The former residence of Matthew Perry in the Pacific Palisades, a point of both architectural interest and tragic celebrity history, has recently changed hands for a sum exceeding $8.5 million. ABC7 reports that Anita Verma-Lallian, an Arizona-based movie producer and real estate developer, partook in an off-market transaction to procure the property for a marginally higher price than the listed $8.55 million as noted by the New York Times.
Perry, famed for his role as Chandler Bing on the iconic television series "Friends,” resided in the 3,500-square-foot home until his death in October of 2023. His assistant discovered his body in the home's backyard hot tub, a setting that belied the grim circumstances of his passing. According to the Los Angeles County medical examiner, "acute effects of ketamine," along with opioids present in his system, were the main cause of death, a fact corroborated by a KTLA report. He was also found submerged, leading to an initial suspicion of drowning.
Verma-Lallian, who serves as the founder and chief executive of Arizona Land Consulting, intends to use the midcentury modern home as a vacation spot. Beyond real estate ventures in residential properties, her firm has been active in substantial land deals, recently securing land in Buckeye, Arizona for $20 million and an additional parcel in Casa Grande for $40 million, as mentioned by the New York Times. The property affords privacy and a sense of seclusion in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood.
The Perry residence saga extends beyond the real estate market, touching upon darker narratives of celebrity and vulnerability. In the wake of his death, Perry's personal assistant and four others, including two doctors, face charges related to providing the actor with ketamine, KTLA has reported. U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada articulated that "the doctors preyed on Perry’s history of addiction in the final months of his life last year to provide him with ketamine in amounts they knew were dangerous."
While the home's new owner looks forward to enjoying the space, the specter of Perry's untimely death lingers over the property, echoing a broader conversation about the pressures faced by those in the public eye, and the often unseen struggles they contend with. Residents and fans alike hope that with this change of hands, the home can find a new chapter beyond the shadows of its recent history.
