Netflix has released a major three-part documentary titled The One About Matthew Perry, directed by Emmy winner Mary Robertson and streaming as of October 27, 2026, according to Netflix Tudum. The series provides an intimate look at the late actor’s life, tracing his rise to global fame on Friends, his decades-long battle with addiction, and the circumstances surrounding his tragic death at age 54 from acute ketamine effects. Rather than adopting a true-crime approach, the project centers on honoring the man behind Chandler Bing through rare audio recordings of Perry himself and emotional on-camera contributions from his sister, Mia Perry Bowick, and close friends.
Rare Audio and Family Testimonies
The documentary relies heavily on archival audio of Perry and the firsthand accounts of those closest to him. Mia Perry Bowick speaks on camera for the first time, noting that working on the project helped her learn how to hold gratitude and grief simultaneously. Director Mary Robertson stated in coverage published by Netflix Tudum that Bowick’s voice gives universal resonance to experiences that provide insight and comfort to viewers. Notably, Perry’s main Friends co-stars chose not to participate in the project, leaving the narrative to be carried by family, long-time recovery friends, and colleagues. Page Six reported that Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer opted out because revisiting the loss publicly would be too difficult.
Origins of Addiction and On-Set Struggles
The series explores the roots of Perry’s dependence on painkillers, tracing it back to an on-set injury during the 1997 filming of Fools Rush In. Producer Doug Draizin recalls in the documentary that Perry injured himself on a Jet Ski during a lunch break at Lake Mead, after which a doctor prescribed pills that triggered his initial experience of intense euphoria. The documentary also reveals that Chandler and Monica’s Season 7 wedding on Friends was filmed while Perry was moving in and out of rehabilitation facilities, with family members privately questioning whether he would complete the taping. As detailed in coverage by DNYUZ, Perry spent millions of dollars on treatment across his lifetime, navigating intense withdrawals while trying to maintain his career.
Recovery Advocacy and Severe Health Crises
Beyond his struggles, the documentary highlights Perry’s dedication to helping others in recovery, opening his home to individuals on the verge of relapse. It details his near-fatal 2018 medical crisis, when a ruptured colon and sepsis left him in a coma on an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine with a two percent survival rate. Bowick served as his power of attorney during the ordeal, navigating intense pressure while managing her own recovery from childbirth just weeks prior. The project also explores small daily rituals in his recovery journey, such as attending morning meetings at the Log Cabin in West Hollywood where participants played songs like Train’s "Drops of Jupiter."
Production Context and Legacy
The release of the three-part series marks nearly three years since Perry’s October 2023 death, addressing the legal fallout and the sentencing of individuals involved in supplying the ketamine without shifting the primary focus away from Perry’s human story and advocacy work. Former US Attorney E. Martin Estrada appears in the documentary to discuss the federal investigation into the underground network that supplied the drugs. The legal proceedings culminated in prison sentences for figures including assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, doctors Salvador Plasencia and Mark Chavez, intermediary Erik Fleming, and Jasveen Sangha, bringing a measure of closure to family members who attended the courtroom hearings.