Netflix released“The One About Matthew Perry”on October 28, a three-part documentary timed to the anniversary of his death. The series traces his rise on Friends, his addiction struggles, and the cost of it all, including never-before-seen family footage and interviews with his sister Mia Perry Bowick, his father John Bennett Perry, and former colleagues Warren Littlefield and Jeff Strauss.
Two details from the doc are drawing the most conversation. In 2018, his sister received power of attorney after Perry nearly died from opioid use. And the series puts a number on his sobriety fight: roughly $7 million spent trying to get and stay sober. It’s an unflinching look rather than a glossy tribute.
For fans who want to go deeper, his memoir“Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing”is currently nearly 50% off on Amazon and is the No. 1 best-seller in television comedy books. Watching the doc and reading the book back to back gives you the full picture of a guy who was funny on screen and fighting hard off it. Are you planning to watch the documentary, or is the memoir more your speed?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.