Suzanne Morrison has released a moving message to mark what would have been the 57th birthday of her late son, actor Matthew Perry.
Perry, who died in October 2023 from acute ketamine poisoning, would have celebrated his 57th birthday on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
The non-profit organization Matthew Perry House shared Morrison's statement on its official Instagram page alongside a family photograph showing her feeding Perry when he was a baby.
In the post, Morrison wrote that August 19 was her son's birthday and noted that Perry was born 57 years ago, describing it as a day she still feels intensely as though it happened that morning. She added that she remembers those emotions alongside all the days he struggled and hid his addiction from the world and from her.
Mother remembers actor's fight against addiction
Morrison described her son as a sweet, loving, funny, ill-tempered, and stubborn person who wanted more than anything to overcome his addiction. She said she misses him constantly every day and vividly recalls his desire during the final days of his life to help others facing similar struggles.
Addressing her late son directly in her tribute, Morrison recalled hearing him say repeatedly in his last days that he simply wanted to help people trapped in the disease of addiction. She stated that while Perry can no longer fulfill that mission himself, those left behind can and will do so with public support.
Sentencing in ketamine supply cases
The birthday tribute follows several legal proceedings surrounding the actor's death from ketamine poisoning. On May 27, 2026, Perry's personal assistant received a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence for supplying ketamine to the actor.
Earlier that month, on May 13, 2026, an addiction counselor who supplied ketamine to Perry was sentenced to two years in prison. In a separate ruling on December 3, 2025, a doctor who provided ketamine to Perry was handed a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence.
Legacy of Friends star
Matthew Perry gained global fame playing Chandler Bing on the television sitcom Friends, which aired from 1994 to 2004. He spoke publicly about his decades-long battle with severe substance addiction, detailing his struggles in a memoir published in 2022. Following his death at age 54, his family established the Matthew Perry Foundation to carry forward his commitment to helping individuals recovering from addiction.
