Before he became Chandler Bing, Matthew Perry says he made a prayer he would think about for the rest of his life. The Netflix docuseries The One About Matthew Perry, which premiered Tuesday, opens with him recalling it.
In the trailer, Perry says he asked God to do anything to him as long as he made him famous. "I got a phone call and I instantly knew my whole life was gonna change," he says, "but God did not forget the other part."
The three-part series, directed by Mary Robertson, follows what came after the fame. In another interview in the trailer, Perry says he was extremely happy at first, then realized that "this didn't fix what's inside me." His sister, Mia Perry Bowick, says he often spoke of an emptiness and loneliness he couldn't fill. She adds that he spent about $7 million trying to get sober.
The episodes are titled "The One About Love," "The One About Laughter" and "The One About a Friend." The series also looks at the recovery work he pursued later in life, using family photos, home videos and interviews with Perry Bowick and his longtime friends.
Perry died on Oct 28, 2023, at age 54. His death was ruled the result of the acute effects of ketamine, with drowning a contributing factor.
For many believers, his words are a reminder that success cannot fill every empty place, and that honest prayer, community and compassion matter most in the hard seasons. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, the free, confidential SAMHSA National Helpline is open 24/7 at 1-800-662-4357.
Related articles:
- Matthew Perry's Sister Says She Saw His Addiction as a "Terminal Illness" Years Before His Death
- Matthew Perry Revealed How He Encountered the "Presence of God" Before His Death
