For millions of viewers, Matthew Perry will always be Chandler Bing, the quick-witted friend whose sarcasm and impeccable comic timing made ‘FRIENDS’ a television favorite. But the actor’s life extended far beyond the sitcom, with years of personal struggles that he spoke about openly, including his battle with addiction.
Netflix is now set to revisit that more complicated story with ‘The One About Matthew Perry’, a three-part documentary directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker Mary Robertson. Scheduled to premiere on October 27, 2026, the series aims to offer a more intimate look at the actor through the memories of people who knew him best, alongside personal photographs and videos that have never been publicly released.
What will the Netflix documentary explore?
Rather than focusing solely on Perry’s rise to fame, the documentary will look at the person behind one of television’s most recognizable characters. According to Netflix, the series will follow his journey from an aspiring comedy performer to a global star, while examining the personal challenges that shaped his life.
The documentary will bring together recollections from Perry’s family, close ‘FRIENDS’, colleagues and people who were part of his life during his years in Hollywood. His career achievements and his efforts to speak publicly about addiction will form part of a broader portrait of the actor.
Robertson said the project was driven by a desire to tell a story that audiences had not fully seen before. The filmmaker explained that the series would allow people who knew and loved Perry to share their experiences, offering a fuller understanding of the person behind his public image.
The documentary is produced by Maxine Productions, part of Sony Pictures Television. Robertson, Lisa Kalikow, Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman serve as executive producers, with Lora Moftah as co-executive producer and Jessica Call as producer.
Matthew Perry’s sister to share her story for the first time
One of the most personal aspects of the documentary will be the participation of Perry’s younger sister, Mia Perry Bowick. A licensed psychotherapist, writer and speaker, she will speak about her brother on camera for the first time.
Her contribution is expected to offer a perspective that audiences rarely get to see: Matthew Perry as a family member, beyond the fame, the sitcom character and the headlines surrounding his addiction.
Bowick said it had taken her time to feel ready to revisit those memories publicly. She also spoke about wanting people to recognize the different sides of her brother rather than defining him solely through his role as Chandler Bing or his struggles with substance use.
She described Perry as someone with a generous nature and a kind heart, adding that he could make people laugh and feel loved even during his most difficult periods.
The series will also feature material from the family’s private collection, including photographs and videos that have not previously been made public. These personal records are expected to add another dimension to the story, capturing moments away from the spotlight.
‘FRIENDS’ who knew Matthew Perry before fame
The documentary will feature people who knew Perry long before ‘FRIENDS’ turned him into an international star.
Among them are Roger Castillo and David Pressman, two ‘FRIENDS’ who had known the actor for more than four decades. Both will share their memories on camera for the first time. Castillo met Perry when he was 17 and later drove him to his audition for ‘FRIENDS’, offering a glimpse into the period before the actor landed the role that would define his career.
Pressman was part of Perry’s circle of aspiring actors in Los Angeles. Their recollections are expected to shed light on his early ambitions and the relationships he built before becoming a household name.
The documentary also features Warren Littlefield, the former NBC Entertainment president who approved the ‘FRIENDS’ pilot, and Jeff Strauss, a writer and producer on the sitcom’s first season who helped develop Chandler’s character.
Together, their accounts will connect Perry’s personal journey with the professional decisions and creative collaborations that helped shape his career.
Kevin Pollak and other industry figures remember the actor
Several people who worked with Perry across film and television will also contribute to the documentary.
Actor Kevin Pollak, who shared the screen with Perry in ‘The Whole Nine Yards’, ‘The Whole Ten Yards’ and ‘Numb’, is among the interviewees. Director Jonathan Lynn, who worked with Perry on ‘The Whole Nine Yards’, and producer Doug Draizin, associated with ‘Fools Rush In’, will also appear.
The series will revisit other stages of Perry’s career through the experiences of Nate Torrence, who worked with him on Studio 60 on the ‘Sunset Strip’ and ‘Mr. Sunshine’.
Beyond Hollywood, the documentary will include voices connected to Perry’s recovery journey. Recovery advocate West Huddleston and Tim Harrington, whom Perry met at a recovery meeting in 2001, are among those featured.
Former US attorney E Martin Estrada, who led the prosecution in the criminal case connected to Perry’s death, is also listed among the participants.
The range of contributors suggests that the documentary will approach Perry’s life from several angles, bringing together his work, relationships and struggles rather than presenting his story through a single lens.
When will ‘The One About Matthew Perry’ release on Netflix?
‘The One About Matthew Perry’ is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on October 27, 2026. Its release comes shortly before the third anniversary of the actor’s death on October 28, 2023.
Perry’s portrayal of Chandler Bing remains central to his legacy, but his life was much more complex than the character audiences came to love. Through family memories, accounts from longtime ‘FRIENDS’ and previously unseen personal material, the documentary aims to present a fuller picture of the actor behind the laughter.
For viewers who grew up watching ‘FRIENDS’, the series offers an opportunity to revisit Perry’s life through the people who knew him away from the cameras, remembering not just the comedian who entertained millions, but also the person behind the fame.