The Pacific Palisades home once owned by Friends star Matthew Perry has withstood the devastating Los Angeles wildfires that have reduced thousands of properties to ashes. The home, now owned by Indian-origin real estate developer and movie producer Anita Verma-Lallian, remains intact, as confirmed in an Instagram post on January 10.
“We want to express our deepest gratitude to the brave firefighters, our amazing neighbors, and the entire Palisades community for their help, strength, and support during this heartbreaking time,” Verma-Lallian wrote, acknowledging the collective efforts that safeguarded the property.
Realtor’s vigilance helps protect the home
A representative for Verma-Lallian told PEOPLE that Brooke Elliott Laurinkus, the realtor who facilitated the property’s sale, played a vital role in monitoring and protecting the residence during the fires. Verma-Lallian also credited Laurinkus for keeping her updated and assisting those displaced by the disaster.
Expressing solidarity with those affected by the fires, Verma-Lallian urged her followers to contribute to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation. “Our thoughts remain with everyone affected by this tragedy, and we hope we can come together to heal, protect, and rebuild what’s been lost,” she wrote. “The Palisades will always hold a special place in our hearts.”
A unique legacy and a new beginning
Verma-Lallian purchased the 3,500-square-foot home in an off-market deal a year after Perry’s sudden passing, announcing the acquisition in an Instagram post on October 31, 2024. As a Hindu, she performed a traditional blessing ceremony upon taking ownership of the property and expressed her intention to preserve its unique features, including the distinctive Batman logo in the pool. She described the home as a “paradise filled with light.” Perry, who bought the house in 2020, had made significant renovations to the property, according to The New York Times.
A city grappling with loss
While the Palisades community celebrates a rare story of survival, many Angelenos face a starkly different reality. Families are returning to neighborhoods reduced to ruins, searching for remnants of their lives among smoldering debris.
For some, the experience of seeing their homes destroyed has been surreal. Bridget Berg, whose Altadena home of 16 years was engulfed in flames, described her first visit back with her family as an effort “just to make it real.”
Efforts to control the wildfires were bolstered by calmer winds on Friday, allowing firefighters to gain ground on the largest blazes in metropolitan Los Angeles.
However, the city remains on edge as forecasts predict gusty winds and no rain for the region, which hasn’t seen precipitation in over eight months. The ongoing battle against the wildfires underscores the resilience of the Palisades community and the broader challenges of rebuilding in the face of nature’s fury.
