You know that voice. That low, melodic, slightly ominous lean-in that makes you feel like you’re sitting by a campfire with a guy who knows way too much about your neighbors. Keith Morrison is the gold standard for true crime storytelling. But behind the Dateline mysteries and the dramatic pauses, there’s a personal life that’s actually pretty steady, which is rare in the world of TV news.
He’s been married to Suzanne Perry since 1981.
Think about that for a second. In Hollywood years, that’s basically an eternity. It’s four decades of navigating the highs of career peaks and the absolute basement of family tragedy. While Keith was busy becoming a meme for his "leaning" style, Suzanne was a powerhouse in her own right, once serving as the press secretary to Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. They are a literal North American power couple, even if they don’t act like it.
The Meeting of Two Media Minds
It wasn’t just some random Hollywood party. Keith and Suzanne met when they were both working in the thick of Canadian politics and media. Suzanne Perry—then Suzanne Langford—was a former Miss Canada who transitioned into a high-stakes role in Ottawa. She was the one managing the image of one of Canada's most famous Prime Ministers.
Keith was a rising star in journalism.
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By the time they tied the knot in May 1981, they were already blending a family. Suzanne had a young son from her first marriage to actor John Bennett Perry. That kid was Matthew Perry.
Imagine growing up in that house. You’ve got the future Chandler Bing at the breakfast table, your mom is a former political strategist, and your stepdad is the man who would eventually narrate the most famous murder mysteries in American history. It sounds like a TV show, but for them, it was just Tuesday.
A Family Held Together by One Man
Matthew Perry was always very open about his family dynamic. In his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, he didn’t hold back. He admitted that at times, he felt like the "unaccompanied minor" in a family that was growing fast around him. Keith and Suzanne went on to have four children together: Caitlin, Emily, Willy, and Madeleine.
Keith also had a son, Michael, from a previous marriage.
It was a lot. Seven kids in total.
Matthew famously wrote that Keith was the one who held the family together. He called him a "lovely" man and admitted that even when he was being a difficult teenager, Keith was there. There’s this great quote where Matthew says the only annoying thing about Keith is that he always takes Suzanne’s side. He was her protector. Honestly, that’s probably the secret to a 40-year marriage.
Staying Together Through the "Big Terrible Thing"
Keith Morrison and Suzanne Perry didn't just share the good times. They were the ones on the ground when things got dark for Matthew. When his colon ruptured in 2018—a result of years of opioid use—they were at his bedside.
Keith later told People magazine that it brings a family closer when you're pulling for someone like that. They were his rock.
They watched him get sober. They watched him write his book. And then, they had to do the one thing no parent ever wants to do.
On October 28, 2023, the world stopped when news broke that Matthew Perry had passed away. For fans, it was the loss of a sitcom icon. For Keith and Suzanne, it was the loss of a son. Keith was photographed outside the home that night, looking exactly like what he was: a grieving father trying to hold it together for his wife.
Turning Grief Into Action
It’s been over two years now since that day, and they haven't just sat in their sorrow. They’ve been incredibly vocal about the "greedy jackals"—Keith's words, not mine—who exploited Matthew’s addiction in his final days.
- They launched the Matthew Perry Foundation.
- They expanded the foundation into Canada to help people in their first year of recovery.
- They attended court hearings for the doctors and dealers involved in the ketamine case.
Suzanne, in particular, has been described by Keith as "broken" by the loss, but also "furious." It’s that fury that’s driving their work now. They aren't just protecting Matthew's memory; they’re trying to make sure other families don't have to go through the same "deep well" of grief.
The Legacy of Keith and Suzanne
What makes them so compelling to the public? It’s the contrast.
You have Keith, who spends his days talking about the worst things humans do to each other, and then you have his personal life, which seems to be built on a foundation of absolute loyalty. He hasn't retired. Even at 78, he’s still doing Dateline, still doing podcasts like Morrison Mysteries, and still leaning against doorframes.
Suzanne has stayed mostly out of the spotlight since her political days, but she remains the center of Keith's world.
If you're looking for lessons from their journey, it’s basically this:
- Loyalty is a choice. Keith choosing Suzanne’s side every single time wasn't about being "whipped"—it was about creating a united front for a complicated family.
- Grief needs a purpose. They could have retreated. Instead, they’re using their platform to change how addiction is treated.
- Blended families take work. It wasn't always perfect. Matthew felt left out sometimes. But they kept showing up.
They aren't just a footnote in a celebrity tragedy. They are a case study in how to navigate a life in the public eye without losing your soul—or your partner—along the way.
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If you want to support the work they're doing, you can look into the Matthew Perry Foundation or the Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. Both organizations focus on providing housing and mental health support for people in early recovery, which is exactly where Matthew wanted his legacy to live.