Who are Matthew Perry's parents? Late 'Friends' star's mother and father separated when he was only one year old
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Late 'Friends' star Matthew Perry's father John Bennett Perry, and mother Suzanne Langford reportedly separated when he was only one year old, according to Distractify.
The actor died on Saturday, October 28, 2023, at the age of 54 in an apparent drowning incident. Matthew had previously opened up much about his struggles with substance abuse which greatly affected his mental health. But added to that was his parents' separation at a very young age.
The actor, known for playing the clever and sarcastic Chandler Bing, had a connection to the entertainment industry much before he joined it himself. Perry's father and stepfather both were part of the industry.
Who are Matthew Perry's parents?
Hailing from Massachusetts, Matthew Perry's father John Bennett Perry not only appeared on the big screen but also did theater, with off-Broadway musicals like 'Now is the Time for All Good Men'.
John married Suzanne Langford, who was from Canada. Their marriage lasted for only two years and the couple separated when Matthew had not even reached his first birthday.
The family was residing in John's hometown Williamstown. After the couple's separation, however, Suzanne moved back to Canada along with her son Matthew.
While John went on to pursue his acting career in Los Angeles, back in her own country, Suzanne's career thrived as she became the press secretary for the then-Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
John might not have gotten a major break like his son did through the popular sitcom 'Friends', but he was able to bag some big projects right after his separation from Suzanne.
He appeared in movies like 'Independence Day', 'George of the Jungle' and 'Farewell to the King'. John also did TV shows like 'Falcom Crest' and 'Magnum PI' while later joining his son's sitcom for a cameo.
Almost a decade later, Suzanne tied the knot with the popular true crime personality Keith Morrison who is known for his iconic hosting of NBC's 'Dateline'.
Matthew Perry's relationship with stepfather Keith Morrisson
Although not much is known about Matthew's relationship with his stepfather Keith, they were definitely close to each other and their past did not become a hindrance in their relationship.
The 'Dateline' star opened up about this in a People interview, giving insight into their special bond ever since Matthew was young.
"He's one of those people who always is the center of the room for a reason and it was so as a kid," Keith said.
He also revealed bits of what the actor was like in school and said, "On the hockey team, I used to take him off to his hockey games on Saturday mornings. It was like Matthew and the hockey team. He was the one who scored all the goals. He was the guy. The same on the tennis court."
Keith continued showering his stepson with praises and said, "He was extremely, extremely good on the tennis court and very intense. He's an intense, talented, focused character. He's very bright. That was always the case as he was growing up."
