Matthew Perry's Struggle and Health Battle Revealed in New Documentary

A new Netflix documentary, "The One About Matthew Perry," sheds light on the late actor Matthew Perry's significant struggles with sobriety and his deteriorating health leading up to the 2021 "Friends" reunion special, his final television appearance.

Friends and family members describe Perry as not being himself during the reunion filming. Kevin Pollak, a friend, noted in the documentary that Perry was "struggling with sobriety" and felt immense pressure at the time.

Perry's sister, Mia Perry Bowick, explained that due to his declining health, Perry had largely withdrawn from public life since 2018. She added that he was particularly nervous about returning to the spotlight for the reunion, wanting to project an image of being "good, everything's fine," though she acknowledged this was only partially true.

Following the reunion, viewers expressed concern on social media regarding Perry's appearance. The documentary further details that Perry's "energy and life force" had been diminished by a near-fatal health crisis in 2018.

A Near-Death Experience

In 2018, Perry's colon ruptured due to opioid overuse, leading to a critical health emergency. He spent two weeks in a coma, five months in the hospital, and required a colostomy bag for nine months. Doctors informed his sister that the sepsis from the ruptured colon had spread throughout his body.

During his hospitalization, Perry required an ECMO machine, a life support system. His sister recounted that his fingertips had turned black, indicating a severe risk of losing them. She described the experience as a "slap in the face" to learn that opioid use was the cause, as opioids significantly slow the digestive system.

"There's so much grief family members and friends have to sit with when their loved ones are struggling with substance abuse," Bowick stated, admitting her initial anger towards him for his self-inflicted health crisis. She recounted his extremely frail condition upon returning home, with an open wound and a colostomy bag, looking significantly older and struggling to walk.

The Reunion and Lingering Doubts

Jeff Strauss, a former writer and producer for "Friends," commented in the documentary that Perry was likely aware of his limitations during the reunion. "I think Matthew… knew he couldn’t get to the place that everybody would want him to be…I think he was really aware of that," Strauss said.

After filming the reunion, Perry reportedly felt relieved but also exhausted. His sister shared his feelings of uncertainty about his future, noting, "He was kind of at this place of ‘How am I gonna keep going?’ I know he was really scared, I know he was really fighting for his life." She added that a part of him "did not think it was possible to live a sober life," leading her to view his addiction as a "terminal illness."

Matthew Perry died on October 28, 2023, at the age of 54. His autopsy report cited the "acute effects of ketamine" and drowning as the causes of death.