Matthew Perry Documentary Trailer Reveals Struggles with Fame and Sobriety

The upcoming Netflix documentary "The One About Matthew Perry" aims to explore the life and struggles of the late actor, known for his role as Chandler Bing on the beloved sitcom "Friends." A newly released trailer highlights Perry's reflections on fame and his lifelong battle with addiction.

"I said, ‘God, you can do anything you want to me, just please make me famous,'" Perry is heard saying in a voiceover in the trailer, which Netflix released on Tuesday. He added, "I got a phone call [for the role], and I instantly knew my whole life was gonna change. But God did not forget the other part."

Perry expressed that while fame brought about significant life changes, it did not resolve his internal struggles. "This doesn’t do what I thought it was going to do," he admitted, referencing the emptiness and loneliness he experienced despite his success.

Perry died in October 2023 at the age of 54. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled his death was due to the "acute effects of ketamine." The report also cited drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine as contributing factors.

At the time of his death, Perry was undergoing ketamine infusion therapy. His former assistant, Kenneth “Kenny” Iwamasa, was later sentenced to 41 months in prison for his role in the fatal overdose.

The trailer also features interviews with Perry's sister, Mia Perry Bowick, who noted her brother's intense dedication to sobriety. "All great stories have comedy and tragedy in them, and that was certainly Matthew’s story," she said. She further commented that Perry allegedly spent "$7 million" attempting to overcome his addiction, underscoring the seriousness with which he approached his disease.

Perry himself had spoken about the significant financial and personal toll of his addiction. In a 2022 interview with The New York Times, he estimated that he had spent approximately $9 million on his efforts to achieve sobriety. He detailed these struggles extensively in his memoir, "Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing."

In his memoir, Perry recounted a near-fatal experience at age 49 when his colon burst due to opioid overuse. This led to a two-week coma, five months in the hospital, and nine months using a colostomy bag. "The doctors told my family that I had a two percent chance to live," he confessed.

"The One About Matthew Perry" is a three-part documentary that includes interviews with Perry's friends, former girlfriends, and colleagues, offering a comprehensive look at his life and career.