Netflix announces three-part docuseries on Matthew Perry’s life
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Netflix has announced a three-part docuseries chronicling the life and career of late actor Matthew Perry, best known for playing Chandler Bing in the hit American sitcom Friends. Titled The One About Matthew Perry, the series will premiere on October 27.
Perry died in 2023 at the age of 54 after an acute ketamine overdose. The actor had spoken openly about his long struggle with drug addiction, which received renewed attention following his death.
The docuseries, named after the format used for Friends episode titles, will look beyond Perry’s addiction and explore his career and personal life away from his iconic role as Chandler Bing.
Perry’s sister, Mia Perry Bowick, will serve as the key voice narrating major events in her brother’s life.
“It’s taken time for me to feel ready to share these memories and what it was like to love Matthew through all the complexity of his life — to see him as a whole person, not just as Chandler, and not just as someone who struggled with addiction,” she told Deadline.
Remembering her brother’s “beautiful heart” and “generous spirit”, Mia said that even during his “darkest moments”, he could still make people laugh and feel loved.
“I hope this series gives everyone who loved him, whether personally or from afar, a deeper appreciation for who he truly was, and the legacy he leaves behind,” she added.
According to the official logline, The One About Matthew Perry will portray the actor as “generous, funny, vulnerable, larger than life” while examining the struggles he faced and the person behind his public image. The series is described as a candid account of his life and the honesty that became a defining part of his legacy.
Perry began his acting career in 1979, but achieved his breakthrough in 1994 when he was cast as Chandler Bing in Friends. He was one of the sitcom’s six central characters, starring alongside Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green, David Schwimmer as Ross Geller, Courteney Cox as Monica Geller, Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani and Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay.
Friends became a global hit and ran for 10 seasons before ending in 2004.
The success of the sitcom also helped Perry establish a film career. He made his first lead appearance opposite Salma Hayek in Andy Tennant’s 1997 romantic comedy Fools Rush In.
He later starred with Bruce Willis in Jonathan Lynn’s 2000 crime comedy The Whole Nine Yards, opposite Elizabeth Hurley in Reginald Hudlin’s 2002 romantic comedy Serving Sara, and alongside Zac Efron in Burr Steers’ 2009 fantasy comedy 17 Again.
Perry also served as executive producer of Harris Goldberg’s 2007 dark romantic comedy Numb, which explored its protagonist’s struggle with mental health.
Perry was found dead in the hot tub at his Los Angeles home in October 2023. The medical examiner determined that the acute effects of ketamine, a drug commonly used as an anaesthetic, were the primary cause of death, with drowning listed as a contributing factor.