Matthew Perry’s mother says his death was ‘inevitable’

Matthew Perrymother Suzanne Morrison becomes frank in her last moments with Friends star.

In an emotional conversation with Today show Savannah Guthrie Along with Perry’s other relatives, the late actor’s mother spoke about her relationship with her son before his death. death last year after an accidental drug overdose.

The full chat will air on Monday, October 28, the anniversary of Perry’s death, but a preview aired on Friday, October 25, on the NBC morning news show.

Sitting next to her husband, Perry’s stepfather, Keith Morrison — Suzanne, in particular, recalled a heart-to-heart conversation she had with her son after he “went through quite an interesting period” while showing her “one of his new houses.”

“He came up to me and said, ‘I love you so much and I’m so happy to be with you now,'” she shared. “It was almost like a premonition of something. I didn’t think about it at the time, but I thought, “It’s been so long since we’ve talked like this.” Years have passed. ”

“I think there was something… there was an inevitability of what was going to happen around him, and he felt it very strongly,” she continued. “But he said, ‘I’m not afraid anymore.’ And that bothered me.”

After the clip was shown, Guthrie remarked: Today that it was a “powerful conversation” and noted that it was the first time Perry’s loved ones had “talked” about his death since it happened.

“There’s so much pain and sadness, but (they) also have a real sense of purpose in the work he did in helping others get sober,” she added. “That was his life’s purpose, and so there’s a lot to be said about that as well.”

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Perry died at age 54 on October 28, 2023, after he was found unconscious in a hot tub at his Los Angeles-area home. Following his death, his family released a statement to PEOPLE, saying: “We are heartbroken by the tragic loss. our beloved son and brother.”

“Matthew brought so much joy to the world as an actor and friend. You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the overwhelming outpouring of love,” they added.

An autopsy later revealed that Perry died from acute effects of ketamine“a dissociative anesthetic having some hallucinogenic effects,” according to US Drug Enforcement Administration. Other contributing factors were attributed to his death, such as drowning, coronary artery disease and exposure to buprenorphine, a drug used to treat opioid use disorder.

A few months after his death, the Los Angeles Police Department announced it was opening an investigation. official investigation about how the actor received ketamine, and in August five people, including two doctors, a woman known as the “Ketamine Queen” and Perry’s personal assistant, were arrested on charges in connection with his death.

“These defendants took advantage of Mr. Perry’s drug addiction problems to enrich themselves,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. “At the end of the day, these defendants were more interested in profiting from Mr. Perry than caring for his well-being.”

Today airs weekdays starting at 7 a.m. ET on NBC.