Matthew Perry's Stepdad Keith Morrison Opens Up Actor's 'Shattering' Death

Matthew Perry’s younger sister, Caitlin Morrison, and his stepfather, Keith Morrison, are opening up about their deep loss nearly a year after the actor’s unexpected passing.

As The Blast reported, the actor's cause of death was determined to be the "acute effects of ketamine." Toxicology reports revealed that Perry had ketamine levels of 3540 ng/ml in his system at the time of his passing. For context, ketamine levels typically range between 1000 to 6000 ng/ml in controlled medical settings where it is administered as an anesthetic.

After a thorough investigation, five individuals have been formally charged in connection with Matthew Perry's death.

In an interview with HELLO! Canada, Keith and Caitlin (whose mother is Suzanne Morrison) shared their memories of Perry and discussed the initiatives they are working on to honor his legacy.

"I have this treasure of getting to keep him very, very close to my life all the time, which is wonderful," Caitlin shared about her work with The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada.

She noted that it is separate from the U.S.-based Matthew Perry Foundation, which was established shortly after his passing at age 54 last year.

Perry's stepdad, Keith, added, "He would like to be remembered for doing something to help people suffering from addiction."

While promoting his 2022 memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” Perry spoke out on how he wanted to be remembered whenever that time came. “[I want to be remembered] as a guy who lived life, loved well, lived well, and helped people. That running into me was a good thing and not something bad.”

Keith also shared that it was "incredibly shocking" when Perry "suddenly died" last year, stating, "Anybody who has lost a child will tell you that, even if you are in some way prepared for the possibility, it’s shattering."

"What we have decided to do is hang on to that determination and try to do something useful,' he added.

Authorities have charged five individuals after gathering evidence that suggests their involvement in the circumstances surrounding the actor’s death. The charges aim to hold those implicated accountable and to provide further insight into the events that led to the tragic incident.

The individuals charged in connection with Perry's death include Dr. Mark Chavez, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, and Erik Fleming, who admitted to distributing the ketamine associated with Perry's passing. Also facing charges are Jasveen Sangha, known as "the Ketamine Queen," and Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry's live-in personal assistant.

Reflecting on her brother, Caitlin told HELLO! Canada that Perry "had this ability to fill up a room with light. When people were in a room with [Matthew], there was this magnetic energy."

"Everybody just had a smile on their face and they clung to everything that he said," she added.

In an op-ed for the Toronto Star published on October 24, Caitlin reflected further on the loss of her brother. She shared that while the "pain" she experienced after his death was not "unique," it was "unusual" due to the public nature of his life and the widespread coverage of his passing.

"People often assume that the unusual things make the loss harder,' she said. "They say things like, 'I'm sorry for your loss. Especially with all the attention. It must make it so much harder.' I thank them with sincerity but am often tempted to tell them they are wrong."

"Loss is a lonely business, and sharing my loss with the world took some of the loneliness out of it," Caitlin continued.

The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada builds upon the efforts already being made by the Matthew Perry Foundation in the U.S. Its mission is to advocate for improved treatment options and greater support for individuals struggling with addiction, an issue that Perry himself battled throughout his life.

"It is important to us, as a family, to honor Matthew's legacy," the family said in a statement to People Magazine at the time of launch. "The potential that the Matthew Perry Foundation has to help those suffering from this disease is something we are proud to bring to the world."

The Canadian branch aims to extend these resources and advocacy efforts, ensuring that those in need have access to the support and care necessary for recovery, while also raising awareness around the challenges of addiction.

Caitlin is the executive director of the Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada.