When Matthew Perry died on 28 October, the world lost its favourite Friend. Perry found his way into the hearts of millions playing the role of wisecracking Chandler Bing, but in more recent years he largely eschewed the limelight, instead turning his energy towards helping those suffering with addiction issues.
The comedic actor's real estate journey echoed this shift. He offloaded almost $35 million (£28.7m) of real estate over the past two years. Perry waved goodbye to a luxurious penthouse and parted ways with his beautiful Malibu beach house, downsizing to a smaller 'cottage' in LA's Pacific Palisades neighbourhood in 2020. Tragically, it was in the grounds of his new home that Perry was found dead.
Click or scroll on to take a look back at the incredible properties the late actor called home...
News of Matthew Perry's tragic death has sent shockwaves through Hollywood. In the wake of his passing, friends and former castmates have paid tribute to the beloved actor. Fellow Friends stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer and Lisa Kudrow made a joint statement that was released to the BBC:
"We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew... We were more than just castmates. 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. In time we will say more, as and when we are able."
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, a childhood friend of Perry's, also expressed his shock at the actor's passing. "I’ll never forget the schoolyard games we used to play, and I know people around the world are never going to forget the joy he brought them", he posted on X.
Perry is pictured here in the living room of his Pacific Palisades cottage with his father, just two weeks before his passing.
In the years prior to his death, the actor significantly shrunk his property portfolio. Perry downsized to a waterfront cottage back in August 2020, months before he parted with his Malibu beach house for $13.1 million (£10.7m) back in January 2021. In the same year, he also let go of a 9,300-square-foot LA penthouse for $21.6 million (£17.7m) – which pop megastar Rihanna later snapped up in April 2023, according to the New York Post.
Perry's last home in Pacific Palisades may be smaller in scale in comparison to the other properties the actor owned over the years, but it's equally as beautiful. Located in the affluent residential neighbourhood of Pacific Palisades Los Angeles, the pad benefits from a stunning interior and jaw-dropping views.
Perry picked up the plush pad for $6 million (£4.9m) and it's fair to say the bungalow is truly spectacular. Spanning approximately 3,000 square feet, the mid-century home was built in 1965 and boasts sleek oak floors, recessed LED lighting and floor-to-ceiling walls of glass. The house also comes equipped with smart home technology and a facial recognition security system.
While Perry's much-loved on-screen alter ego, Chandler Bing, would likely have decorated his home with foosball tables and La-Z-Boy recliners, the actor's tastes in real life were evidently more refined.
The ranch-style home offers four bedrooms and four bathrooms, as well as an open-plan living room and a contemporary kitchen with a concrete breakfast bar and an indoor vegetable garden. Elsewhere there are dual master bedrooms, complete with private ensuites and walk-in closets.
A source quoted by the New York Post described Perry's time at the property as somewhat isolated: "He spent most of his days in his home and was very lonely.” However, Friends creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane, who spoke with the actor shortly before his passing, said he was “in a really good place”, according to The Guardian. "He was happy and chipper... he seemed better than I had seen in a while", Kauffman said.
It's not hard to see why Perry was drawn to this tranquil spot. Thanks to the home's elevated position and wall-to-wall sliding glass doors, each room benefits from unobstructed views of the Pacific Ocean.
Embracing an indoor/outdoor lifestyle, the majority of the home's living areas flow through to the garden, where a firepit and Jacuzzi are found.
Tragically, on 28 October, first responders discovered Perry unconscious in the home's hot tub and were unable to revive him. He's thought to have suffered an apparent cardiac arrest. He was just 54.
Pictured here, fans and mourners pay their respects to the iconic actor, laying floral tributes on the doorstep of his Pacific Palisades cottage. Perry's family released a statement to People the day after his passing:
"We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother, Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend."
They also thanked the star's fans for their support: "You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love."
In August 2020, the same month that Perry purchased his Pacific Palisades cottage, he decided to pare back his property portfolio, listing his Malibu beach house for just under $15 million (£12.3m). The actor purchased the gorgeous glass house in 2011, when he paid $12 million (£9.8m) in cash.
Perry spent much of lockdown enjoying the home's ocean-view decks, private hot tub, rooftop garden and direct beach access.
Spanning 5,500 square feet, the house offers four bedrooms and four bathrooms, as well as a home theatre and a light, open-plan living room that boasts a kitchen, lounge and dining area. The main living space also offers direct access to the outdoor deck, which spans the entire width of the property.
The perfect spot to soak up the scenery of one of California's most sought-after coastal cities, this pad would've been the perfect beachfront retreat for the late star.
Throughout lockdown, Perry posted plenty of candid snaps of his coastal bolthole on Instagram. The star's photos featured A-list friends relaxing on his outdoor terrace, as well as this image he shared of a plate of oatmeal cookies he'd whipped up from scratch. Talk about baking with a view!
Every room benefits from a clean and simple colour scheme, with a calming coastal vibe. Exposed ceiling beams, whitewashed walls and expanses of glass add to the home's cool and contemporary charms, allowing the scenery to do all the talking.
Perry's bedroom suite is perhaps the home's most enticing space, thanks to its private lounge, ensuite bathroom, huge walk-in wardrobe and private balcony with a firepit. The Friends star eventually sold the residence for a cool $13.1 million (£10.7m) in early 2021.
Meanwhile, a previous property purchase in Malibu was especially personal to Perry, and emblematic of the legacy he wanted to leave behind...
Matthew Perry's recent memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, released almost a year to the day of his death, offered an unflinching insight into the actor's struggles with addiction. In it, he wrote that he'd been sober since 2001, save for "about 60 or 70 mishaps.” In 2019, Perry spent two weeks in a coma after his colon burst due to opioid abuse. By June 2022, following numerous stints in rehab, he described himself as "pretty healthy". Throughout his decades-long sobriety journey, Perry devoted himself to helping others get clean.
So much so, that he repurposed one of his properties into a sober living facility for those recovering from addiction issues, dubbed The Perry House. Pictured here, the actor bought the Malibu property in 2005 for just over $6.5 million (£5.3m). He ran the centre in collaboration with addiction specialist Earl Hightower.
Sprawling over two-and-a-half acres, the property is perched on a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean, in the city's Serra Retreat community. The sleek estate was built in 1981 and offers four bedrooms and six bathrooms. Open and airy, the 5,500-square-foot floor plan is defined by swathes of retractable glass walls and neutral hues. The living areas spill out onto a deck, which is flanked by an infinity-edge swimming pool.
Elsewhere in the grounds, concealed by a thicket of palm trees, is an intimate meditation garden. It's easy to see why the home would've been the ideal spot for respite and recovery.
The centre operated until 2015, when the actor sold up, parting with the residence for just over $10.6 million (£8.7m). He'd previously listed the property in 2011. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Perry shared why he had decided to let the facility go, explaining that it was "too expensive to run and the business didn’t really work". At the time, the actor said he was looking to relocate the business to Santa Monica or Studio City.
Perry was steadfast in his commitment to helping others struggling with addiction. According to TMZ, just before his death, Perry was in the early stages of establishing a foundation to support individuals suffering from substance abuse issues. The publication's sources suggest that some of the actor's loved ones intend to "pursue the foundation in his honor" and "get it up and running". We can't imagine a more fitting legacy.
Read on to take a tour of the house of the rest of the Friends cast
Friends remains one of the world's favourite sitcoms. For 10 years, we welcomed its affable cast of characters into our homes and watched them navigate life's highs and lows as they chased their dreams in New York City. The recent loss of Matthew Perry, aka Chandler Bing, triggered an outpouring from fans across the world, showing just how beloved the show and its characters still are.
After taking a look at Perry's remarkable properties and the powerful legacy he left behind, let's step inside the real-life homes of the other famous Friends from the iconic series. From Jennifer Aniston's Beverly Hills hideaway to Lisa Kudrow's ski retreat, click or scroll on to find out where Rachel, Ross, Monica, Joey and Phoebe really live.
As one of the main cast members of Friends, Jennifer Aniston played an integral role in making the show such a success. Four years after she hit our screens as Rachel Green, Aniston began dating Hollywood mega-star Brad Pitt, who enjoyed a cameo role in season eight, playing Ross's school friend, Will.
As Hollywood's newest golden couple, the pair grabbed plenty of headlines, tying the knot in a lavish Malibu wedding in 2000 and purchasing a rather impressive pile as their marital home...
The elegant mansion can be found in the heart of Beverly Hills, a stone's throw from the action of Hollywood, making it a strategic (and stylish) purchase. Brad and Jen spent five years at the property, during which time they undertook extensive renovation works to create a home they could call their own.
Following their shock separation in 2005, the former couple sold off the estate for a reported $28 million (£22.9m) in 2006, according to the LA Times.
The Tudor-inspired retreat was designed by the renowned architect Wallace Neff in the 1930s for actors Fredric March and Florence Eldridge. That made Brad and Jen the second Hollywood power couple to have owned the estate!
Spanning an impressive 12,000 square feet across two floors, the home dazzles with elegant interior design, unique furnishings and luxurious touches. There are five bedrooms and 12 bathrooms, as well as plenty of floor-to-ceiling glazing.
Though modern and filled with natural light, the dwelling also boasts plenty of period character too. From half-timbering and white-painted brickwork to sleek hardwood floors, natural marble and panelled walls, there's a timeless charm about this romantic retreat.
Across the living spaces, you'll find a stunning chef's kitchen, two wet bars, numerous lounges and a state-of-the-art screening room with a vaulted beamed ceiling, which Brad and Jen added themselves.
Set on more than an acre of land, the garden has plenty to offer, too. As well as a standalone guest suite, there's also an outdoor swimming pool, a dining deck and a tennis court.
In August 2020, the house was once again up for grabs, this time selling through an off-market deal for $32.5 million (£26.6m).
It's no secret that Jennifer Aniston is a seasoned real estate investor. The Friends star was paid $1 million (£818k) an episode as Rachel Green, plus the star has taken on numerous roles on the big screen in recent years, from Murder Mystery to TV hit The Morning Show. The star uses her substantial fortune to flip properties across Los Angeles.
Following her separation from Brad Pitt, she purchased a Hal Levitt-designed mid-century masterpiece that remains her most spectacular real estate venture...
Aniston bought the gorgeous period pad in 2006 for a reported $13.5 million (£11m). The property was built in 1972 and the actor teamed up with renowned designer Stephen Shadley to transform the home from top to bottom.
“We essentially tore the house apart and rebuilt it,” Aniston told Architectural Digest. "I wanted to celebrate the people who made it: the master craftsmen who poured so much of themselves into its creation.”
The 10,000-square-foot home boasts five bedrooms, seven-and-a-half bathrooms and two living rooms, each inspired by Balinese, Hawaiian and Japanese interior design.
Aniston fell in love with the home at first sight, but it took her seven months to persuade the owner to sell it. The actor named the property 'Ohana', a Hawaiian word that embodies the concepts of extended family and togetherness, something that this pad was made for!
The front door can be accessed via a travertine bridge hovering above a koi pond, while pocket gardens blur the lines between inside and out. Everywhere you look you'll find high-end fixtures, from the Brazilian teak that lines the home's floors, walls and ceilings, to the hallway's spectacular Murano glass chandelier.
The luxury kitchen boasts a pizza oven and a wine closet, while the dining room can seat 24 people and offers a long walnut table and a 1920s Thai gong for calling guests to dinner.
Aniston's former bedroom featured a wool and silk shag carpet, a platform bed and a built-in motorised television. She offloaded the property in 2011 for a cool $35 million (£28.6m), according to Curbed, more than doubling her initial investment.
The savvy star currently lives in a Bel Air mansion that she bought in 2012 for $21 million (£17m). She spent lockdown sharing Instagram photos of her life there, including the aftermath of the SAG Awards, giving us a glimpse inside her ultra-private retreat.
Adding to her luxurious property portfolio, Aniston also purchased Oprah Winfrey's Mediterranean-style Montecito mansion in 2022. How's that for an A-list property transaction?
Joey Tribbiani remains one of the most memorable comedy characters of all time. With infamous chat-up lines and a hunger that couldn't be quenched, Matt LeBlanc played the Italian-American perfectly. The actor went on to star in the NBC spin-off Joey, as well as BBC's Episodes and Top Gear.
Though he has made sure his private life has remained so, we were given a small glimpse into his life in 2016, when the actor placed his Pacific Palisades mansion on the market...
The former Friends star purchased the property in late 2007 for $7.4 million (£6m), following his divorce from actress Missy McKnight. LeBlanc eventually sold the residence for just under $8.8 million (£7.2m), making a tidy profit on his investment.
In 2012, when the actor was busy in London filming various television shows, he rented the 1930s Spanish-style home out, unfurnished, for a reported $12,995 (£10.6k) a month.
With nearly 4,000 square feet of inside space, the two-storey home benefits from a classic stucco façade with a red-tiled roof, while the interior is kitted out with vaulted ceilings, exposed timber beams, ironwork, hardwood floors, authentic fireplaces and pretty tile work.
There are four bedrooms and four bathrooms, as well as spacious and dramatic communal areas that were made for entertaining.
The home offers a cook’s kitchen, where the actor likely whipped up plenty of Joey-inspired Italian feasts. The space comes with a sunlit breakfast area and opens up to an adjacent family room.
Elsewhere, you'll find a stylish dining room and a cosy den, which both feature rustic décor, dark wood panelling and beamed ceilings. Large windows also allow plenty of natural light to spill inside, creating bright and inviting spaces that are perfect for unwinding.
Sitting along the 'Amalfi Rim', the home benefits from an enviable location between Santa Monica Bay and the mountains, while its elevated position allows for unobstructed canyon views from almost every window.
The home's half-acre tree-filled garden comes with sweeping lawns, pretty fountains and tranquil lounging spots complete with hammocks. To the front of the house, there's also a long curving driveway and a garage where LeBlanc no doubt stored all his favourite toys.
Lisa Kudrow stole our hearts as quirky vegetarian Phoebe Buffay (and twin sister, Ursula) in the sitcom. Since then, Kudrow has starred in an array of shows and films, from Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt to The Girl on the Train and most recently, Disney's Better Nate Than Ever in 2022.
Yet the actor's private life has always been kept very quiet. She currently resides in Beverly Hills with her husband, Michael Stern, and their son, in a home they reportedly purchased back in 1996. However, in 2017 the actor gave us a peek inside her world when she placed her Utah ski retreat on the market...
Lisa Kudrow listed her stylish Park City penthouse for just over $4 million (£3.3m) and eventually let it go for $3.6 million (£2.9m), according to Architectural Digest.
The two-storey condo can be found at the sought-after Black Diamond Lodge and benefits from panoramic views across Deer Valley Resort. A stone's throw from the area's esteemed slopes, this is the ultimate ski retreat for quiet family getaways.
Kudrow reportedly bought the four-bedroom penthouse in 2014, through her private trust for an undisclosed sum. The pad is certainly a far cry from the quirky apartment Phoebe owned in the show.
Inside, the condo boasts floor-to-ceiling windows for captivating mountain views, as well as four bedrooms and a total of 3,759 square feet of living space. There are also plenty of external balconies for soaking up the scenery or enjoying a spot of après ski after a long day on the slopes.
The spacious open-plan living space features a double-height ceiling, a cosy lounge with a wood-burning fireplace and a sleek family kitchen separated by a dining area. Above the living room, you'll find a second-floor gallery, where a snug office or den can be found.
As expected, the home's bedrooms are spacious and light-filled, with plenty of areas for snuggling up after a day of skiing, as well as a private balcony that offers direct views over Deer Valley.
When she wasn't hitting the slopes, Kudrow was likely whiling away the hours in her own private hot tub, which can be found on a secluded deck.
David Schwimmer stole our hearts as the show's loveable (and slightly geeky) paleontologist, Ross Geller. In the show, Ross lived in a chic bachelor pad that once belonged to the Ugly Naked Guy – and the actor's real-life homes are every bit as envy-inducing.
During his Friends years, Schwimmer lived in a modest house in West Hollywood and later purchased a nine-bedroom mansion in Los Angeles. He now lives in a Manhattan townhouse with his daughter, Cleo, who he co-parents with his ex-wife, Zoe Buckman.
Yet one of the first luxury homes Schwimmer bought was this ultra-cool loft in the heart of Chicago. The American Crime Story actor purchased the modern pied-à-terre in 1998 for $425,000 (£347k), paying the entire sum in cash. The purchase was made four years after Friends first hit our TV screens, when Schwimmer had become a household name.
He finally sold off the apartment in February 2020 for $965,000 (£789k), making a significant profit on his initial investment.
The loft condo can be found on the fifth floor of a historic building in Chicago's Near West Side, a neighbourhood renowned for its warehouse apartments and cool, contemporary conversions.
Inside, the pad is sleek and stripped-back, with extensive glazing and generous 11-foot ceilings. Positioned on the building's northwest corner, the house also enjoys plenty of natural light, as well as expansive city views.
Every room flows easily into the next, thanks to a spacious, open-plan layout. Raw materials, such as timber, concrete and brick, create an industrial aesthetic, while the home's bright kitchen offers hand-painted millwork, a 21-foot statement kitchen island, hand-blown glass pendant lighting and stainless steel appliances. Exposed pipes, structural support beams and air conditioning vents add to the apartment's contemporary appeal.
The perfect bachelor pad, the loft offers three bedrooms, two bathrooms and 2,300 square feet of inside space. Every room allows the building's natural materials to do the talking, and the master suite comes with a seating area, a custom walk-in closet, a wall-to-wall window and an all-white master bath with double sinks and an oversized shower room. We can totally understand why Schwimmer held on to this stunning apartment for more than 20 years!
In Friends, Courteney Cox played Ross' high-maintenance sister, Monica Geller, a house-proud chef with a stunning two-bedroom West Village apartment. The purple pad inspired plenty of interior design trends in the late 90s and early noughties, and in real life Cox proves herself to be just as stylish.
Though she keeps her private life decidedly quiet, in 2017 the Cougar Town actor invited One Kings Lane into her Malibu beach retreat for a look around...
During the interview, Cox told the uber-luxury brand: "This is a house I’ll never move from – it really is so special to me."
Positioned on a dazzling coastal plot above Malibu's sought-after Escondido Beach, the contemporary retreat is formed from timber siding and sheets of glass, allowing for unobstructed ocean views.
The actor purchased the home in 2010 for an undisclosed sum, before selling off the house she once shared with ex-husband David Arquette for $19.5 million (£16m).
Despite being secretive about her private life, Cox shares plenty of candid social media snaps with her loyal followers, giving us a small peek inside her beautiful 8,000-square-foot home.
Blending laid-back Californian design with mid-century touches and plenty of texture, the abode offers a simple colour palette of cream, chocolate and bronze. "Before, I was kind of into organic with modern, and now I’m into really old mixed with cleaner stuff," she told One Kings Lane.
Cox showcased her cooking skills and gave us a glimpse of her sleek and streamlined kitchen, as well as snapping herself outside, making the most of Malibu's enviable climate.
"If it was up to me, everything would have been one color – monochromatic, very simple," she told Architectural Digest. "When I got this house, my designer, Trip Haenisch, was able to bring in the pops of color and the interesting pieces I wouldn’t have necessarily gone for. We had a fantastic time doing it.”
Outside, there's two acres of stunning grounds, encompassing a pergola-covered terrace for dining alfresco and an ocean-front lounge with a firepit. Cox's tennis court and swimming pool have both featured extensively on her Instagram account, after she shared various lockdown videos of her time spent at home.
Cox regularly shares her home with her A-list friends too. The property contains a guest cottage where Ed Sheeran stayed in 2013 while working on one of his albums. In Prince Harry's memoir, Spare, the royal also recalls spending time at the actor's Malibu home.
While Cox sold her Hollywood Hills apartment in 2020 for a cool $4.5 million (£3.7m), she looks unlikely to move on from her beloved beach retreat. We can completely understand why Cox never wants to leave this beautiful home!
From the very first episode back in 1994 to the present day, our favourite Friends have certainly come a long way from Central Perk – and picked up more than a few incredible properties along the way too.
While the loss of Matthew Perry has been keenly felt by the cast and the show's legions of fans across the globe, it's a testament to the sitcom's enduring spirit, which continues to hold a special place in the hearts of millions.
Love this? Like and follow us on Facebook for more celebrity homes