‘The One About Matthew Perry’ is an extension of the actor himself

By Amelia Morris

Matthew Perry was most well known for his beloved, charismatic and larger-than-life character of Chandler on the 90’s sitcom “Friends.” Behind the on-screen personality all along was a struggling man who achieved what all actors dream of, success. 

“The One About Matthew Perry” uncovers the inner struggles Matthew faced before, during and after his stardom on “Friends.” Through the words of friends, family and Matthew himself in previously recorded interviews, the audience gains true insight into who this actor was beyond their favorite show every Thursday evening.

The series immediately begins with an excerpt about the casting of “Friends” before delving into Matthew’s life as a young man. Matthew’s sister, Mia Perry, is the focal point for the majority of the documentary, providing insight into every stage of his life.

As Mia details his childhood, it becomes abundantly clear to viewers why Matthew struggled so heavily with addiction later on in life. Matthew always longed for a sense of belonging. He himself even voiced feelings of a gaping hole inside him. His hope was that the hole could be filled with fame.

Matthew struggled like any actor to find jobs at the beginning of his career. Even though his dad was an actor, he needed to break into the industry. None of his projects really went anywhere besides his booking of “Friends” in 1994.

The show was an instant success. Matthew found immense comfort in his character of Chandler because they were extremely alike. Both used humor to cover deeper pains in life and both struggled with addiction.

When Matthew finally experienced stardom, it did not fill the hole inside him like he had expected. The pressure of being famous, mixed with an unfortunately timed car accident, got him hooked on prescription pain killers, not to mention the steady social drinking he was already partaking in.

During the “Friends” runtime, Matthew checked himself into rehab multiple times but continued to relapse. He could not quite shake his addiction. His fellow cast members, his family and of course the audience noticed. Chandler was such a beloved character but it was obvious Matthew was dealing with issues off-screen.

When “Friends” ended, Matthew’s fragile psyche hung in the balance. His friends and family attempted to support him the best they could through this pivot in his life. After significant struggle, Matthew found his way back into TV and movies. He starred in his own personal projects as well as independent films.

Toward the end of his life, Matthew wrote his own play and autobiography. Just shy of a year after his book release, Matthew Perry died in his home of an overdose in 2023. The documentary ends with the beginnings of the criminal investigation into his doctors and assistant who provided him with the medication.

Over the course of three episodes, writers evenly disperse Matthew’s young life and his time on “Friends,” before concluding with his death and succeeding criminal investigation.

The documentary does an excellent job balancing interviews, archival footage and photographs of Matthew’s life. The filmmakers truly paint a picture for the audience to immerse themselves in. Once starting the first episode, audiences are sucked in for the consecutive three hour runtime.

Of course, there is an entire third of this docuseries dedicated to the groundbreaking phenomenon, “Friends.” Commendably, it does so gracefully without throwing it in the audiences’ face. Matthew’s life off screen was just as interesting as his on screen personality in Chandler. There were a plethora of unknown facts included about Matthew in the documentary that provide answers to some of their burning questions.

It truly seemed like Chandler was written for Matthew. The documentary dissects why and how he got the part, what Matthew was like before and after and his journey through addiction. 

Matthew was a charming, charismatic and caring person which is well illustrated through the testimonies and his own quotes in the documentary. Remarkably, Matthew spoke about his struggles while also contributing his own powerful motivational remarks. These excerpts are sprinkled throughout the documentary, adding to the depth of the story.

Additionally, it paints Matthew Perry in a positive light. He was a real person who struggled with addiction despite getting everything he always wanted. The documentary is a great reminder that the exterior does not always match the exterior. Without blatantly saying it, the creators urge viewers to check up on their struggling friends and family. 

Even in his death, Matthew Perry continues to inspire others and make people laugh. “The One About Matthew Perry” brings his memory back to light and reminds the world of the genuine man he was.

“The One About Matthew Perry” is currently streaming on Netflix.

Amelia Morris is a sophomore journalism major and writer for Cedars A&E. She loves her dogs, music, reading and exploring nature.

Photos courtesy of Maxine Productions.