Matthew Perry found joy not long before his sudden death.
The Friends star's stepdad Keith Morrison recently shared insight into his final months, expressing the renewed bond between Perry and his mom Suzanne.
"Toward the end of his life, they were closer than I have seen them for decades," Morrison said on the March 13 episode of Today co-anchor Hoda Kotb's podcast Making Space, "and texting each other constantly."
The Dateline NBC correspondent , who has been married to Perry's mom for more than 40 years, continued, "He was happy, and said so. And he hadn't said that for a long time. So it's a source of comfort. But also, he didn't get to have his third act and that's not fair."
Perry, who played Chandler Bing on Friends, was found dead inside a hot tub at his home in late October. His death, at age 54, was ruled an accident, with an autopsy finding that he died from the "acute effects" of the sedative ketamine—which he had taken through infusions to treat depression and anxiety over a week prior—and that drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of the opioid-addiction medicine buprenorphine were contributing factors in his passing.
Over the years, Perry had been open about his battles with addiction to prescription painkillers and alcohol, including in his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, where he wrote, "It is very odd to live in a world where if you died, it would shock people but surprise no one."
For Morrison, when expressing whether he was surprised about his stepson's death, he noted, "It was the news you never want to get but you think someday you might. So yes and no, I guess is the answer to that."
Beyond reflecting on the Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip alum's final years, Morrison also shared memories of Perry from when he was younger, recalling his "larger than life" personality. "He was goofy, he was funny, he was acerbic," he said. "But even if he didn't say a word, he was the center of attention."
He continued, "That's gone, but you still feel the echo of it everywhere."
Keep reading for a look back at Perry's life in pictures:
1988
The Boys Will Be Boys star poses for a photo while at the Limelight in New York City.
1990
The Sydney actor takes a break while on the set of the CBS series in Los Angeles, California.
1994
The Friends star sits by the well-known fountain that serves as the backdrop for the show's opening sequence.
1996
The Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing author attends the Scream premiere in Los Angeles.
1997
Perry poses while on the set of Friends as his beloved character Chandler Bing.
2000
The 17 Again star attends the Los Angeles premiere of The Grinch.
2004
The actor hits the red carpet for the premiere of The Whole Ten Yards.
2006
The Mr. Sunshine star attends the Entertainment Weekly and Matrix Men upfront party.
2012
The Odd Couple actor hangs out backstage at an event in celebration of the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards.
2016
Perry poses for a photo while at the play The End Of Longing.
2017
The American-Canadian actor was front and center at The Circle premiere in New York City.
2022
Perry attends the 2022 GQ Men of the Year party.
2023
Six months prior to his passing, the Almost Heroes star discussed his memoir while on stage at the 2023 Los Angeles Times Festival.