Who is Matthew Perry's mother, Suzanne? A Closer Look at Her Life, Family, and Legacy

Matthew Perry was one of the most beloved actors of his generation, best known for his role as Chandler Bing on the hit sitcom Friends. He sadly passed away on October 28, 2023, at the age of 54, after an apparent drowning in his home’s jacuzzi. He left behind a grieving family, including his mother, Suzanne Perry, who had a remarkable life and career of her own. In this article, we will explore who Suzanne Perry is, what she did, and how she influenced her son’s life and legacy.

Her Marriage to John Bennett Perry & Their Son Matthew

In 1968, Suzanne Perry married American actor and singer John Bennett Perry. They had a son named Matthew Perry in 1969. They were married for a short time, but they split up in 1970. John stayed in California, but Suzanne and her son went back to Ottawa.

For Matthew Perry, becoming an actor was like becoming his father. You may know him from the TV show Friends as Chandler Bing. He also played lead roles in movies like Fools Rush In, The Whole Nine Yards, and 17 Again. He struggled with addiction and health issues for many years, and sadly died at the age of 54 on Oct. 28, 2023, after an apparent drowning at his home

Her Second Marriage to Keith Morrison & Their Blended Family

Suzanne got married again in 1981 to Keith Morrison, a Canadian reporter who works as a writer for Dateline NBC. They had four kids together, named Madeleine Morrison, Willy Morrison, Emily Morrison, and Caitlin Morrison. He also had a son named Michael from a former marriage.

Suzanne and Keith brought up their six kids together in Los Angeles. They helped Matthew with his work and were with him when he was in the hospital in 2018. In a 2020 interview with PEOPLE, Keith also talked about how much he loved his grandson.

Inside Suzanne Perry's Career

Suzanne Perry was an accomplished woman with many skills. She did well as a model, reporter, press secretary, and mom. She loved being a wife, a grandmother, and a friend to many. The bravery, kindness, and grace she showed will live on in her family and the people who knew her.

Modeling Career

Her real name is Suzanne Langford, and she was born in Ottawa, Canada, in 1944. A lot of modeling agencies were interested in her because she was naturally beautiful and charming. In the 1960s, she began modeling and was in several Canadian newspapers and magazines.

It was for modeling jobs that she also went to Europe and the US. The American actor and singer John Bennett Perry was her first spouse. They met when she was working as a model in New York. 

Journalism Career

Suzanne Perry loved writing and chose to make it her career after she and her first spouse split up in 1970. She was a reporter for Global Television News for one year before she quit in 1981.

In addition, Perry also worked as a correspondent for several Canadian news outlets, writing about politics, culture, and social problems. She interviewed many prominent figures, such as Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan, and Mikhail Gorbachev.

Political Career

Since the 1970s, Suzanne Perry was the press secretary for Pierre Trudeau, who was Prime Minister of Canada. This put her in close contact with Canadian politics.

Her job was to handle his communications with the media and public affairs. She also helped him run for office and gave him advice on policy problems. She knew him well and was one of his closest friends until he died in 2000.

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Consulting Career

As soon as Suzanne Perry quit her job as Pierre Trudeau's press secretary, she married Canadian writer and broadcaster Keith Morrison in 1981. 

Suzanne continued her work as a political adviser and fundraiser for businesses, nonprofits, the government, and others. What she knew and the people she knew helped them reach their goals.