The One Called Matthew Perry: a moving documentary not to be missed on Netflix

Archive images, personal photos and moving confidences: Netflix unvarnishedly retraces the 54 years of a life between glory, solitude and addictions. A docuseries on the old Friends, a must-see this week.

“God, do what you want with me, but please make me famous.”

It is through this prayer that opens The one called Matthew Perrythe documentary series put online by Netflix on the occasion of the third anniversary of the death of the actor, who died on October 28, 2023. A very complete documentary which recounts the 54 years of his life, without sugarcoating anything. From his tormented childhood, between divorced parents, to his international fame, including his terrible battles against addictions.

Of course, the fate of Friends is also drawn as a filigree. How, in 1993, his life changed when he auditioned for this new series, then in development under the title Friends Like Us. Warren Littlefield, the head of NBC at the time, remembers: “In less than 30 seconds, we knew it was him, it was Chandler.” Three auditions in three days, and the following Monday, Matthew Perry was hired. The role seems to have been written for him. He IS Chandler Bing: sarcastic, clumsy, capable of turning the slightest line into a punchline, but also comfortable enough with his own flaws to not always try to be the funniest guy in the room. “I knew I had to change my attitude“, he confides in one of the archives unearthed by the documentary.

Because Matthew Perry is not a beginner. Before Friendshe has already multiplied his experiences on screen. In 1987, at age 18, he landed a role in Boys Will Be Boysa sitcom broadcast on Fox. His partner Billy Gallo remembers a young actor already obsessed with laughter: “If he wasn’t the one making people laugh, he wasn’t good“There is also Jimmy Reardonhis first feature film, released in 1988, in which he was hired after attracting the attention of director William Richert by clowning around in a restaurant, in front of a group of girls. Promising first steps, but still far from the phenomenon that awaits…..