One year ago, the world mourned the loss of beloved actor Matthew Perry. The star of the iconic sitcom Friends died at the age of 54 after a fatal ketamine overdose. His death, though shocking, was a tragic reminder of the ongoing battle with addiction that Perry had publicly fought for years.
A Life Marked by Addiction
In his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, Perry bravely detailed his lifelong struggle with addiction. He spoke candidly about his experiences with drugs and alcohol, offering a raw and honest glimpse into the complexities of recovery. At the time, he was sober and hopeful for the future, making his death even more devastating.
“As Matthew himself said a number of times in the last few years of his life, ‘If I die suddenly, people will be shocked, possibly, but not surprised,'” his stepfather, Keith Morrison, shared in a recent interview with CBC’s Q with Tom Power.
Despite relapses, Perry’s family believed his memoir marked a turning point. His stepfather recalled, “A few months before that, he could barely walk from his house to his car. The idea that he could actually sit down and write a book was wild — and yet he did. And that helped keep him clean, I guess.… I really believed this time it was going to work. But again, this is the drug addict who understands everything about drugs.”
Ketamine and the Tragic Outcome
Tragically, Perry’s relapse involved ketamine, a drug he had turned to for treatment of his depression and anxiety. “He told us repeatedly about how effective it was to wipe any depression away,” Morrison explained. “His mother was very suspicious of this. She didn’t think ketamine was a good idea, but he kept saying … ‘It’s not addictive. That’s the great thing about this drug. It’s revolutionary. It’s going to eradicate depression.’ But his addictive personality was so strong that, you know, when the treatment stopped, he couldn’t.”
Perry’s death is now under investigation, with five people charged in connection to his death, including his assistant and two doctors. Prosecutors allege they took advantage of Perry’s addiction for financial gain.
Honoring Matthew Perry’s Legacy
In the wake of this tragedy, Perry’s family is determined to honor his memory. They are launching two new foundations in his name: the Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada and a similar foundation in the United States. The foundations aim to provide support and resources to individuals recovering from addiction.
“I’m very pleased and happy that we’re able to be in Ottawa and open this new foundation because I know it is something that he would be very, very happy about,” Morrison said. “[We’re working with] some amazing people, who are offering opportunities and ideas for treating addiction which go beyond anything [Matthew] was able to find anywhere to help him. Even though, you know, he had endless money to throw at the problem, there wasn’t the kind of treatment that was going to fix it for him or help him fix it for good.”
Listen to the full interview with Keith Morrison on our podcast, Q with Tom Power, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.