New Delhi: Netflix is making a three-part documentary series about the life and legacy of Friends star Matthew Perry, exploring the actor’s journey beyond his most famous character, Chandler Bing. The documentary will revisit Perry’s rise to global fame, his struggles with addiction and recovery, and the personal life behind the actor millions of viewers grew up watching on television.
The documentary series is titled The One About Matthew Perry and is directed and produced by Emmy Award winner Mary Robertson. The three-part series is set to premiere globally on Netflix on October 27, 2026. It will feature interviews with people who knew Perry closely, including his younger sister Mia Perry Bowick. His family has also opened their private archives for the project.
“Matthew Perry was one of the comedic geniuses of our time. Through his many film, TV, and stage performances, and his unforgettable portrayal of Chandler, he made millions of us laugh,” Robertson said.
Perry became a household name after his role as Chandler Bing in Friends. The sitcom premiered in 1994 and went on to become one of television’s biggest shows, with Perry’s comic timing making Chandler one of its most recognisable characters. He starred alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer.
A life beyond Chandler Bing
However, his life away from the screen was much more complicated. Perry struggled with addiction for years and went through several attempts at recovery. He later became increasingly open about his experiences, using his public platform to speak about addiction and help others dealing with similar struggles.
In 2022, Perry published his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, in which he wrote about his childhood, acting career, relationships, and battle with addiction. His experiences with substance abuse affected his work and personal life, making his public discussions about recovery an important part of his later years.
Perry died on October 28, 2023, at the age of 54. He was found unresponsive at his home in Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles County medical examiner, the acute effects of an anesthetic, ketamine, contributed to his death, with drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine also listed as contributing factors.
His death was followed by a criminal investigation into how he obtained ketamine. Several people, including doctors and an associate who worked with Perry, were charged in connection with his death.
However, Netflix’s documentary is not primarily about how Matthew Perry died. Instead, it looks at the life he lived before his death – from becoming one of television’s biggest comedy stars to publicly confronting addiction and trying to turn his experiences into something that could help others.
Edited by Maryam Hassan