friend star matthew perry‘s younger sister and stepfather have spoken openly about their loss and how they are missing the beloved star following his death last year at the age of 54.
Keith Morrison and his daughter Caitlin Morrison make emotional comments in new interview hello! Canada,
Watch the video above: Matthew Perry gives advice to people struggling with addiction.
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Caitlin, 43, whose mother is Perry, is the executive director of Canada Matthew Perry Foundation,
Perry spent most of his childhood in the country after his parents divorced and his mother married Morrison, a Canadian journalist.
“It feels like I’m sitting right next to Matthew, working with him every day on something that’s important to him,” Caitlin said of her role at the foundation.
“I have the treasure of having him very close to my life all the time, which is wonderful.”
Keith Morrison, who married Perry’s mother in 1981, recalled the shock of losing her.
“Anyone who has lost a child will tell you that even if you are prepared in some way for the possibility, it is devastating.”
Canadian-American actor, best known for playing Chandler Bing on the hit 1990s sitcom He died of drowning at his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023.
Morrison stresses importance of honoring Perry’s memory
“What we have decided to do is stick to that determination and try to do something useful,” he said.
Caitlin explained how Perry had the unique ability to light up a room.
“When people were in a room with Matthew, there was this magnetic energy,” she told the outlet.
When Perry’s mother had a child with Morrison, he became a big brother to step-siblings Caitlin, Emily, Will and Madeline.
Caitlin said he has taught her many valuable life lessons, including “how to butter popcorn the right way, how to ‘edit’ a report card (and) ‘Who’s on First’ with perfect comedic timing.” How to perform”.
Who is on first? is a comedy routine made famous by the American comedy duo Abbott and Costello.
But the most important thing he said was this: “No matter how many times you fail, you will never fail until you stop trying.”
Perry’s mother, Suzanne, is also involved with the foundation, which aims to honor the star’s legacy while continuing her commitment to helping others through recovery.
Perry spent the latter half of his life advocating for drug awareness and challenging the stigma associated with it.
He released a memoir titled Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing in which he addressed his addiction issues.
He said it is possible for people to make changes and leave addiction behind.
Perry long struggled with alcohol and painkiller addiction and spent several years in and out of rehab.
Perry’s painkiller addiction began in the late 1990s when a jet skiing accident left him in pain.
However, his battle with alcohol began when he was a teenager and then became worse as his fame grew, with the actor admitting that he would often go to the movies drunk or hungover and had a similar experience with Friends. There was no memory of making three seasons.
His memoir revealed that he had a near-death experience in 2019 after his colon ruptured as a result of opioid use.
Perry was also hospitalized in 2000 with pancreatitis due to alcohol abuse.
His post-Friends life included a number of roles that garnered respect and praise, but it was often overshadowed by headlines about his addiction.
In the book, Perry said he spent $7 million ($A11 million) on rehabilitation and recovery efforts.
“The best thing about me, barring anyone, is that if someone comes to me and says, ‘I can’t stop drinking, can you help me?’ I can say ‘yes’ and follow through,” he said. Q with Tom Power Podcast Last year, when he discussed his book.
Perry further said that he wanted to be remembered as “a man who lived well, loved well, was a seeker” and “his paramount thing was that he helped people.” Want to do”.