Matthew Perry's Sister Calls Addiction a 'Terminal Illness' in New Docuseries

Matthew Perry's sister, Mia Perry Bowick, has described her brother's addiction as a "terminal illness" in an upcoming three-part docuseries on his life. The series, titled "The One About Matthew Perry," is set to stream on Netflix next Tuesday.

Bowick was among several loved ones interviewed for the project. In reflections shared ahead of its release, she speaks candidly about Perry's decades-long battle with drugs and alcohol, which ultimately led to his death in 2023 at the age of 54. His autopsy cited the "acute effects of ketamine" as the cause of death.

"We all knew how serious his disorder was, so there was this sense of, 'Who knows what's going to happen?'" Bowick told People. She also reflected on the "Friends" wedding episode where Perry's character, Chandler Bing, married Monica Geller, stating, "Watching that wedding, we all knew he wanted that in life. He wanted a partner, he wanted kids."

Bowick revealed that Perry's drug use had intensified during the filming of seasons five through seven of the NBC sitcom. Perry himself wrote in his 2022 memoir, "Friends, Lovers And The Big Terrible Thing," that he immediately returned to rehab after shooting the iconic wedding scene. "I married Monica and got driven back to the treatment center - at the height of my highest point in Friends," he recalled, describing it as the "highest point in my career, the iconic moment on the iconic show - in a pickup truck helmed by a sober technician."

In his memoir, Perry also detailed the extreme measures he took to manage his addiction while on "Friends." He admitted to faking injuries and illnesses to obtain numerous prescriptions, stating, "I would wake up and have to get 55 Vicodin that day, and figure out how to do it." He explained that for him, addiction was about "math" – calculating how many pills to take at different locations to avoid withdrawal symptoms, describing the process as "exhausting."

Perry passed away on October 28, 2023. Five individuals have since been convicted in connection with his overdose, including his drug counselor, alleged dealer Jasveen Sangha (dubbed the "Ketamine Queen"), and two doctors. Perry's former assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who reportedly injected the actor with ketamine on the day of his death, was sentenced to over three years in prison for conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death.

The docuseries aims to offer a comprehensive look at Perry's life, beyond his beloved role as Chandler Bing and his public struggles with addiction. "As his sister, he shaped who I am today, the person I strive to be and the work to which I've devoted my life," Bowick said in a statement. "Matthew had a beautiful heart and a generous spirit, and even in his darkest moments, he could still make you laugh and feel loved."

Perry's "Friends" castmates Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer were reportedly invited to participate in the docuseries but ultimately decided not to. A source told Page Six that the series intended to give a voice to other friends and colleagues who had memories of Perry. Another insider suggested that Aniston, in particular, did not wish to relive those experiences publicly.

Perry's family revealed in a trailer for the series that he had spent approximately $7 million attempting to achieve sobriety. His sister hopes the series will provide a deeper appreciation for the person he truly was and the legacy he left behind.