But it must be said, I think, that he was also very lonely in his soul," Suzanne shared. "The sort of exterior that people know about hid an insecure, often very sad guy," Morrison added.
The 17 Again actor's step-sister Caitlin gushed about what it was like when Matthew — known by his family as "Manew" — would visit. "It was always, like, a jubilant thing when he would come over," she told Guthrie, smiling. However, the smiles faded as the family discussed Matthew's struggles with addiction — something the star was very open about throughout his life, and detailed in his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.
"I'm a very lucky woman," his mother said, while becoming emotional and welling up with tears. "But there was one glitch — there was one problem that I couldn't, I couldn't conquer it. I couldn't help him." The family has since started The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada to try to help others battling addiction.
"Even when he was struggling in dark times, we were always proud of him. We were always proud of the fact that he kept fighting, and that he made it a big focus of his life to help other people," said Caitlin, the executive director of the foundation.
Morrison added, "What he taught the world is that no amount of money will cure an addict. It needs something else, and that's what we're trying to do."
Matthew was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023. His death has since been linked to a fatal ketamine overdose, and has led to the arrests of Dr. Mark Chavez, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, and Jasveen Sangha, an alleged drug dealer known by the name "the ketamine queen" of Los Angeles.
Matthew was taking the drug as a legal, off-label treatment for depression. However, he connected with Plasencia when he began seeking more of the drug than his regular doctor would prescribe.
Lesser charges have been offered to Chavez and two others as prosecutors focus on Plasencia and Sangha for selling Matthew the lethal dose of ketamine. Chavez has admitted to using a fraudulent prescription to procure the ketamine from his former clinic and a wholesale distributor. He faces a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years.
Matthew's assistant — who admitted to helping him obtain the drug and also inject it — has also been aiding authorities along with another acquaintance. Plasencia and Sangha have both pleaded not guilty, though texts have been revealed that allegedly show them discussing selling the late Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip star the drugs.
"I wonder how much this moron will pay," Plasencia reportedly texted Chavez, speaking of the actor. Chavez and Plasencia reportedly met in Costa Mesa to exchange the four vials of ketamine, which the latter then sold to Matthew for $4,500. Another text revealed Plasencia wanted to become Matthew's "go-to" for the drug.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
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