The late actor’s mother Suzanne Morrison, stepfather Keith Morrison and his sisters spoke exclusively to ‘Today’ on the one-year anniversary of his death

On the first anniversary of its establishment Matthew PerryWith the death of , his family remembers his life and legacy.

In an exclusive interview with Today show Savannah Guthrie From the Canadian town where Perry grew up Friends‘ star’s mother Suzanne Morrisonstepfather Keith Morrison and her younger sisters, Caitlin Morrison, Madeline Morrison and Emily Morrison, opened up about their enduring love for Perry.

“Even now, something funny will happen; I’ll see something funny or ridiculous on the news, I’ll go look for it,” Suzanne recalled. “I’m freer than ever to relate to him now. Then it hits me, then it hits me so hard it’s not there.”

“We go to the cemetery,” Keith recalled, “(and Suzanne) will sit there and chat with him for a while.”

When asked what she misses most about him, Madeline said “everything” and noted how the pair shared “little jokes” together. “He was always there,” she shared. Caitlin added, “It was always a joy to have him come here.”

“He was always grumpy, but he was always funny,” an emotional Emily said after taking time to compose herself. “He would do anything for you when the people he loved were successful or afraid.”

“All she really wanted was to love and be loved,” Emily said. “He tried so hard to feel at peace, and I think he got to a place where he was able to do that.”

Perry dies at 54 on October 28, 2023, following an accidental drug overdose. The actor has been open about his decades-long struggle with addiction and wrote about his recovery and recovery process over the years in his 2022 memoir.

It was an often emotionally tumultuous journey that his family saw firsthand. “We were always proud of him, even when he was struggling through dark times,” Caitlin said. “We were always proud that he continued to fight and made helping other people a big focus of his life.”

“He was always very lonely in his soul,” Suzanne recalled. “I’m a very lucky woman, but there was a hitch; there was a problem. I couldn’t beat him. I couldn’t help him.”

This was a lesson Suzanne had to learn the hard way. Chatting with Guthrie, he became emotional, hinting at some of the guilt he carries, emphasizing what he now knows: “You’ve got to stop blaming yourself because it’s destroying you.”

Relating to: Matthew Perry’s Parents: All About His Father John, Mother Suzanne, and Stepfather Keith Morrison

Relating to: Matthew Perry’s Mother Says ‘What Happened Was Inevitable’ Friends Actor

Instead, Suzanne, family members, and Perry’s friends are channeling the pain of their loss into goodness and continuing the late star’s legacy, Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada.

The organization, of which Caitlin is the executive director, is committed to helping others in recovery. (Also based in the US Matthew Perry FoundationHelping those with addiction disease supports the same mission.)

“(Matthew) taught the world that no amount of money can cure an addict,” Keith said. “It needs something else, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

“If this doesn’t stop, we’re going to lose millions of people,” Suzanne said.

Before his death, Perry was receiving an infusion of Ketamine, a “dissociative anesthetic” with “some hallucinogenic effects.” US Drug Enforcement AdministrationA medication used to treat depression and anxiety.

Authorities say the drug became an addiction for Perry. was one of the main causes of death When autopsy results are announced in December 2023. Other contributing factors include drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine, according to the report, citing a medication used to treat opioid use disorder.

Perry’s family told Today He said they were aware that the actor was using Ketamine. But as Keith says, “we didn’t know how much he got.”

In fact, Keith emphasized that he still thinks Perry is sober. “It certainly seemed to me that even though he had been treated with ketamine, he hadn’t turned into something he couldn’t control.” date line said the host. “Though, you know, he was a man who could make decisions. ‘I can handle this. I can do this. I can tell you what’s right. I know the whole system inside and out, I know what the medicine is going to do. Me.’ So ‘What is he actually doing?’ He was worried.”

“I don’t even know if his mind is broken again,” Madeline said, a point the family agreed with.

Relating to: All About Matthew Perry’s 5 Siblings

The California branch of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Los Angeles Police Department have since opened an investigation around the circumstances surrounding Perry’s death.

on August 15 A lawsuit was filed against 5 people regarding the deathThese include two doctors (Dr. Mark Chavez and Dr. Salvador Plasencia), a woman known as the “Ketamine Queen” (Jasveen Sangha), and Perry’s personal live-in assistant (Kenneth Iwamasa).

three of these people they have since pleaded guilty. Sangha and Dr. who claimed innocence. A hearing for Salvador Plasencia is scheduled for March 4.

While discussing the cases, Suzanne stated that she was “thrilled” to have some responsibility; Her husband Keith agrees with this statement.

“What I hope, and I think what the agencies involved hope for, is that people who are dedicated to providing people with drugs that will kill themselves are now becoming aware of it,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what your professional qualifications are. You’re going to fall, baby.”

Never miss a story — sign up PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter To stay up to date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling juicy stories.

Elsewhere in the conversation, Perry’s family said they still feel connected to the late actor. “I don’t think there was a single person in this room who wasn’t talking to him,” Caitlin said, noting that they all stood and watched the match. Northern Lights other evenings it was a sight that reminded them of Perry. “You can feel the divinity in that moment.”

But they still feel the pain of his absence.

“I don’t think the grief will ever go away,” Caitlin said. “I found great meaning in thinking about the fact that this is not our tragedy. This happens to people every day.”

Relating to: Friends Instagram Remembers Matthew Perry’s ‘Light’ on His 55th Birthday

Ultimately, the family hopes that by sharing their story, it will help others who are going through similar pain.

“There’s nothing special about (us), especially the fact that we have a very remarkable, famous family member who went through this,” Keith said. “People notice this and they come up to us all the time and say, ‘We are sorry for your loss.’ Millions of people have experienced this loss, and we are very aware of it.”

“This isn’t about us, it’s about millions of people,” he added. “This is a hurting world and it needs some help.”

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

For more People news, be sure to: sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article People.