Matthew Perry documentary leaves fans in tears as his painful final days revealed

Viewers were left heartbroken after watching the new ITV show, Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy(Image: Getty Images)

Friends star Matthew Perry’s documentary on his life and battle with drug and alcohol addiction left fans in tears as his final days were revealed before he tragically died in 2023, following a dose of ketamine.

Viewers were left heartbroken after watching the new ITV show, Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy, which aired on August 18. The show aired just one day before what would have been his 56th birthday.

The actor, who is highly known for his iconic character Chandler Bing in the American sitcom Friends, died at the age of 54 after drowning in his hot tub following a dose of ketamine on October 28, 2023.

The hour-long film lifts the lid on Matthew Perry’s personal battles with trauma and inner torment. The programme also explores an addiction so relentless it shaped every chapter of Matthew’s life. It comes after David Beckham speaks ‘as a father’ in ‘family’ announcement after latest Brooklyn snub.

Friends star Matthew Perry’s documentary on his life and battle with drug and alcohol addiction left fans in tears(Image: Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

With exclusive interviews with journalists, celebrity friends and law enforcement, the documentary also includes excerpts of Matthew’s 2022 autobiographical memoir, Friends, Lovers And The Big Terrible Thing, in which he recalled his rise to fame and his lifelong battle with alcohol and drugs.

After watching the emotional show, fans took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express their emotions. One viewer wrote: “This Matthew Perry documentary is heartbreaking”, while another added: “The world is missing a beautiful, funny and caring man. I can’t believe he passed away almost 2 years ago. We miss you, Matty”.

A third wrote: “Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy, is so sad. He seemed like such a great human”, while another penned: “Watching the sad tale of our FRIENDS Matthew Perry. So tragic. RIP bro in harms”.

Viewers were left heartbroken after watching the new ITV show, Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy(Image: ITV)

“Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy is now on ITV, STV and ITVX. The world is missing a beautiful, funny and caring man. I can’t believe he passed away almost 2 years ago. We miss you Matty”, another beloved fan stated.

Born on 19 August 1969, Matthew Langford Perry spent his childhood in Ottawa, Canada, following his parents’ separation. He was brought up primarily by his mother, Suzanne, a journalist who went on to work as press secretary for former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.

Meanwhile, his father, American actor John Bennett Perry, pursued a career in Hollywood, making their relationship difficult and often distant. The physical separation and John’s growing success meant father and son saw little of each other in Matthew’s early years.

Matthew had his first alcoholic drink when he was just 14 years old. During an interview with Canadian broadcaster Tom Power, he opened up on the pivotal moment and how it sparked a decades-long battle.

“I drank the entire bottle and just felt better than I ever had in my entire life,” he said at the time. “I thought to myself this is probably what normal people feel like all the time.”