Matthew Perry Spent Seven Million Dollars Fighting Addiction, Sister Says

Matthew Perry spent seven million dollars attempting to overcome his drug and alcohol addictions before his fatal overdose, according to his sister, Mia Perry Bowick, in upcoming footage from a Netflix documentary series.

The three-episode production, titled The One About Matthew Perry, is directed by Mary Robertson and examines the actor’s career, success in Hollywood, and long-term struggles with addiction. The project is described by the streaming giant as a personal documentary series exploring the life and legacy of the actor, with the three episodes examining his Hollywood success and the price he paid for it. Speaking in a teaser for the project, Mia Perry Bowick stated: Моят брат говореше за тези чувства на празнота и самота, които не успяваше някак да запълни. Ето колко сериозно той прие своето заболяване. In the promotional video, she also notes that every great story contains both comedy and tragedy, and her brother’s story was certainly that way.

Details of the Netflix Documentary Series

The project also incorporates previously unreleased photographs and video clips from the Perry family’s private archives to trace his life alongside his career as a beloved actor and comedian. The three-episode documentary series is scheduled to air on Netflix on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, arriving ahead of the three-year anniversary of his passing. The production traces his journey from his beginnings in Hollywood to the global success of playing Chandler Bing. Between 1994 and 2004, the actor portrayed the character across 236 episodes of Friends, establishing himself as one of the most recognizable faces in American television comedy.

In the promotional footage, Perry is heard discussing his pursuit of fame and the reality that followed, noting: Бог не забрави и другата част. In the trailer, he mentions wanting to make people laugh as a world he wanted to live in, asking God to make him famous and realizing that fame did not fix what he carried inside himself. He previously spoke openly about his struggles during his lifetime, mentioning that he had gone through rehabilitation 15 times before his death, while also stating that people told him he would kill himself if he continued and that he simply did not know how to stop.

Reflections from Family and Friends

In her statement accompanying the release date and trailer, Mia Perry Bowick shared: Отне ми време, докато се почувствам готова да споделя тези спомени и да разкажа какво беше да обичаш Матю през цялата сложност на живота му – да го виждаш като цялостна личност, а не просто като Чандлър и не просто като човек, който се е борил със зависимостта. She adds that as his sister, he largely shaped the person she is today, the personality she strives to be, and the work she dedicated her life to, remembering him as having a wonderful heart and being a generous person who could make others laugh and feel loved even in his darkest moments.

David Pressman, a friend of Perry for 40 years, also contributes to the documentary, recalling that his late friend would have wanted people to remember how great of a person he was. Perry passed away at the age of 54 in October 2023 after drowning in his hot tub following an acute ketamine intake, with his death ruled an accident alongside contributing factors including coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine. Meanwhile, Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s 60-year-old personal assistant, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to over three years in prison in connection with the case.