A Comprehensive Look into the Life of Matthew Perry: Exploring his Family Background and Siblings
Matthew Perry leaves behind a close-knit family, consisting of his parents, John Bennett Perry and Suzanne Morrison, as well as his five half-siblings: Keith Morrison, Debbie Boyle, Caitlin Morrison, Emily Morrison, and Mia Perry Additionally, he is survived by his step-siblings, Will and Madeline Morrison
Matthew Perry Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for GQ
Matthew Perry's family, mourning the sudden passing of the late actor at 54, was seen gathered outside his Los Angeles residence. In a statement on Sunday, October 29, they expressed their deep sadness, referring to him as their beloved son and brother. They acknowledged his significant contributions to the world as both an actor and a friend, and expressed gratitude for the overwhelming display of love and support from all those who held him dear.
News of Perry’s passing was reported by The Los Angeles Times when law enforcement officials were summoned to his residence in L.A. The actor was discovered unresponsive in his jacuzzi upon their arrival. The cause of his death has been labeled as "deferred" by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
Matthew Perry (C) poses with his sister Emily (L) and his mother Suzanne Morrison in a picture taken by Vincent Bucci/Getty Images. Following Matthew's birth, his parents, John Bennett Perry and Suzanne Morrison, unfortunately separated within a year. Suzanne eventually married Keith Morrison, the host of Dateline, and together they had four children. On the other hand, John Bennett Perry remarried Debbie Boyle and had a daughter.
Growing up in Canada, Matthew's mother raised him, but he always looked up to his father, who happened to be an actor.
"I mainly knew my father through the television screen during my childhood, whether it was him getting shot through a door on Mannix or appearing in other TV shows," Matthew shared in a 2004 interview with Katie Couric. "That's who my dad was to me."
Matthew Perry & his Father John Perry. L. Cohen/WireImage/Getty Images
In his 2022 memoir Friends, Lovers & The Big Terrible Thing, Matthew discusses his early years with his parents. In the book, the actor shares that he was informed of having taken phenobarbital, a barbiturate, when he was just two months old.
Matthew makes it clear that he does not hold his parents responsible for this. He explains, "When your child is constantly crying and it's evident that something is wrong, the doctor prescribes a medication. And it's not just one doctor who believed it was the right choice. So, you give the medication to your child, and miraculously, they stop crying. It was a different era."
Keep scrolling for more details about Matthew’s family:
John Bennett Perry
Matthew’s father, who featured in different television shows and movies throughout his career such as The West Wing, Paper Dolls, and Family Law, had the opportunity to act alongside his son in the film Fools Rush In.
Suzanne Morrison
Keith Morrison
Matthew's mother, a former press secretary to the Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, began her career as a Canadian journalist. She later shifted her focus to political consulting and fundraising.
Suzanne married Keith in 1981. Matthew’s stepfather is a Canadian journalist and has been the host of Dateline since 1995.
Debbie Boyle
Debbie and John married in 1981. Matthew’s stepmother also has a career in the entertainment industry as a television writer.
Caitlin Morrison
Caitlin, Matthew's first half-sister, was born in 1981 following his mother's marriage to Keith. Matthew vividly remembers being 10 years old when she came into the world.
In his memoir about his siblings, he expressed his deep affection for them, recounting how he enjoyed playing with them, looking after them, and engaging in silly games together. He emphasized that the sound of a child's laughter is unparalleled in its joy and beauty.
She appeared alongside her late brother in the movie The Whole Ten Yards.
Emily Morrison
After his second half-sister was born in 1985, Matthew expressed that life increasingly deteriorated at home. He fondly acknowledged instantly loving his new sibling, Caitlin. However, he constantly found himself feeling excluded, like a child gazing from outside, lost in his own thoughts and imagination, disconnected from the reality unfolding around him.
Mia Perry
Matthew’s father welcomed a daughter with his second wife, Debbie, in 1986. She is currently an educator at the University of Glasgow.
Will Morrison
Matthew didn’t write much about his half-brother, who was born in 1987. However, they did make the rare red carpet appearance together in 2001.
Madeline Morrison
Matthew’s fifth half-sibling was born in 1989. She has worked as a producer for Dateline and also made a few public appearances with her late brother over the years.
