Matthew PerryHis family have spoken of their heartache and pride for the late star a year after his accidental overdose death, with his mother sharing the devastating moment they received the news and how they are working to honor his legacy.

In a sit-down interview with NBC’s Today showMatei’s mother Suzanne Morrisonstepfather Keith Morrison and his younger half-sisters, Caitlin Morrison, Madeline Morrison and Emily Morrison, said they all still talk to him and his mother still feels like she’s just a phone call away.

“Even now, something funny will happen — I’ll see something funny or something ridiculous on the news — I’ll go call him,” his mother said.

Matthew died in October 2023, aged 54, at his home in Los Angeles from “acute effects of ketamine”, according to a autopsy report.

The friendship The actor’s death followed a decades-long struggle with addiction, a struggle spoke openly about and something he worked on in his later years to help others overcome.

“I’m a very lucky woman,” Suzanne said. “But there was an error. It was a problem I couldn’t overcome: I couldn’t help him.”

Matei was funny and easy going when he walked into a room, but he also often had a sadness and loneliness about him, his family said.

“It was always a jubilant thing when he came to us,” said his sister Caitlin. “Even when he was struggling through dark times, we were always proud of him.

“We have always been proud of the fact that he continued to fight and that he made it his life’s goal to help others.”

His family seemed to be different if they believed he was awake in the time leading up to his death.

“I don’t even know if in his mind he’s relapsed,” his sister Madeline said, the family agreed.

But just before his death, Suzanne said she received what today feels like “a premonition” of the tragedy to come when he came to her and shared how much he loved and appreciated her , which she suspects is related to a new medication he was on. on.

“I thought, ‘How long has it been since we had a conversation like this?’ It’s been years,” she said. “There was an inevitability of what was going to happen around him and he felt it very strongly. But he said, ‘Don’t scare me anymore,’ and he worried me.”

Keith said it was his mother who eventually got the call about his death.

“Somebody called Suzanne and just said, ‘Matthew’s dead,'” Keith said, without identifying who that person was.

“‘Matthew’s dead,'” Suzanne repeated the caller’s words. “‘Your son is dead'”

His family said his death underscored the fact that no amount of money or fame could help him. Matthew once estimated that he spent around $9 million (around £6.9 million) trying to get sober.

“What he taught the world was that no amount of money will cure an addict. He needs something else. And that’s what we’re trying to do,” Keith said.

The family has launched the Matthew Perry Foundation in his honorwho work to help those struggling with substance abuse.

Caitlin’s sister, when asked if they found comfort in his death, said she found meaning in knowing they were not alone.

“I found a tremendous amount of meaning in thinking that this is not our tragedy. This happens to people every day,” she said.

His mother also said she was “delighted” by charges brought against some of those who allegedly helped supply Matthew with drugs.