Netflix's Matthew Perry Docuseries Promises Intimate Look at 'Friends' Star
Netflix has released the trailer for "The One About Matthew Perry," a three-part docuseries that explores the life, career and private struggles of the late "Friends" star. The series premieres October 27, one day before the third anniversary of Perry's death.
The title nods to the sitcom's signature episode names, such as "The One Where Ross Finds Out." According to Netflix, the series features never-before-heard testimonies along with unreleased photos and videos from the Perry family's private archive.
His Sister Leads the Story
Perry's sister, Mia Perry Bowick, a licensed psychotherapist, is among the central voices in the series. In the trailer, she speaks about how hard her brother worked to overcome addiction.
"He spent $7 million trying to get sober," she says. "That's how seriously he took his disease."
Perry Bowick has said she hopes the docuseries gives viewers a deeper appreciation for who her brother truly was and the legacy he left behind, UPI reported.
Friends and Colleagues Share Memories
The series also includes interviews with Perry's lifelong best friends, Roger Castillo and David Pressman, and with Tim Harrington, a friend from his recovery meetings.
Former NBC Entertainment president Warren Littlefield, who oversaw "Friends" during its run, appears as well. So do actor Kevin Pollak, director Jonathan Lynn, actor Billy Gallo and "Friends" writer Jeff Strauss.
Based on early coverage, the series does not appear to feature any of Perry's main "Friends" castmates, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc.
Netflix describes the goal as showing the real Matthew Perry, a generous, funny and vulnerable man, along with the battles he fought to become the person behind the icon.
A Career Defined by Chandler Bing
Perry became a household name playing sarcastic Chandler Bing on NBC's "Friends" from 1994 to 2004. The role earned him an Emmy nomination and made him one of the most recognizable faces in television.
Behind the scenes, Perry struggled for decades with alcohol and opioid addiction. He wrote openly about those battles in his 2022 memoir, "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing," and became an advocate for others in recovery.
In 2013, he turned his former Malibu home into a sober living residence for men. After his death, loved ones launched the Matthew Perry Foundation to help people struggling with addiction. Perry often said he hoped to be remembered more for helping others get sober than for "Friends."
The docuseries is directed by Emmy winner Mary Robertson, who co-directed the Investigation Discovery series "Quiet on Set." It is produced by Maxine Productions, part of Sony Pictures Television.
The Criminal Case Behind His Death
Perry died October 28, 2023, at age 54. He was found unresponsive in the hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home, and the Los Angeles County medical examiner ruled his death an accident caused by the acute effects of ketamine.
Former U.S. Attorney E. Martin Estrada, whose office prosecuted the case, appears in the series to walk viewers through the investigation. Five people were eventually charged in connection with the ketamine that reached Perry.
North Hollywood dealer Jasveen Sangha, known as the "Ketamine Queen," was sentenced in April to 15 years in federal prison, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Former physician Salvador Plasencia entered a guilty plea to ketamine distribution charges and later received a 30-month sentence.
Perry's live-in personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who admitted injecting the actor with ketamine, was sentenced in May to nearly three and a half years in prison.
How to Watch
All three episodes of "The One About Matthew Perry" will stream on Netflix starting Tuesday, October 27.
Curious for more stories that keep you informed and entertained? From the latest headlines to everyday insights, YourLifeBuzz has more to explore. Dive into what’s next.