When the world thinks of the name Matthew Perry, it is almost impossible not to picture Chandler Bing, the quick-witted, beloved character from the iconic television show Friends. His sudden and tragic death in October 2023 brought a global outpouring of grief. It also brought a new, gentle focus onto the people who knew him best: his family. Among those family members is his younger half-sister, Madeleine Morrison, a private individual who shared a deep, personal bond with the star, far away from the Hollywood lights.
Quick Bio of Madeleine Morrison
| Fact | Detail |
| Full Name | Madeleine Morrison |
| Known For | Being the half-sister of Matthew Perry |
| Father | Keith Morrison |
| Mother | Suzanne Perry (formerly Suzanne Morrison) |
| Born | 1989 |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Half-Brother | Matthew Perry (deceased) |
| Full Siblings | Caitlin Morrison, Emily Morrison, Will Morrison |
| Father’s Occupation | Broadcast Journalist (Dateline NBC) |
| Mother’s Former Occupation | Journalist, Press Secretary for Pierre Trudeau |
| First Public Appearance | Today show (October 2024) |
A Life Lived in Privacy
Madeleine Morrison is a person who has actively chosen to live her life outside of the public eye. In a family filled with famous faces and public figures, she has maintained her privacy with quiet success. She is not an actress, a politician, or a public journalist. She is, first and foremost, a daughter, a sister, and a core part of the blended family that shaped Matthew Perry’s life.
Because she is a private citizen, you will not find a public social media profile or a history of interviews. Her career and personal life are kept to herself. The public’s understanding of Madeleine Morrison is seen entirely through the lens of her famous family. She is a supporting character in the life stories of her parents and her world-famous older brother.
Her Mother Suzanne Perry
The Suzanne Perry Madeleine Morrison relationship is one of mother and daughter. Madeleine’s mother, Suzanne Perry (now Suzanne Morrison), is a well-known figure in her own right, especially in their home country of Canada. Long before Friends was ever imagined, Suzanne was a prominent journalist and television news anchor.
Her most famous role was political. Suzanne Perry served as the press secretary for Pierre Trudeau, the 15th Prime Minister of Canada. This was a high-profile, demanding job that placed her at the center of Canadian politics. It is worth noting that Matthew Perry’s childhood friend and one-time schoolyard rival was Pierre’s son, Justin Trudeau, who is now the Prime Minister of Canada himself.
Before her life with the Morrison family, Suzanne was married to John Bennett Perry, an American actor. In 1969, they had their first and only child together, Matthew Perry. The marriage was short-lived, and they divorced before Matthew’s first birthday. Suzanne then moved with her young son from Massachusetts back to her hometown of Ottawa, Canada, where she would raise him and eventually build a new family.
Her Father Keith Morrison
The Keith Morrison Madeleine Morrison dynamic is that of a biological father and his daughter. Keith Morrison is a name and voice recognized by millions across North America. He is a broadcasting legend, best known as a correspondent for the NBC newsmagazine Dateline. His calm, suspenseful narration has become a pop culture staple, famously parodied on shows like Saturday Night Live.
Keith Morrison married Suzanne Perry in 1981. When he did, he also became the stepfather to a 10-year-old Matthew Perry. Keith helped raise Matthew through his pre-teen years, long before fame. In his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, Matthew spoke warmly of Keith, calling him a “lovely man” and his “Dad.”
For Madeleine Morrison, this famous journalist was simply her father. She grew up in a home where her father’s work involved traveling and telling some of the most compelling true crime stories on television. This unique upbringing, surrounded by journalism and media, was the backdrop of her life in Ottawa.
Madeleine Morrison Siblings
The Morrison-Perry home was a busy one. When Suzanne and Keith married, they began to expand their family. This is where the Madeleine Morrison siblings keyword comes into play. Madeleine Morrison is the youngest of four children from her parents’ marriage.
Her full siblings are:
- Caitlin Morrison (born in 1981)
- Emily Morrison (born in 1985)
- Will Morrison (born in 1987), who is likely the “Willy Morrison” mentioned in searches.
Of course, she also had her older half-brother, Matthew Perry. The age gap between them was significant. Matthew was 20 years old when Madeleine Morrison was born in 1989, and by that time, he was already a working actor in Los Angeles. This blended family was a central part of Matthew’s life, a connection to his Canadian roots that he cherished.
The Matthew Perry Madeleine Morrison Bond
The Matthew Perry Madeleine Morrison relationship was special. She was his youngest sister. In his memoir, Matthew wrote with honesty about his teenage years. He described feeling like an “outsider” when his mother and Keith first started having children. He was the only child of a different father in a new, growing family.
Those feelings, he explained, were part of what pushed him to move to Los Angeles at 15 to live with his biological father, John Bennett Perry. But this was a young boy’s feeling, not a lasting rift. As an adult, Matthew was incredibly close with all of his half-siblings. He was the “cool older brother” who had become one of the most famous people on the planet.
He would often bring his siblings, including Madeleine Morrison, to Hollywood premieres and events. They were his grounding force, the family that knew him before he was Chandler. They were the ones he spent quiet holidays with in Canada, away from the chaos of his public life.
Madeleine Morrison Age and Birth Details
For those searching for details on Madeleine Morrison age, the information points to her being the youngest of the family. Since her parents married in 1981 and her full siblings were born in 1981, 1985, and 1987, public records and family timelines confirm that Madeleine Morrison was born in 1989.
This means that in 2023, when her brother Matthew passed away, she was approximately 34 years old. She was born at the very moment Matthew’s acting career was beginning to take off, a fitting symbol of the two different worlds her family inhabited: one in quiet Ottawa, the other in bustling Hollywood.
A Family United in Heartbreak
On October 28, 2023, the Perry and Morrison families’ lives were changed forever. Matthew Perry was found unresponsive at his Los Angeles home. He was only 54. The family, including Madeleine Morrison, was united in their grief. They released a joint statement to People magazine, which read:
“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother. Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend. You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love.”
For nearly a full year, the family grieved together in private. They navigated their first holidays and birthdays without their “Matty.” The world waited and respected their silence, understanding that their loss was personal and profound. Madeleine Morrison remained, as she always had, completely out of the public spotlight during this time.
Madeleine Morrison Speaks About Her Brother
In October 2024, just before the one-year anniversary of Matthew’s death, the family decided to speak. Madeleine Morrison joined her parents, Suzanne Perry and Keith Morrison, and her sisters, Caitlin and Emily, for an emotional and powerful first-ever interview with Savannah Guthrie on the Today show.
This was the first time the public had ever truly seen or heard from Madeleine Morrison. Sitting beside her family, she shared a small but incredibly powerful memory of her brother. When Guthrie asked what she missed most about him, Madeleine’s answer was simple, raw, and full of love.
“I miss everything about him,” Madeleine Morrison said, her voice full of emotion. “He was always there. We had our own little jokes.”
This single sentence gave the world a beautiful, humanizing glimpse into the Matthew Perry Madeleine Morrison bond. It was not about a superstar; it was about a sister missing her brother’s unique sense of humor. It was about the “little jokes” that only they shared. This moment revealed the deep, personal connection that underpinned their private family life.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is Madeleine Morrison?
Madeleine Morrison is the younger, private half-sister of the late actor Matthew Perry. - Who are Madeleine Morrison’s parents?
Her mother is Canadian journalist Suzanne Perry, and her father is Dateline correspondent Keith Morrison. - How is Madeleine Morrison related to Matthew Perry?
They share the same mother, Suzanne Perry. Madeleine was born from Suzanne’s second marriage to Keith Morrison, making her Matthew’s half-sister. - How many siblings does Madeleine Morrison have?
She has three full siblings (Caitlin, Emily, and Will Morrison) and one famous half-brother, the late Matthew Perry. - Why did Madeleine Morrison speak publicly?
Madeleine appeared on the Today show in October 2024 with her family for their first interview to honor her brother Matthew’s life and legacy.
A Legacy of Helping Others
Today, the family is dedicated to continuing the work Matthew was passionate about: helping others who struggle with the disease of addiction. Matthew had been open about his plans to create a foundation, and his family has brought that dream to life.
His sister, Caitlin Morrison, is the co-founder of the Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. The U.S. version, the Matthew Perry Foundation, is also active in its mission. While Madeleine Morrison is not the public face of this charity, she is a core part of the family supporting this vital work from behind the scenes.
In the end, Madeleine Morrison is a testament to the power of privacy and the strength of family. She is a woman who grew up in the shadow of giants a media mogul father, a political insider mother, and a brother who was a global icon. Yet, she has carved her own quiet path, emerging only for a moment to share her love for her brother and to support the legacy he left behind.
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