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Who are Matthew Perry’s parents and siblings? Meet the late actor’s family

Beloved “Friends” star Matthew Perry tragically passed away at his Los Angeles home Oct. 28.

The actor, who was only 54, is survived by his parents and five half-siblings.

Though Perry never married or had any children of his own, he hailed from a large Canadian-American family.

He was the oldest of six children: his mother, Suzanne Perry welcomed four kids with her second husband, Keith Morrison, while his father, John Bennett Perry, shared one daughter with his second wife.

The “Friends” actor tragically passed away Oct. 28.
Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

In his 2022 memoir, “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing,” Matthew described himself as a “latchkey kid” who split his time between Montreal and Los Angeles.

“I spent a great deal of time alone,” the A-lister shared, noting he relocated from the Great White North to LA with his dad when he was 15.

Here’s everything you need to know about the late actor’s family members.

Suzanne Perry

Matthew’s mom, Suzanne, welcomed four children with her second husband.
WireImage

Suzanne, who split from Matthew’s father before his first birthday, is a prolific communications professional.

The former journalist served as press secretary to Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau before turning her focus to political consulting and fundraising.

While she was in office, Matthew attended school with Pierre’s son, current Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau.

The politician shared a tribute to his former classmate in the wake of his death, tweeting, “Matthew Perry’s passing is shocking and saddening. I’ll never forget the schoolyard games we used to play, and I know people around the world are never going to forget the joy he brought them.”

Suzanne eventually wed Morrison in 1981.

John Bennett Perry

The actor had a close bond with his dad, John Bennett Perry.
Instagram/@mattyperry4

Much like Matthew, his father John had a successful acting career.

The ’70s TV star first became known for his role as Sheriff Floyd Gilmore on “Falcon Crest.”

He went on to star alongside his son, playing the father of Matthew’s character in the 1997 flick, “Fools Rush In,” before making a cameo on “Friends.”

Arguably his most infamous role was a decades-long stint as a sailor in the commercials for Old Spice through the ’70s and ’80s.

After splitting from Suzanne, John remarried wife Debbie Boyle in 1981.

Keith Morrison

Matthew’s stepdad, Keith Morrison, has been in his life since he was 10 years old.
NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via

Matthew’s stepfather has worked for the NBC crime program “Dateline” since 1995.

The reporter, who has known the sitcom star since he was 10, welcomed four children with Suzanne, however he always spoke highly of his “remarkable” stepson.

“He’s one of those people who always is the center of the room for a reason and it was so as a kid,” Morrison told People in 2020.

“He’s an intense, talented, focused character. He’s very bright. That was always the case as he was growing up,” he went on. “He was the guy.”

Morrison also revealed he was on hand to support Matthew when he was hospitalized in 2018 after his colon burst following years of opioid use.

“We were able to be with him a lot of the time through that, which was I think good for everybody,” he told the outlet.

Morrison also has a son, Michael, from a previous marriage.


Read more about Matthew Perry’s life and struggles:


Caitlin Morrison

Suzanne and Keith welcomed their first child together, daughter Caitlin, in 1981. 

Matthew wrote about his eldest sister in his memoir, revealing his desire to start a family stemmed from becoming a big brother as a pre-teen.

“I think it’s because I was 10 years old when my sister Caitlin was born,” he wrote.

“Then came Emily, then Will, and then finally Madeline. I loved playing with them all, babysitting them, playing dumb games with them. There is no greater sound on the face of the planet than a child’s laughter.”

Although he “instantly” loved Caitlin, he admitted there were times he felt like he didn’t belong.

“There was a family growing up around me, a family I didn’t really feel part of … That’s when the bad behavior started,” he wrote.

Caitlin seemingly gave acting a go alongside her brother, appearing in the 2000 flick, “The Whole Ten Yards.”

She doesn’t have any other significant credits to her name, and little is known what she’s been up to in the years since.

Emily Morrison

Matthew gave his sister Emily, along with all of his siblings, a shoutout in his 2022 memoir.
WireImage

His second sister, Emily, was born in 1985. 

However, Matthew revealed his home life became more difficult after his mom and stepdad welcomed another child.

“Things at home just got worse and worse. My mom had a wonderful new family with Keith,” he wrote in his book.

“Emily arrived, and she was blond and cute as a button. And just like Caitlin, I loved her instantly. However, I was so often on the outside looking in, still that kid up in the clouds on a flight to somewhere else, unaccompanied.”

Through the years, Emily made a few public appearances with her older brother, including at the Los Angeles premiere of “The Whole Nine Yards.”

Will Morrison

Little is known about Matthew’s brother Will, however they made a red carpet appearance together in the early 2000s.
WireImage

Suzanne and Keith welcomed their third child together, son Will, in 1987. 

Matthew’s only brother has kept a low profile throughout his life, however he walked the red carpet at the premiere of “Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone” with the “17 Again” actor.

Will also got a shout out in Matthew’s memoir when he reflected on the presence of his siblings through every season of his life.

“My sisters’ faces shadow my parents’, as does my brother’s, each of them beaming at me, not just at a hospital bedside, but also in Canada, and Los Angeles as I tried to crack them up with my patter,” he wrote.

“They never dropped the ball once, any of them, never turned their backs on me, ever. Imagine such love if you can.”

Madeleine Morrison

The fourth child of Suzanne and Keith, daughter Madeline, was born in 1989.

Matthew’s youngest sister, who followed in her dad’s footsteps as a “Dateline” producer, also got a shoutout from Matthew in his tell-all book.

After waking up from a coma following his 2019 health scare, Matthew didn’t want to know what had happened to him because he was “too afraid that it was my fault.”

“So instead of talking about it, I did the one thing I felt I could do—during the days in the hospital I threw myself into family, spending hours with my beautiful sisters Emily, Maria, and Madeline who were funny and caring and there,” he wrote.

Maria “Mia” Perry

Matthew’s dad also welcomed a child with his second wife.
WireImage

Maria Perry was born to Matthew’s dad and his second wife, Debbie Boyle, in 1986.

The actor described his half-sister as the “hub of the Perry family” in his memoir, and noted she was the only person who spoke frankly about the opioid health scare that landed him in a coma for two weeks.

“There I was, attached to fifty wires like a robot, bedridden, as Maria filled me in,” he wrote.

“My very fears had been true: I had done this; this was my fault. I cried—oh boy did I cry. Maria did her best to be wonderfully consoling, but there was no consoling this.”

Elsewhere in the book, Matthew referred to Maria’s mom as “a lovely woman” and “the catch of the century.”

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