Streaming platform Netflix has released the first trailer for El de Matthew Perry, a new three-part documentary series focusing on the life, career and death of Friends actor Matthew Perry.
The docuseries is scheduled to premier on Netflix on October 27, coinciding with the third anniversary of the actor's death in October 2023 at the age of 54 following a ketamine overdose.
Those who supplied the lethal dose of ketamine to Perry have since been tried and found guilty in court, though his loss continues to weigh heavily on his family, friends and colleagues three years later.
Unheard accounts and private family archives
Directed by Emmy winner Mary Robertson, the upcoming production aims to offer an intimate portrait of the man behind Chandler Bing by drawing on interviews with those who knew him best, ranging from his sister to close friends who stood by him for decades.
Robertson is an acclaimed American documentary filmmaker and producer recognized for her investigative non-fiction programming. In this three-part series, she incorporates previously unheard testimonies alongside unpublished photographs and personal home videos provided directly from the Perry family's private archives.
The documentary spans Perry's life from his early years growing up in Los Angeles and his initial entry into the acting industry through to his rise to global stardom on Friends. It also directly addresses the severe addiction issues that Perry publicly acknowledged throughout much of his adult life.
Perry achieved international fame starring as Chandler Bing on Friends, the hit NBC sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman that ran for ten seasons from 1994 to 2004. Known for his sarcastic wit and comedic timing, Perry was also open about his decades-long battle with alcohol and prescription drug abuse, writing extensively about his health struggles and recovery efforts in his 2022 memoir.
Sister and lifelong friends speak on camera
Among the key figures interviewed for the series is Mia Perry Bowick, the actor's younger sister and a professional psychotherapist, who speaks publicly about her brother on camera for the very first time.
The documentary also features extensive contributions from Roger Castillo and David Pressman, two of Perry's closest personal friends who remained by his side for more than 40 years.
In addition, Warren Littlefield, the former president of NBC Entertainment who famously greenlit the original pilot episode of Friends, provides perspective on Perry's professional breakthrough and casting on the network.
NBC, the National Broadcasting Company, is one of the major commercial broadcast television networks in the United States. During his tenure as head of NBC Entertainment in the 1990s, Littlefield oversaw the development of a legendary prime-time lineup that included Friends, Seinfeld and ER.
Federal prosecutor and industry figures participate
A wide range of colleagues and acquaintances from different periods of Perry's life contribute to the series, including actors Kevin Pollak and Nate Torrence, as well as director Jonathan Lynn.
Lynn is an English film director, writer and actor who directed Perry alongside Bruce Willis in the popular 2000 crime comedy movie The Whole Nine Yards. Pollak is a veteran American actor and comedian known for films such as A Few Good Men and The Usual Suspects, while Torrence is a comedic actor who appeared alongside Perry in television comedy projects.
The project also includes commentary from Tim Harrington, a personal acquaintance whom Perry first met during a recovery meeting, reflecting the actor's ongoing participation in support groups throughout his struggle with substance abuse.
Providing legal context to the tragedy, E. Martin Estrada, the former federal prosecutor for the Central District of California who headed the criminal investigation into Perry's death, also participates in the series.
The United States Attorney for the Central District of California leads the federal law enforcement and prosecutorial office covering Los Angeles and surrounding counties, handling major criminal cases including federal drug trafficking investigations.
Confronting personal struggles and legacy
The newly released trailer demonstrates that Netflix does not intend the project to serve merely as a glowing tribute to the comedic talent who entertained millions as Chandler Bing.
Instead, the filmmakers seek to present a nuanced account of Perry's life that examines his personal contradictions, internal struggles, and long-standing dependency on drugs and prescription medications, told entirely through the perspectives of those who were genuinely close to him.
The three-part docuseries will be available to stream globally on Netflix starting October 27.
