Matthew Perry's stepfather Keith Morrison has urged fans to "do what you can" following the Friends actor's sudden death in October.
The actor, best known for playing Chandler Bing in the hit US sitcom, died on 28 October 2023 after he was found unresponsive in his hot tub at his Los Angeles home.
Nearly one month on from his stepson's passing, broadcaster and journalist Keith, 76, has shared his first statement on social media.
On Monday, 27 November, Keith took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to post a message to mark Giving Tuesday – a day of global giving, which falls on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the United States.
Keith, who married Matthew's mother Suzanne Perry in 1981, urged people to donate to the Matthew Perry Foundation, which was launched in the wake of the actor's death and aims to help those struggling with addiction.
"This is not the sort of thing I commonly do, this pitch. But this year is different," Keith wrote on X, alongside a like to the foundation. He added: "Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday. Do what you can; he would have been grateful.”
Keith married Suzanne when Matthew was 12 years old, following her split from his father John Bennett Perry.
The Matthew Perry Foundation was launched in early November in honour of the Friends actor, who had continued to help those struggling with addiction after his own struggles.
The charity's focus is described as: "The realisation of Matthew’s enduring commitment to helping others struggling with the disease of addiction. It will honour his legacy and be guided by his own words and experiences and driven by his passion for making a difference in as many lives as possible."
The organisation is sponsored and maintained by public charity the National Philanthropic Trust.
In 2022, while promoting his book Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, Matthew shared his hope of being remembered for his outreach work rather than his portrayal of Chandler Bing in Friends.
“I would like to be remembered as somebody who lived well, loved well, was a seeker,” Matthew said. “And his paramount thing is that he that he wants to help people. That’s what I want.”
“When I die, I don’t want ‘Friends’ to be the first thing that’s mentioned,” he added. “I want that [helping other addicts] to be the first thing that’s mentioned, and I’m going to live the rest of my life proving that.”
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