Netflix has set a new three-part documentary about Friends star Matthew Perry, directed and executive produced by Mary Robertson (Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV) and produced by her Maxine Productions, a part of Sony Pictures Television. The One About Matthew Perry will premiere on October 27.
The documentary is told through intimate testimonies from close family and friends, including Perry’s sister Mia Perry Bowick. The One About Matthew Perry reveals the real Matthew Perry—generous, funny, vulnerable, larger than life—and the battles he fought to become the man behind the icon. A raw record of a life lived in full, and the honesty that became his greatest legacy, according to the logline.
Perry died on October 28, 2003, in Los Angeles at 54 years old. It was revealed in December of that year that the TV and film actor died from “acute effects of ketamine” according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office. The autopsy report also cited drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine — a drug used to treat opioid use disorder — as contributing to his death. The manner of death was ruled an accident.
Perry was a beloved actor who was best known for playing Chandler Bing in the NBC series Friends as part of the core 6 leading cast, which also included Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc and Lisa Kudrow. He was also known for working alongside Selma Hayek in the 1997 romantic comedy Fools Rush In, as well as his work on The Whole Nine Yards, Almost Heroes and Three to Tango.
“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,” shared Perry Bowick.
She continued, “As his sister, he shaped who I am today, the person I strive to be, and the work to which I’ve devoted my life. Matthew had a beautiful heart and a generous spirit, and even in his darkest moments, he could still make you 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.”
In addition to Robertson, the executive producers also include Lisa Kalikow, Eli Holzman, and Aaron Saidman. Lora Moftah serves as co-executive producer. Jessica Call produces The One About Matthew Perry.
