Matthew Perry spoke about a “feeling of emptiness or loneliness that he couldn’t quite fill”, said his sister.
The Friends star was found “unresponsive in the pool at his residence” on 28 October in 2023, and pronounced dead at the age of 54. It was later revealed that he died of the “acute effects of ketamine”.
The actor, who rose to stardom playing Chandler Bing in the hit sitcom, is the subject of a new Netflix documentary, which will tackle his struggle with addiction.
Speaking in a trailer for the three-part series, his sister Mia Perry Bowick detailed the lengths that her brother went to to stay sober.
“All great stories have comedy and tragedy in them, and that certainly was Matthew’s story,” she said. “My brother would talk about that feeling of emptiness or loneliness that he couldn’t quite fill.”
“He spent $7m trying to get sober,” she continued. “That’s how seriously he took his disease.”
According to Perry, who wrote about the financial cost of trying to get sober in his 2022 memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, the figure was even higher than that.
Over the course of his three-decades-long journey towards sobriety, the actor wrote that he spent over $7m (£5.7m) on 15 rehab stints. He went on to clarify that figure in a later interview, stating that it was likely closer to $9m (£7.4m).
Asked why she chose to participate in a documentary, his sister explained: “It's taken time for me to feel ready to share these memories and what it was like to love Matthew through all the complexity of his life—to see him as a whole person, not just as Chandler, and not just as someone who struggled 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. Matthew had a beautiful heart and a generous spirit, and even in his darkest moments, he could still make you laugh and feel loved.”
She added: “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.”
The Netflix documentary will also feature interviews with Perry’s friends David Pressman, Roger Castillo, NBC President Warren Littlefiend, and Friends writer Jeff Straus.
The One About Matthew Perry explores “the full scope of who Matthew was: the comedic genius, the man who grappled with addiction, the advocate in the addiction and recovery space”.
Director Mary Robertson issued a statement alongside the trailer praising Perry’s “comedic genius” and “bravery” in speaking about addiction. In his lifetime, Perry also set up a sober living facility for men with similar issues.
“Yet the public only knew part of his story,” she said. “That’s why we set out to make this film: to let the people who knew and loved Matthew reveal the person behind the public figure.”
The One About Matthew Perry will be released on Netflix on 27 October.
If you or someone you know is suffering from drug addiction, you can seek confidential help and support 24-7 from Frank, by calling 0300 123 6600, texting 82111, sending an email or visiting their website here.
In the US, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration can be reached at 1-800-662-HELP.
