Matthew Perry Was ‘Desperate’ To Overcome Addiction And Start A Family Before His Passing

A year after his tragic death, Matthew Perry’s mother, Suzanne Morrison, reveals the late actor’s unrealized intention to get married and have kids. She appeared on the Today Show with Savannah Guthrie alongside Perry’s stepdad, Keith, and their kids, Caitlin, Emily, and Madeleine.

She also discussed his battle with addiction, which he so desperately tried to overcome. Perry himself disclosed in his memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing that he spent over $7 million trying to be sober; however, it was only effective for a short time.

Matthew Perry was so desperate for a solution to his addiction struggles

Morrison recalled Perry’s dedication to letting go of drugs; however, it was the only way he knew to cope with depression. His sister, Emily, added that his biggest motivation for wanting to be sober was to be available to help others. Madeleine noted that he paid for some people’s rehab expenses and helped them overcome their addiction.

To fill the void of Perry’s kindness, his family established the Matthew Perry Foundation, which aims to pull others out of addiction like Perry loved to do. His death has exposed an undercover Hollywood ring of physicians, who are said to supply illegal drugs in exchange for thousands of dollars.

According to Morrison, Perry wanted the full family life including a wife, kids, and a dog running around the house. Perry’s stepfather Keith reminisced about his final days, and revealed that he became so in touch with the family, often reaching out via phone calls.

Keith believes Perry could see his demise coming and wanted to spend time with those who mattered the most. Although Perry never married, he had a handful of public relationships with fellow famous faces like Cameron Diaz, Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Roberts, and his last-known lover, Molly Hurwitz. He almost fulfilled his dream of being a husband with Molly, however they broke up six months after their engagement.