A new documentary exploring the life and final days of Matthew Perry provides a raw and often harrowing look at the addiction that ultimately claimed the life of the beloved “Friends” star. Titled “The One About Matthew Perry,” the three-episode docuseries directed by Mary Robertson tracks Perry’s ascent to global stardom alongside his lifelong battle with drugs and alcohol, culminating in his ketamine-related death in October 2023 at the age of 54.
While Perry was candid about his struggles in his 2022 memoir, the documentary introduces new perspectives from those closest to him, most notably his half-sister, Mia Perry Bowick. A licensed psychotherapist, Bowick served as Perry’s health care proxy during his final years, a role that forced her to make critical decisions during his most dire health crises. Her testimony in the series sheds light on the immense physical and psychological toll Perry endured, particularly during the high-profile “Friends: The Reunion” in 2021.
At the time of the reunion’s release on HBO Max, fans frequently expressed concern on social media regarding Perry’s appearance and speech. Bowick confirms those suspicions, revealing that her brother was in a state of deep personal exhaustion. After filming concluded, Bowick recalled that Perry felt relieved but was fundamentally “fighting for his life.” She noted that he was scared and, at various points, did not believe a sober life was truly possible for him. This struggle occurred only three years after a catastrophic 2018 opioid overdose that left Perry in a coma for two weeks and hospitalized for five months.
Kevin Pollak, Perry’s longtime friend and co-star in “The Whole Nine Yards,” echoed these sentiments in the documentary. He observed that Perry was visibly struggling during the reunion, describing it as a difficult watch because the actor simply was not himself after being away from the camera for an extended period.
Despite the recurring shadows of addiction, the documentary highlights a period of genuine joy in Perry’s final months. Bowick described him as the happiest the family had ever seen him following the massive success of his book, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.” His friend David Pressman recalled Perry’s pride in the memoir’s chart-topping status, noting that the actor frequently brought up its success with a dry sense of humor. Bowick finds solace in the fact that Perry claimed to be at peace during the press tour in early 2023.
The series also quantifies the staggering financial cost of Perry’s pursuit of sobriety. Bowick states that Perry spent approximately $7 million over his lifetime on recovery efforts, including 15 different stints in rehabilitation clinics. Perry himself had previously estimated that the true figure was closer to $9 million. One such stay in 2001 famously forced a temporary halt to the production of the eighth season of “Friends.”
The documentary eventually turns to the tragic circumstances surrounding Perry’s death. While he initially found ketamine treatments in a clinical setting to be a “miracle cure”—even describing spiritual experiences where he felt he saw God—the treatment eventually spiraled into unmonitored abuse. Perry’s sister expressed a deep sense of betrayal regarding his long-time live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who administered unmonitored injections to Perry at home. Iwamasa was sentenced to three years and five months in prison earlier this year in connection with the actor’s death.
The series concludes with a moving account of Perry’s private funeral in late 2023. Bowick recalled her surprise and emotion when all five of Perry’s “Friends” co-stars arrived to pay their respects. Jennifer Aniston was the first to offer Bowick a hug, before all five actors walked together to the casket, holding hands in a final, tearful tribute to their colleague.
