New Matthew Perry Netflix documentary tackles late actor's struggle with addiction
Netflix just released the trailer for The One About Matthew Perry, a documentary on the late Friends actor's life.
Described by the streaming giant as "an intimate documentary series exploring the life and legacy" of Matthew Perry, the three-part series tackles how the beloved actor's fame took a toll on him.
"I said, 'God, you can do anything you want to me, just please make me famous," Perry's voiceover can be heard alongside clips of scenes from Friends. When he did become famous, though, Perry continued, "God did not forget the other part."
The documentary, which premieres globally on Netflix on Oct. 27, is directed by Mary Robertson and includes interviews with Perry's sister Mia Perry Bowick, friends David Pressman and Roger Castillo, and former NBC president Warren Littlefield.
"All great stories have comedy and tragedy in them. And that was certainly Matthew's story," Bowick said. "My brother would talk about that feeling of emptiness or loneliness that he couldn't quite fill."
Along with clips of Perry's work, the documentary also features never-before seen photos and videos from the Perry family, giving a glimpse of who the 17 Again actor was away from the cameras.
"As Matthew's buddy for 40 years, he would definitely want everyone to talk about how great he was," said Pressman.
Perry did not hide his battle with addiction. In 2022, he wrote a memoir entitled Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. The book is a raw account of his life where he talks extensively about his hard battle with alcohol and drug addiction; i.e., the big, terrible thing.
Perry apparently spent $7 million (about P439.5 billion) trying to get sober.
In an earlier interview, the actor said, "I had people telling me to stop, saying, 'You're gonna kill yourself if you keep going like this.' And I just didn't know how."
He passed away at 54 on Oct. 29, 2023 from an accidental ketamine overdose. Authorities found him unconscious in a swimming pool at his house in Los Angeles.
Jasveen Sangha, a British-American dealer dubbed the "Ketamine Queen," along with two doctors and Perry's assistant Kenneth Iwamasa are prison for playing a role in his death.
Take a look at the trailer for The One About Matthew Perry:
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