Keith Morrison is talking about his stepson Matthew Perry who passed away.
In a conversation with Hoda Kotb on her Making Space podcast, Morrison, who is 76 years old, shared about Perry’s death on October 28, 2023, when he was 54.
Morrison, who married Perry’s mom Suzanne in 1981, said he still feels sad every day about Perry’s death. He mentioned that grief stays with you and can make you feel different things all the time.
He explained that Perry and his mom had become closer towards the end of Perry’s life, which brought comfort, but it’s still tough because Perry didn’t get to live his later years.
When asked if Perry’s death was a surprise, Morrison said it was both expected and unexpected.
Morrison described Perry as a lively and funny person who always attracted attention. He mentioned that even though Perry’s gone, his presence is still felt.
Regarding Perry’s struggle with addiction, Morrison said Perry thought he was overcoming it, but addiction is hard to beat.
Morrison also talked about their relationship, mentioning that he never tried to replace Perry’s biological dad but was always there for him.
He encouraged people to donate to the Matthew Perry Foundation, established after Perry’s death.
This is not the sort of thing I commonly do, this pitch. But this year is different. And tomorrow is Giving Tuesday. Do what you can; he would have been grateful. https://t.co/OmaqSgt1rq
— Keith Morrison (@dateline_keith) November 27, 2023
After Perry’s death, his family released a statement expressing their sadness and thanking everyone for their support.
Perry’s cause of death, according to an autopsy report, was a mix of ketamine, drowning, heart disease, and effects of medication used to treat opioid addiction.
