Matthew Perry's younger sister and step-father have opened up about the actor's death for the first time since he died one year ago aged 54.
Keith Morrison married Perry's mum, Suzanne Morrison, in 1981, and the couple soon after welcomed their first daughter and Perry's half-sister, Caitlin Morrison.
Keith told Hello! Canada that Matthew's death was "incredibly shocking" adding that, "Anybody who has lost a child will tell you that, even if you are in some way prepared for the possibility, it's shattering."
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Matthew Perry became an older brother to Caitlin when his mum married and had children with Keith in 1981. (Instagram: Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada)"What we have decided to do is hang on to that determination and try to do something useful," Keith continued.
He added that the late Friends star would want to be "remembered for doing something to help people suffering from addiction," a battle that Perry himself had been open about during the later years of his life.
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Matthew Perry's life and career in pictures
As Executive Director of the Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada – a separate entity that expands on the work done by the Matthew Perry Foundation in the US – Caitlin explained that her work allows her to still feel close to her brother.
"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," she shared.
"I have this treasure of getting to keep him very, very close to my life all the time, which is wonderful."
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Perry had been open about his issues with addiction in the later years of his life, hoping his story would be able to help others struggling. (AP)FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.
Caitlin works on the foundation alongside both of her parents, her and Perry's mum, Suzanne, is also on the board of directors alongside the actor's childhood friend Brian Murray and mental health professional Cara Vaccarino.
"He had this ability to fill up a room with light," Caitlin said, remembering her brother.
"When people were in a room with [Perry], there was this magnetic energy. Everybody just had a smile on their face and they clung to everything that he said."
If you, or someone you know would like to talk to someone confidentially about addiction, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit Reach Out.
English (US) ·