Matthew Perry’s sister says “Friends” star ‘spent $7 million trying to get sober’ in docuseries trailer

Shania RussellTue, September 29, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTC

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Matthew Perry and Mia Perry Bowick in ‘The One About Matthew Perry’Credit: NETFLIXKey Points -

Mia Perry Bowick speaks out about her brother Matthew Perry in a new docuseries about his life and legacy.

“All great stories have comedy and tragedy in them, and that certainly was Matthew’s story,” Bowick says.

The doc directed by Quiet on Set’s Mary Robertson will hit Netflix on Oct. 27, three years after Perry’s death.

The One About Matthew Perry isn’t shying away from the darker parts of the Friends star’s life.

In the first trailer for the three-part documentary series, Perry’s sister Mia Perry Bowick hints that the saga will explore both the highs and lows of her brother’s life, three years after his sudden death at 54 rocked Hollywood.

“All great stories have comedy and tragedy in them, and that certainly was Matthew’s story,” Bowick says in an on-camera interview.

To her point, the trailer opens on comedic footage from throughout Perry’s career, including several snippets of his performance as Chandler Bing on Friends. Then, in a talk show clip, Perry offers a glimpse into his initial desire to make it big in Hollywood.

Matthew Perry in ‘The One About Matthew Perry’Credit: NETFLIX

“I said, ‘God, you can do anything you want to me. Just please make me famous,’” the actor recounts, before sharing that he later, “got a phone call and instantly knew my whole life was gonna change.”

Perry then alluded to his lifelong struggle with addiction, adding, “But God did not forget the other part.”

Elsewhere in the trailer, Bowick addresses her brother’s substance abuse struggles while also acknowledging his determination to get sober and help others do the same.

“My brother would talk about that feeling of emptiness or loneliness that he couldn’t quite fill,” Bowick said. “He spent $7 million trying to get sober. That’s how seriously he took his disease.”

Mia Perry Bowick in ‘The One About Matthew Perry’Credit: NETFLIX

She later added that acting helped him along in the battle, noting, “When he made people laugh, it made him feel good.”

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Directed by Emmy Award winner Mary Robertson (Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, JUNE), the Netflix docuseries calls upon Perry’s family and closest friends to offer a full portrait of the charismatic comedian whose life ended in tragedy. The logline promises a “raw record of a life lived in full, and the honesty that became his greatest legacy.”

Bowick previously addressed her participation in the doc, noting that it took time before she felt “ready to share these memories and what it was like to love Matthew through all the complexity of his life.”

She continued, “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. Matthew had a beautiful heart and a generous spirit, and even in his darkest moments, he could still make you laugh and feel loved. I hope this series gives everyone who loved him, whether personally or from afar, a deeper appreciation for who he truly was, and the legacy he leaves behind.”

Matthew Perry in ‘The One About Matthew Perry’Credit: NETFLIX

Perry was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his house and pronounced dead at the scene in 2023. He was 54.

An autopsy report later revealed that the actor’s death resulted from the acute effects of ketamine, with contributing factors including drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine, a prescription medication used to treat opioid use disorder. Five defendants—including two doctors, a supplier, a drug counselor, and Perry’s personal assistant— were charged in federal court in connection with his overdose and have pleaded guilty and received their sentences.

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Perry’s death was met with an outpouring of love from friends, fans, and family, who have continued to celebrate the actor’s lasting legacy and his work as an outspoken advocate for addiction recovery.

The One About Matthew Perry will debut on Netflix on Oct. 27. Watch the full trailer above.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

on Entertainment Weekly

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