Matthew Perry Memoir Reveals the Real Man Behind Chandler Bing

One year after Matthew Perry’s passing, admirers are being offered an intimate look at his life and the impact he left behind.

On Oct. 28 — the anniversary of his death — Netflix premiered a documentary focused on the “Friends” actor titled “The One About Matthew Perry.” The three-part mini-series tracks his breakout role on the NBC comedy, his battle with addiction, and the circumstances surrounding his death last fall.

The episodes include previously unseen family footage and conversations with his sister Mia Perry Bowick, his father John Bennett Perry, and friends and former associates such as Warren Littlefield and Jeff Strauss.

A major revelation in the series is that in 2018, after Perry fell into a coma from opioid use and nearly died, his sister was given power of attorney—only weeks after she had given birth in the same hospital where he was being treated.

The doc also shows Perry’s determination to get healthy: he reportedly spent roughly $7 million on efforts to become sober.

If you’re looking for more of Perry’s own perspective after watching the documentary, there’s material straight from him. Prior to his death, in June 2024, he wrote a memoir that explores his fractured family, early ambitions for fame, and his reasons for seeking sobriety. In the book he opens up about his recovery struggles and offers guidance to others facing similar battles.

The Memoir: “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing”

To mark the first anniversary of Perry’s death, his book, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir,” is currently discounted by nearly half on Amazon. It’s sitting at No. 1 on the television comedy books best-seller list and is a recommended read for fans.

While the memoir delivers an unflinching look at addiction, it’s also uplifting in places and filled with anecdotes about his time with the “Friends” cast and the memorable moments they shared.