‘The One About Matthew Perry’ Director Mary Robertson on Gaining Mia Perry’s Trust and Explaining the Actor’s Death

Netflix’s new three-part docuseries “The One About Matthew Perry” explores the life and tragic death of the beloved “Friends” star, with director Mary Robertson at the helm. Robertson gained the trust of Perry’s sister Mia Perry, who appears throughout the series, and the director’s off-camera remark that “he feels very present” captures the emotional weight of the project. The series details Perry’s decades-long struggle with addiction, his rise to fame as Chandler Bing, and the circumstances surrounding his death at age 54 in October 2023 from the acute effects of ketamine. Robertson and Mia Perry worked closely to ensure the series honored Matthew’s legacy while providing an honest, unflinching look at his battles. The docuseries arrives at a time of renewed public interest in Perry’s life, following the release of his 2022 memoir “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” and aims to explain not just how he died, but why his story continues to resonate with millions. For fans and newcomers alike, “The One About Matthew Perry” offers a poignant, definitive account of a comedy icon’s complex life.