Trigger warning: This article contains mentions of death as well as references to alcohol and drug addiction.
Mathew Perry inspired many people and even actors and impressed many with his unforgettable acting skills. The actor died on October 28, 2023, leaving behind a legacy and an untouched topic, which is the question of who are Matthew Perry’s parents.
The “Friends” star was raised by his father John Bennet Perry and Matthew Perry’s mother Suzanne Morrison, even after they decided to pursue different paths in life.
Matthew Perry’s father was the one who raised him during his teenage years while his mother took care of him after their parents separated. Matthew Perry grew up in Ottawa, Canada with his mother and later moved to California with his father as a teenager.
Without further delay, let’s find out who the parents of the late actor Matthew Perry are.
The divorce of John and Suzanne
Matthew Perry’s parents, John and Suzanne, welcomed the actor in 1969 but separated before their son’s first birthday. After the couple split, Matthew Perry’s mother took him from Williamstown, Massachusetts, to her hometown of Ottawa.
When the 17 Again actor turned 15, he moved to California and lived with his father. During his time in California, he also lived with his stepmother Debbie and half-sister Marie.
Matthew Perry’s father, John Bennett Perry, is an actor
The father-son duo has impressed their generations. While Matthew amazed us with his portrayal of Chandler Bing in Friends, his father caught attention by appearing as a sailor in the Old Spice commercials for a very long time.
Matthew Perry’s father’s other films include Little House on the Prairie and Murder, She Wrote.
Matthew Perry’s mother Suzanne was press secretary for Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau
Matthew Perry’s mother, Suzzane Morrison, was a well-known journalist and television presenter in Canada. She also worked as press secretary for Justin Trudeau’s father and then-Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
To your surprise, Matthew Perry visited the elementary school of current Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau.
Matthew Perry’s stepfather was a Dateline correspondent
After Suzzane separated from Matthew Perry’s father John Bennet, she married Keith Morrison. The actor’s stepfather had worked for Dateline NBC since 1995.
To shed light on his career, Keith Morrison told PEOPLE that he loves his job very much.
Matthew Perry’s parents took him to rehab
It was February 23, 2001, when Matthew Perry called his parents and asked them to help him get sober. He had called them from a hotel room in Dallas.
Recalling this incident, Matthew Perry told PEOPLE in 2002, “I was afraid of losing my life.” He added that in a moment of clarity, he decided to prioritize his life.
Speaking to the outlet, Matthew Perry explained that he developed an addiction to Vicodin after a jet ski accident in 1997. The actor left Dallas after filming “Serving Sara” and met his parents in LA when they took him to rehab.
Recalling the horrific condition, Matthew told PEOPLE: “It was scary. I didn’t want to die.”
Matthew and John had joint screen appearances
Since the whole family is used to appearing on screen, Matthew Perry and his father John have played several roles together. They played the same father-son relationship in many projects, such as the 2004 episode of Scrubs.
Additionally, the 2004 episode featured not only Matthew Perry’s father, but also his brother Tony, The Ron Clark Story actor told the News-Times. Additionally, the father-son duo also appeared in Fools Rush In, a 1997 film in which John played the role of Richard Whitman, another role played by Matthew’s father.
For your curiosity, according to Playbill, Matthew and John also co-produced the play “The Whole Banana” at the Court Theater in West Hollywood.
Matthew Perry’s siblings from John and Suzanne’s respective marriages
Although Matthew Perry’s parents were together for less than two years and gave birth to their only son, they still have other children from their respective marriages after their separation.
After tying the knot with Keith in 1981, Suzzane had four children, namely Caitlin, Emily, Will and Madeline. Keith also has a son named Michael from his previous relationship.
Speaking of Matthew Perry’s half-sister, John also married Debie in July 1981 and welcomed Mia.
Suzanne is a former beauty queen
Matthew Perry revealed in his 2022 memoir that Suzanne Morrison was a beauty queen before she married John Perry. She was crowned Miss Canadian University Snow Queen in 1966 while she was a student at the University of Toronto.
The distant relative of the mother of John and Courteney Cox
According to CNN, it was revealed that Matthew’s father and Courteney Cox’s mother Courteney Copeland have the same ancestry, according to genealogists at MyHeritage.
Her ancestors were William Hasborn Haskell III and his wife Ellen Haskell, a couple who lived in England in the 17th century.
Keith had a “close” relationship with Matthew
According to Dateline correspondent Keith, he never tried to replace Matthew’s father, John. While speaking with Hoda Kotb on her podcast Making Space, Morrison added, “I was there for him, and he knew it, and we were close.” He also added that Matthew was also very close to his mother, Suzzane.
Matthew Perry has starred in several critically acclaimed projects, including the notable and universally popular series “Friends.”
Disclaimer: If you know someone who is struggling with alcohol or drug abuse, please contact the authorities and report it. There are several hotlines for such cases.
ALSO READ: Death of Matthew Perry: Lawyer claims the actor allegedly relapsed before his tragic death and was “frozen” by a dose of ketamine; “fell back into addiction”
