Matthew Perry’s family remembers Friends actor after his death.
After the actor died at age 54 on Oct. 28, his family told PEOPLE in an exclusive statement that they were “heartbroken” by his death.
“We are heartbroken at the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother,” the family said. “Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and as a friend. You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love.”
Perry was raised by his father John Bennett Perry, mother Suzanne Morrison and stepfather, Date line journalist Keith Morrison.
After his parents divorced, both John and Suzanne remarried and had more children with their partners (Suzanne married Keith in 1981, while John married his wife Debbie the same year). In total, Perry has five siblings from his parents’ subsequent marriages.
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In addition to dating his half-siblings to various events over the years, Perry opened up about his blended family in his 2022 memoir. Friends, lovers and the big scary thing.
Here’s everything you need to know about Perry’s siblings and what he’s had to say about them over the years.
Friends and colleagues of Matthew Perry react to his death: ‘Shock and sadness prevail’
Caitlin Morrison
Caitlin Morrison is Perry’s half-sister, born to Suzanne and her second husband Keith in 1981. Perry was 10 years old at the time.
In his memoir, Perry opened up about his younger sister, saying he “loved her right away” as soon as she was born. However, as Suzanne and Keith welcomed more children together, Perry said he felt like there was now “a family growing up around me, a family that I didn’t really feel a part of,” and as a result, he started acting out.
Emily Morrison
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Emily Morrison is Perry’s half-sister, Suzanne and Keith’s second child, born in 1985. In his memoirs, Perry spoke of Emily’s arrival, saying she was “blonde and sweet as a button.” Just like Caitlin, he added that he loved her “instantly”. However, he still struggled with the sense of belonging in his new blended family.
“So often I was on the outside looking in,” he wrote, adding that he and his mother “argued all the time.” As a result, Perry decided to move to Los Angeles at the age of 15 to spend time with his father, which paved the way for his acting career.
At Perry’s peak Friends career, the actor attended several events with Emily by his side. In 2000, she accompanied him to the premiere of his film The whole nine yards and the following year, Perry brought Emily and his mother to an event honoring Garnet Bailey.
Maria Perry
Maria Perry is Perry’s half-sister, whom his father John welcomed with his second wife Debbie in 1986. In his memoir, Perry opened up about how his father remarried, calling Debbie “a lovely woman” and “the catch of the century.”
In his memoir, Perry revealed that Maria was the first person to tell him what happened to him after his health scare in 2018 when his colon ruptured as a result of using OxyContin.
Describing his sister as “the center of the Perry family,” he said, “Maria did her best to be a wonderful comfort, but this was not comforting.”
Will Morrison
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Will Morrison is Perry’s only half-sibling, whom Suzanne and Keith welcomed in 1987. Like some of his other siblings, Will made a rare appearance with Perry as they attended the film’s premiere Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in November 2001
Perry mentioned Will along with his sisters in his memoir recalling their support during his difficult phases.
“The faces of my sisters overshadow the faces of my parents, as well as the faces of my brother, each of them beaming at me, not only at the hospital bed, but also in Canada and Los Angeles as I tried to break them with my chatter,” he wrote. about his siblings.
“They never dropped the ball on me, none of them, never turned their back on me,” he continued. “Imagine that kind of love if you can.”
Madeline Morrison
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Madeline Morrison is Perry’s half-sister born in 1989, the fourth child of Suzanne and Keith.
In his memoir, Perry talked about his happy memories with his younger siblings, including Madeline.
“I have always loved children. I think it’s because I was ten when my sister Caitlin was born,” he explained. “Then Emily came, then Will and finally Madeline. I loved playing with them all, babysitting them, playing silly games with them. There is no greater sound on the face of the planet than children’s laughter.”
Perry’s memoir also includes a reflection on how his sisters stood by him after a health scare in 2018. After waking up from a coma, Perry recalled how he “threw [himself] into the family, spending hours with her beautiful sisters, Emily, Maria and Madeline, who were fun and caring and there.”
In April 2002, Madeline attended the premiere of the film Spider man with his older brother, a rare public appearance for the two.
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