Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing

Archival Summary & Scope

The acclaimed star of Friends delivers a candid and darkly funny memoir chronicling his journey from childhood ambition to international fame and his long-standing battle with addiction. Matthew Perry shares the intimate details of his upbringing—shuffling between separated parents in Montreal and Los Angeles—and his early success as a nationally ranked tennis star before landing his iconic role at age twenty-four.

Following a life-threatening health scare, Perry offers an unflinchingly honest account of the hospital visits and rehab stints that defined his private life behind the scenes of the hit sitcom. This memoir serves as both a poignant self-reflection and a supportive hand extended to those struggling with sobriety, told with the wit and vulnerability that defined his public persona.