Matthew Perry's family speaks out one year after his death: EXCLUSIVE

Perry died on October 28, 2023, at the age of 54, after being found in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office, the actor died from acute complications of ketamine.

The “Friends” star had undergone ketamine treatment for depression and anxiety. But the monitored doses of ketamine were not what killed him, NBC News reported. According to prosecutors, he also used the drug unsupervised and became addicted.

“I don’t even know if he relapsed mentally,” said his sister Madeline Morrison.

Five people have been charged in connection with the actor's death, including two doctors and the actor's assistant, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California said Aug. 15.

Suzanne Morrison said she was “thrilled” that five people have been charged in connection with Perry's death.

“What I hope, and I think the authorities who took part in this hope, is that people who have made it their mission to supply people with drugs that kill them will now be taken notice of. It doesn't matter what professional qualifications you have. You’re going down, baby,” Keith Morrison said.

Suzanne Morrison also said she remembered Perry saying, “I love you so much and I'm so happy to be with you now,” shortly before his death, almost as if it was a “foreshadowing.”

“It was inevitable that – what was going to happen next to him, and he felt it very strongly. But he said, 'I'm not afraid anymore.' And it worried me,” she said.

As Keith Morrison reflected on his stepson's death, he said Perry “taught the world something” through his addiction.

“What he taught the world is that no amount of money can cure an addict. Something else is needed. That’s what we’re trying to do (with the foundation),” Morrison said.

Given Perry's roots there, it's appropriate to pursue this goal in Canada.

Although Perry spent much of his adult life in Los Angeles, he grew up in the Canadian capital of Ottawa, where the new foundation is now located.

“Canada was very important to him,” Caitlin Morrison said. “I think he was very important for the Canadians. It's kind of a gift both ways. It is a gift to serve Canadians. It’s a gift to keep him around.”

Perry had the opportunity to see how much he was appreciated by his Canadian fans when he promoted his memoir in 2022.

“He was amazed at the attention he got during the Canadian book tour,” Suzanne Morrison said. “He had no idea. He kept talking about it afterward. 'Some people still really like me.'”

His mother continues to see evidence of fans' devotion at the California cemetery where Perry is buried.

“Whenever I’m there, people come to see him – even now. It usually wears off,” she said. “They leave him really nice letters. For example: “I was so sad.” “You helped me get through my teenage years,” she said, calling his impact on people “just incredible.”

His mother kept the notes.

“Maybe at some point I’ll release it for people to see,” she said. “But they really loved him because they could identify with him.”