Why Matthew Perry’s ‘Friends’ Co-Stars Reportedly Turned Down Netflix’s New Documentary

Nearly 3 years after his death, Matthew Perry remains one of the most beloved faces in television history. The actor became a household name as Chandler Bing on ‘Friends’, the NBC sitcom that premiered in 1994 with an ensemble cast that also included Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc and Lisa Kudrow.

Perry died at age 54 at his Pacific Palisades home on October 28, 2023, from the acute effects of ketamine and accidental drowning. He had long been candid about his struggles with addiction, and his story has since been revisited in several projects, including a new Netflix docuseries arriving later this month.

That documentary, however, will be missing some of the people fans most associate with him. Perry’s 5 ‘Friends’ co-stars were reportedly invited to take part in Netflix’s ‘The One About Matthew Perry’ but decided not to participate, according to a source who spoke to Page Six.

A second source offered insight into Aniston’s decision in particular. According to the insider, the actress didn’t want to break down crying on camera or relive the loss in such a public way.

The report does not attribute that same explanation to the other 4 co-stars. Still, several outlets have noted that the cast reportedly found it too emotional to discuss Perry’s passing on camera.

The original source summed it up by saying the series instead gives a voice to other friends and colleagues who hold their own memories of and love for Perry. For fans hoping for a ‘Friends’ reunion in his honor, that may come as a disappointment.

Netflix describes the 3-part series as its first in-depth documentary about the actor. It’s directed by Mary Robertson, who has called Perry one of the comedic geniuses of our time.

The project marks the first time Perry’s sister, Mia Perry Bowick, speaks publicly about her late brother. Netflix says her testimony anchors the series, alongside previously unreleased photos and videos from the family’s private archive.

Bowick has explained that it took time before she felt ready to share what it was like to love her brother through the complexity of his life. She said she wanted audiences to see him as a whole person, not just as Chandler and not just as someone who struggled with addiction.

The series also features Roger Castillo and David Pressman, both friends of Perry for more than 40 years. People from his recovery work and collaborators from across his career are also among those interviewed, with archival footage rounding out the picture.

Watch the official trailer for #Friends: The Reunion – streaming May 27 on HBO Max. pic.twitter.com/J1os9bcVGh

— Rotten Tomatoes 🍅 (@RottenTomatoes) May 19, 2021

This isn’t the first documentary to go without the ‘Friends’ cast. Last year, ‘Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy’, directed and executive-produced by Robert Palumbo, also aired without on-screen appearances from Aniston, Cox, Kudrow, LeBlanc or Schwimmer.

Palumbo said at the time that the cast was understandably reluctant to appear in a documentary about Perry so soon, adding that maybe they would many years down the line. That film instead included a sit-down interview with Morgan Fairchild, who played Chandler’s mother on the show, and also covered the 5 arrests made in the investigation into Perry’s death.

‘The One About Matthew Perry’ premieres on Netflix on October 27, just a day before the 3-year anniversary of the actor’s death. The timing will likely make the series an emotional watch for longtime fans.

While the absence of his famous co-stars will be noticeable, the documentary promises a more personal look at Perry through the eyes of those closest to him outside the spotlight. For many viewers, hearing from his family for the first time may offer a fresh understanding of the man behind Chandler Bing.

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