Matthew Perry's Family Says Foundation Aims to Extend His 'Legacy and Hard-Won Wisdom' to Help Others (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Matthew Perry at the GQ Men of the Year party In West Hollywood, CA in November 2022.Photo:Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic

Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic

Matthew Perry’s legacy is living on.

TheMatthew Perry Foundationlaunchedon Nov. 3, with the goal of “identifying addiction as a disease, addressing the complex of stigmas that prevents individuals from seeking and accessing care, and fiercely advocating for better and more equitable treatment.”

Ahead of Giving Tuesday, Perry’s family tells PEOPLE that the foundation is one crucial way they are paying tribute to the late actor, who was open about his own struggle with addiction throughout his lifetime before hedied at age 54on Oct. 28, and they are hopeful others might do the same.

“It is important to us, as a family, to honor Matthew’s legacy,” Perry’s family said. “The potential that the Matthew Perry Foundation has to help those suffering from this disease is something we are proud to bring to the world.”

Perry’s stepfather,DatelinejournalistKeith Morrison, also encouraged fans to donate to the foundation on Monday evening.

“This is not the sort of thing I commonly do, this pitch. But this year is different,” he wrote in amessage on X, formerly known as Twitter. “And tomorrow is Giving Tuesday. Do what you can; he would have been grateful.https://matthewperryfoundation.org”

Matthew Perry in Hollywood, CA in September 2022.Brian Bowen Smith

Brian Bowen Smith

Before hisuntimely death, the belovedFriendsstar, who battled alcohol and drug addiction for decades, wasplanning to establish a foundationto support those suffering from substance abuse.

In the wake of his death, Perry’s loved ones brought that goal to fruition in his honor. The foundation’s website currently features a black-and-white photo of the late actor alongside an inspiring quote about his desire to help others.

“When I die, I don’t want ‘Friends’ to be the first thing that’s mentioned — I want helping others to be the first thing that’s mentioned. And I’m going to live the rest of my life proving that,” a quote from his November 2022 appearance on theQ With Tom Powerpodcast reads next to the image. “Addiction is far too powerful for anyone to defeat alone. But together, one day at a time, we can beat it down.”

Throughout his lifetime, Perry was open about his own struggle with addiction.

In a 2013 PEOPLE cover story, Perryopened up about his abuse of alcohol and Vicodin, which a doctor had prescribed him after a 1997 jet ski accident. “I had a big problem with alcohol and pills and I couldn’t stop,” he said. “Eventually things got so bad that I couldn’t hide it, and then everybody knew.”

Matthew Perry in April 2015 at the premiere of ‘Ride’.Angela Weiss/Getty

Angela Weiss/Getty

Matthew Perry in London, England in February 2016.Dave Benett/Getty

Dave Benett/Getty

Perry was founddeadat his Los Angeles-area home on Oct. 28 and waslaid to reston Nov. 3 at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles. All five of hisFriendscostars —Jennifer Aniston,Courteney Cox,Lisa Kudrow,Matt LeBlancandDavid Schwimmer— were in attendance for the private service.

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The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed to PEOPLE thatan autopsy has been completedand results are pending a toxicology report. However, an online record has the status of the actor’s cause of death currently listed as “deferred” since it’s “pending additional investigation.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

source: people.com