Friends star Matthew Perry's sister, Mia Perry Bowick, shared emotional insight into her brother's close bond with his co-stars, and revealed how they paid tribute to the actor at his funeral in 2023.
Mia, who appeared in the new Netflix documentary, The One About Matthew Perry, is the younger sister of the late star, who was found dead inside his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023, aged 54. He passed away from an accidental overdose caused by ketamine, with drowning, coronary artery disease and buprenorphine listed as contributing factors.
The Friends cast's final tribute
© NBC"The funeral was very small, close friends and family only," Mia recalled in the documentary. "I remember sitting in the front row with our family and seeing his mom and all the other siblings. And then the rest of the Friends cast all walked in together."
Matthew starred on the hit show alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer.
© NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via"I hadn't seen them in easily 20 years. And Jen Aniston was the first one of them to come up to me and give me a huge hug, but they all did," Mia said.
"And then all five of them walked up to the casket holding hands, and just stood around him, crying."
Mia then recalled that she felt Matthew's presence by her side in that moment. "That was the first time I felt Matthew with me, and he showed up right behind my right shoulder and leaned over my shoulder and goes, 'How [expletive] up is this?'"
"I started laughing so hard. I was like, 'Oh my God, there he is making me laugh at the most horrible moment,' and also incredibly inappropriate for me to start laughing while they're putting him into this thing. But I just started cracking up, and I was like, 'Yeah man, this is pretty [expletive] up.'"
Why weren't the Friends cast in the documentary?
© NBCUniversal via Getty ImagesThe Friends cast opted not to be in the documentary, with director Mary Robertson telling Page Six that she understood their decision to sit it out. "I know the Friends actors love Matthew, and grieve Matthew. We did ask them if they would participate, and they decided not to," Mary said.
"I think everyone grieves in their own way. And I understand why someone might feel that this isn't the moment to talk." Jennifer, Courteney, Lisa, Matt and David released a joint statement after Matthew died in 2023, sharing that they were lost for words.
© Getty Images"We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family. There is so much to say, but right now we're going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss," they said. "In time we will say more, as and when we are able. For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty's family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world."
Matthew struggled with addiction throughout his life, and previously shared that he didn't remember filming seasons three to six of Friends due to his substance abuse issues. Mia estimated that he spent over $7 million on trying to get sober throughout his life.
