Netflix has released the first trailer for The One About Matthew Perry, a three-part documentary series arriving on the streamer on October 27 — the third anniversary of the beloved Friends actor's death [1][2]. The two-minute preview draws on private family footage and intimate interviews to sketch a portrait of Perry that goes well beyond his iconic role as Chandler Bing, confronting both the heights of his fame and the long shadow of his addiction [1].
A Family's Decision to Speak
The series is anchored by testimony from Perry's sister, Mia Perry Bowick, who describes the decision to participate as one that required considerable time and emotional preparation [1][2].
"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," Perry Bowick said in a statement [1]. She added that she hopes the series gives viewers "a deeper appreciation for who he truly was and the legacy he leaves behind" [2].
Beyond Perry Bowick, the docuseries includes firsthand accounts from close friends David Pressman and Roger Castillo, as well as several of Perry's former girlfriends [1]. Together, these voices are meant to construct what Maxine Productions describes as "the first in-depth, definitive documentary about the beloved Friends star, told by some of the people who knew him best" [2].
The Making of Chandler Bing
One of the more revealing threads in the series concerns Perry's path to Friends and the creation of the character that would define his public life for decades. Former NBC President Warren Littlefield and Season 1 writer Jeff Strauss both appear on camera to offer firsthand accounts of Perry's original audition and the development of Chandler Bing [1]. Their recollections promise to shed new light on how one of television's most recognizable comedic personas came to exist.
The documentary also features new interviews with collaborators from Perry's broader career in television and film, extending the narrative beyond the Friends years into the full arc of his professional life [1].
Addiction, Recovery, and a Life Lived in Full
Perry, who died in October 2023 at age 54, struggled with dependence on drugs and alcohol for much of his adult life [2]. His death was caused by acute ketamine effects after he drowned in his hot tub [2]. In the years before his death, he had been unusually candid about his experiences with addiction — a willingness that director Mary Robertson cites as central to the documentary's purpose.
"Matthew Perry was one of the comedic geniuses of our time," Robertson said. "He also gave us so much more by bravely speaking about addiction. Yet the public only knew part of his story. That's why we set out to make this series: to let the people who knew and loved Matthew reveal the person behind the public figure" [1].
The series draws on unreleased photos and videos from the Perry family's private archive, material that has not previously been seen publicly [1]. It also includes new firsthand accounts of Perry's journey through addiction and recovery, shared by those closest to him — details that go beyond what Perry himself disclosed in his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing [1].
The official logline frames the project in expansive terms: "A raw record of a life lived in full, and the honesty that became his greatest legacy" [2].
Behind the Camera
The One About Matthew Perry is directed by Mary Robertson, whose previous work includes Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV [2]. Robertson executive produces alongside Lisa Kalikow, Eli Holzman, and Aaron Saidman. Lora Moftah serves as co-executive producer, with Jessica Call as producer [1][2]. The series is produced by Maxine Productions, a part of Sony Pictures Television [1].
What to Watch For
The October 27 release date positions the documentary as both a tribute and a reckoning — arriving precisely three years after Perry's death and inviting audiences to sit with the full complexity of his life rather than the simplified versions that tend to follow a public figure's passing. Whether the series succeeds in separating Perry from Chandler Bing in the public imagination, while also doing justice to his very public battle with addiction, will be the central question critics and fans are likely to ask when all three parts drop simultaneously on Netflix.
