Netflix to release a documentary series about the life of Matthew Perry

The streaming service Netflix has announced a documentary series about Matthew Perry, the star of the cult sitcom Friends. The project will tell not only about the actor's career, but also about his struggle with addiction, his personal life and the legacy he left behind. What is known about the new series, how the actor was remembered and under what circumstances he died, is in the Izvestia article.

What is known about the documentary series

The documentary series was named The One About Matthew Perry, a reference to the brand names of the episodes of the series "Friends", each of which began with the words The One.... The premiere of the three—part project will take place on October 27, 2026, the day before the third anniversary of the actor's death.

According to Netflix, the series will tell the story of Perry from the very beginning of his career — from his first appearances as a comedian and his young years in Hollywood to worldwide fame thanks to the role of Chandler Bing. However, the central theme will be not only the success of the actor, but also the man behind the image of one of the most popular television characters of the 1990s and 2000s.

The project is based on interviews with people who have been with the actor throughout his life. Among them are Mia Perry Bowick's younger sister, close friends and colleagues. The audience will also be shown unpublished photos and home videos from the family archive. The three-part project was directed by Emmy Award winner Mary Robertson, who previously worked on high-profile documentaries about television and famous personalities.

Who is Matthew Perry?

Matthew Perry was born on August 19, 1969 in Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA. After his parents divorced, he grew up in Canada with his mother. As a child, Perry was seriously interested in lawn tennis and was one of the best Canadian junior tennis players, ranking high in the national rankings. As a teenager, he moved to Los Angeles with his father and decided to join the acting profession.

Before world fame, Perry managed to star in a number of television series and comedy projects, but the real breakthrough for him was 1994. It was then that the sitcom "Friends" started, in which the actor got the role of Chandler Bing, a sarcastic office worker with a brilliant sense of humor and a constant habit of hiding emotions behind jokes. The image turned out to be so recognizable that it made Perry a global star almost instantly.

Over the course of 10 seasons of Friends, which included 236 episodes, Perry has become one of the most famous television actors of his generation. His trademark manner of delivering lines and comedic talent largely determined the success of the series. After completing the project, the actor continued his career, starring in the films "Nine Yards", "Almost heroes", "Dad is 17 again", "The Story of Ron Clark", the TV series "Studio 60 on Sunset Strip", "The Odd Couple", "Get started!" and a number of theatrical productions.

Perry devoted the last years of his life not only to acting. In 2022, he released his autobiography, Friends, Lovers, and a Big Terrible Thing, in which he spoke in detail for the first time about his long-term struggle with alcohol and drug addiction, dozens of rehabilitation courses, and his desire to help people in a similar situation. The book became an international bestseller and was highly appreciated for the author's frankness. This part of life will also be one of the central themes of the new Netflix documentary series.

Last years of life, death and investigation

For decades, Perry has been openly talking about addiction, which has accompanied him for almost his entire adult life. He underwent multiple treatments, underwent several surgeries related to the effects of using illegal substances, and did not hide the fact that the fight against the disease remained a part of his daily life. Despite numerous difficulties, the actor continued to act, perform and participate in charity initiatives related to the rehabilitation of addicts.

Almost three years ago, on October 28, 2023, Perry was found dead in the Jacuzzi of his Los Angeles home. He was 54 years old. According to the conclusion of the forensic medical examination, the cause of death was the acute effects of ketamine exposure, as well as concomitant factors, including drowning, coronary heart disease and the effects of the drug buprenorphine. After the tragedy, American law enforcement agencies launched a large-scale investigation into the circumstances under which the actor received illegal drugs.

Perry's story has received a wide public response. The investigation established a chain of people involved in the illegal distribution of ketamine. During the investigation, on December 4, 2025, the court sentenced actor Salvador Placencia's doctor to 2.5 years in prison after admitting supplying Perry with ketamine before his death. Later, on April 8 of this year, drug dealer Jaswyn Sangha, known as the "Ketamine Queen," was convicted in the case of the actor's death. She was sentenced to 15 years in prison. And on May 28, former assistant actor Kenneth Iwamasa was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison. The creators of the new series emphasize that they want to end Perry's story not with a story about his death, but with a story about his legacy.

On August 28, Medialogia presented the Russian series rating for July of this year. The leader among the 30 projects was the Russian novelty "The Story of his Handmaid", which scored 2,325 points. The second place was taken by the American TV series "House of the Dragon" (1824 points), and the third place was taken by the Russian project "Cold" (1580 points). The top five also included "Boys" (1546 points) and anime "Magic Battle" (1352 points).