Late Hollywood actor Matthew Perry spent approximately $7 million trying to overcome addiction, his sister Mia Perry Bowick revealed in the official trailer for Netflix's upcoming three-part documentary, The One About Matthew Perry. The streaming platform released the trailer on Wednesday, offering a glimpse into the personal struggles of the actor, best known for playing Chandler Bing in the popular television sitcom Friends.
Directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker Mary Robertson, the documentary explores Perry's life, career and long battle with substance abuse through interviews with people who knew him personally. The series features accounts from his family members, close friends and former girlfriends, offering insights into his experiences beyond his celebrated television career.
Family and friends recall Perry's struggles
In the trailer, Bowick discusses the enormous financial and personal toll of Perry's efforts to achieve sobriety, revealing that he spent $7 million seeking treatment and recovery. The documentary examines the actor's repeated attempts to overcome addiction while navigating international fame and the pressures associated with his successful acting career.
Several of Perry's friends and former romantic partners also appear in the series, sharing their memories of the actor and reflecting on his personal struggles. However, none of his five principal Friends co-stars — Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer — are among the documentary's participants.
Documentary revisits actor's life and legacy
Perry became a household name through his portrayal of Chandler Bing on Friends, which aired for 10 seasons between 1994 and 2004. Despite his professional success, he publicly acknowledged his struggles with alcohol and prescription drug addiction, discussing his experiences extensively in his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.
The actor died in October 2023 at the age of 54. The documentary revisits his personal journey through the recollections of those closest to him, highlighting both his achievements and his efforts to overcome addiction.