A new three-part documentary will explore the life of the late Friends actor Matthew Perry, his rise to fame as Chandler Bing and his struggle with addiction.
Titled ‘The One About Matthew Perry’, the documentary will feature never-before-heard accounts from people close to Perry, including his sister Mia Perry Bowick and his lifelong friends.
Perry played Chandler Bing across all 236 episodes of Friends from 1994 to 2004, becoming one of the sitcom’s most recognisable characters through his sarcastic humour and self-deprecating personality.
Away from the show, Perry was open about his battle with addiction, which continued for much of his life. He died in October 2023 at the age of 54 following an accidental overdose.
The documentary will look at both sides of his life, combining memories from people who knew him with previously unreleased photographs and videos from the Perry family’s private archive.
His creative collaborators and friends will also share accounts of Perry and details about his personal struggles.
The series is directed by Emmy winner Mary Robertson and produced by Maxine Productions, a part of Sony Pictures Television.
Robertson, Lisa Kalikow, Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman serve as executive producers, while Lora Moftah is the co-executive producer and Jessica Call is the producer.
“Matthew Perry was one of the comedic geniuses of our time,” Robertson said.
She added that while Perry’s portrayal of Chandler Bing made millions laugh, his openness about addiction also gave people a different connection with him.
Robertson said the documentary aims to show the person behind Perry’s public image, through the people who knew and loved him.
Perry’s sister, a licensed psychotherapist, writer and speaker, will also share personal memories of her brother and his struggles.
She described Perry as having “a beautiful heart and a generous spirit” and said she hopes the series gives viewers a deeper understanding of his life and legacy.
The One About Matthew Perry is set to premiere on October 27.
