Netflix has announced The One About Matthew Perry, a new three-part documentary series offering an intimate look at the life, career, struggles and lasting legacy of the actor best known around the world as Chandler Bing on Friends.
Directed by Emmy® Award winner Mary Robertson, the documentary series will explore the man behind the iconic character through personal stories from family members, lifelong friends and creative collaborators. The One About Matthew Perry premieres October 27, exclusively on Netflix.
The One About Matthew Perry
- Starring: Matthew Perry
- Genre: Documentary
A Personal Look at Matthew Perry
While Matthew Perry became one of television’s most recognizable comedic performers, his life away from the spotlight was considerably more complicated. The One About Matthew Perry aims to look beyond the celebrity and examine the person his family and friends knew.
The three-part series is built around never-before-heard testimonies from Perry’s sister, Mia Perry Bowick, and his lifelong friends, alongside previously unreleased photographs and videos from the Perry family’s private archive.
These personal materials are intended to provide a more intimate perspective on Perry’s life, from his early ambitions and rise as a performer to the tremendous success of Friends and the personal challenges he experienced throughout his life.
From Rising Comedian to Global Star
Matthew Perry’s career stretched far beyond Friends. However, his portrayal of Chandler Bing ultimately became one of the defining television performances of the 1990s and 2000s.
The documentary follows his journey from a young performer pursuing comedy to becoming an international star whose work connected with millions of viewers.
Rather than focusing exclusively on his fame, the series looks at the different sides of Perry’s personality — including his generosity, humor, vulnerability and determination.
Exploring His Personal Struggles
An important part of The One About Matthew Perry is Perry’s openness about addiction and recovery.
Throughout his later life, Perry became an outspoken advocate for addiction recovery and used his own experiences to encourage others struggling with substance abuse.
The documentary will revisit that part of his story through the people who knew him personally, while examining how his experiences shaped his perspective and ultimately became an important part of the legacy he left behind.
Never-Before-Seen Family Material
One of the documentary’s most compelling elements is its access to the Perry family’s private archive.
Unreleased photographs and videos are expected to offer audiences a glimpse at Matthew Perry outside of his public persona, providing a more personal portrait of the actor, comedian, brother and friend.
Combined with firsthand interviews, the material creates a portrait intended to show Perry as a complete person rather than simply the beloved television character who made him famous.
What Is The One About Matthew Perry About?
According to Netflix, the documentary is designed to reveal the real Matthew Perry through the memories of those closest to him.
The series examines his extraordinary career, his relationships with family and friends, his struggles with addiction and his efforts to use his experiences to help others.
At its heart, The One About Matthew Perry is about separating the man from the character and remembering the person behind one of television’s most famous sitcom performances.
Director’s Perspective
Director Mary Robertson described Perry as one of the great comedic talents of his generation, noting that his work across television, film and stage allowed him to connect with audiences around the world.
Robertson also emphasized that, although audiences knew Perry through Chandler Bing and through his public discussions about addiction, there were many parts of his story that remained unknown.
The documentary is therefore intended to allow the people who loved and knew Perry to tell that story themselves.
A Sister’s Perspective
Perry’s sister Mia Perry Bowick is also among those providing firsthand testimony.
Her contribution promises to give the documentary an especially personal dimension, focusing on Matthew as a brother and family member rather than simply as a famous actor.
She describes the process of revisiting her memories as a way of allowing audiences to see Matthew as a whole person — someone remembered for his humor, generosity and ability to make people feel loved, while acknowledging the complexity of his life.
Documentary Series Details
Title: The One About Matthew Perry
Episodes: 3
Premiere Date: October 27, 2026
Streaming: Netflix
Director: Mary Robertson
Production Company: Maxine Productions, a part of Sony Pictures Television
Executive Producers
- Mary Robertson
- Lisa Kalikow
- Eli Holzman
- Aaron Saidman
Co-Executive Producer: Lora Moftah
Producer: Jessica Call
Remembering the Man Behind Chandler Bing
For millions of viewers, Matthew Perry will forever be associated with Chandler Bing, one of television’s most beloved sitcom characters. Yet his life extended far beyond the Central Perk couch.
The One About Matthew Perry promises to explore that wider story through the people who knew him best, offering a more intimate look at his successes, personal battles, relationships and commitment to helping others.
The three-part documentary series arrives as an opportunity for fans to remember not only the actor who made them laugh, but the person behind the character and the legacy he hoped to leave behind.
The One About Matthew Perry premieres October 27, 2026, exclusively on Netflix.
