Matthew Perry's Stepfather Keith Morrison Breaks Silence on 'Friends' Star's Death
Keith Morrison, Matthew Perry
When Matthew Perry passed away at the age of 54 on Oct. 28, a lot of attention was brought to his loved ones, including Perry's stepfather, Keith Morrison, whom many know as a correspondent of Dateline NBC.
Now, a month after Perry's death, Morrison finally broke his silence to share a succinct yet meaningful message regarding his late stepson. The 76-year-old took to X, writing, "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."
He then added a link to the Matthew Perry Foundation, which was created after the actor's death to continue Perry's "enduring commitment to helping others struggling with the disease of addiction."
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
Many fans shared condolences for Morrison in the comments and promised that they would donate to the foundation as he asked.
Morrison and his wife, Suzanne Perry, were spotted arriving at Perry's house shortly after the star's death, with the TV journalist also listed as the "informant" who provided the information for Perry's death certificate. But before his Nov. 27 message, Morrison made no public comment regarding his loss.
While some people were unaware of the familial connection between Morrison and Perry, the Dateline correspondent proudly spoke about his stepson in 2017 during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live.
Host Andy Cohen asked him what his favorite part of being Perry's stepfather was, to which Morrison responded, "Where should I start? I mean, there are dozens of them. He's really, a very good guy."
Morrison married Perry's mother in 1981 when the late actor was 12 years old, about a decade after her split from Perry's father, John Bennett Perry. Morrison also has a son named Michael from a previous marriage, while Suzanne and Morrison have four children together named Caitlin, Emily, Willy and Madeleine.
At the time of Perry's passing, the whole family issued the following statement: "We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother. Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend. You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love."
Next: How Matthew Perry's Wish Is Becoming a Reality After His Death
