“The One About Matthew Perry,” a three-part docuseries about the “Friends” star’s life and career, will debut on Netflix on October 27.
Perry’s sister, Mia Perry Bowick, is the key voice in the series, which also features unreleased photos and videos from the Perry family archive. According to a description from Netflix, the series “traces his journey from rising comedic star to the man the world still loves as their favorite Friend” while also exploring “candid new details on his private struggles, honoring the legacy of honesty and advocacy he leaves behind.”
It is not yet known whether any of the “Friends” cast will appear in the docuseries, though Netflix notes that the project includes some of Perry’s “lifelong best friends” and “creative collaborators.”
Mary Robertson, best known for directing “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” and producing “Framing Britney Spears,” serves as director of “The One About Matthew Perry,” and executive produces the series via her Maxine Productions banner at Sony Pictures Television. Executive producers also include Lisa Kalikow, Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman, with Lora Moftah as co-executive producer and Jessica Call as producer.
“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. “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.”
“Matthew Perry was one of the comedic geniuses of our time,” said Robertson. “Through his many films, TV and stage performances, and his unforgettable portrayal of Chandler Bing, he made millions of us laugh, connect and feel a little less alone. 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.”
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