Netflix is preparing to release a new three-part documentary that aims to reintroduce audiences to Matthew Perry, not as Chandler Bing, but as the complex, deeply human figure behind one of television’s most enduring characters. Titled 'The One About Matthew Perry', the series marks the first time those closest to the late actor have come together to tell his story in full.
The documentary follows the arc of Perry's life from early comedic promise to the pressures of international fame. His performance as Chandler Bing, delivered across 236 'Friends' episodes between 1994 and 2004, helped define the tone of the sitcom and cemented him as a cultural touchstone. Yet the creative team behind the project makes clear that the version of Perry seen on screen was only one part of a much larger, more complicated life.
Perry’s sister, Mia Perry Bowick, contributes extensive personal testimony, drawing on her background as a psychotherapist to reflect on her brother’s experiences with honesty and care. She is joined by lifelong friends and collaborators whose memories add texture to the portrait. Their accounts are paired with previously unseen photos and home videos from the Perry family archive, offering a view of the actor that sits far beyond his public persona. His struggles, including the addiction he spoke about openly, are woven into the narrative as an essential part of his story.
Bowick said the decision to participate came only after years of reflection. She explained that she wanted viewers to understand the full person she knew, someone defined by the depth of his relationships and the complexity of his life. Director Mary Robertson, an Emmy winner, described the project as an attempt to move past the icon and reach the individual. She said the goal was to let those who loved Perry reveal the man behind the fame.
You can watch 'The One About Matthew Perry' on October 27.
