Matthew Perry's family reflects on his death a year later

Matthew Perry's family marked the first anniversary of the “Friends” star's death Monday by supporting his addiction foundation and commenting on the ongoing investigation into his death.

Appearing on NBC's “Today,” Perry's mother Suzanne Morrison, his stepfather and “Dateline” correspondent Keith Morrison and the actor's three sisters said Perry's life was focused on helping and supporting other people encourage them to say they need help.

“He was trying to get people to understand that this was a brave thing to do,” said Sister Caitlin Morrison, executive director of the Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada.

The family announced earlier this month that the foundation's Canadian arm would address the effects of addiction by funding research and “providing post-treatment support to those living with substance use disorders.” Perry was born in the United States but grew up in Canada and moved to LA when he was 15 to be with his father, John Perry.

They previously launched the Matthew Perry Foundation of the USA just days after the actor was found dead in the hot tub of his Pacific Palisades home. Traces of ketamine were found in his stomach, according to the Los Angeles County coroner.

In August, Perry's personal assistant, two doctors, an alleged drug dealer known as the “Ketamine Queen” and another man were charged with supplying ketamine, which led to the actor's death. U.S. Atty. Martin Estrada said the defendants had “Mr. Perry’s addiction exploited to enrich himself”. The actor had received ketamine infusions for depression and anxiety, but also used the drug unsupervised and became addicted, according to prosecutors.

His mother said she was “thrilled” that there was some responsibility for his death.

His stepfather said: “What I hope – and I think the authorities who got involved in this hope – is that people who have made it their business to supply people with drugs that kill them will now get on with it.” observe. That it doesn't matter what professional qualifications you have. You’re going down, baby.”

The Emmy winner's struggle with addiction became apparent during his 10-season run on NBC's “Friends” in the 1990s, and continued in his 2022 memoir “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing.” on his struggles with addiction. Keith Morrison said the actor was sober around the time of his death. He knew Perry had undergone treatment, but not that it had become “something he couldn't control.”

Sister Madeline Morrison said she wasn't sure whether even Perry realized he had relapsed.

Suzanne Morrison also grieved Monday over her limited ability to help her son with his addiction problems.

“I am a very happy woman. But there was a mistake, there was a problem that I couldn't solve. I couldn't help him,” she said, but added tearfully: “You have to stop blaming yourself because it's tearing you apart.”

“What he taught the world is that no amount of money can cure an addict,” Keith Morrison said. “It takes something different. “That’s what we’re trying to achieve” with the foundation.