Late Friends actor Matthew Perry lived in a Beverly Hills hideout with his Japanese assistant until his untimely death, can reveal.
And it’s this 59-year-old man who, according to sources close to the star, may have been the person who discovered Perry’s lifeless body in the hot tub of his newly renovated home on October 28.
The actor had rented the three-bed hillside home overlooking Beverly Hills and the ocean for $49,000 a month for more than a year while his $6 million Pacific Palisades home was renovated.
He lived in the rental apartment with Kenny Iwamasa, an executive assistant whose LinkedIn page says he has helped Perry manage Perry’s affairs for more than 25 years.
Matthew Perry had an assistant and caretaker, 59-year-old Kenny Iwamasa (pictured together in August), who is believed to have discovered him in his hot tub last month
can reveal that the Friends star and Iwamasa had been living in a $49,000-a-month Beverly Hills mansion for just over a year while his Pacific Palisades home was renovated
Perry had recently returned to his newly renovated home and was enjoying his hot tub when he died suddenly on October 28th
The home’s landlord, John Malakzad, identified Iwamasa as “a person who lives with and monitors Perry.”
Iwamasa did not respond to ‘s request for comment.
Iwamasa was photographed driving Perry, 54, on errands around Los Angeles and leaving the Beverly Hills home in the morning, according to photos obtained exclusively by .
The Friends actor had moved back in to enjoy his renovated Pacific Palisades home less than a month before he was found dead by a “personal assistant.”
Iwamasa, his personal assistant, is believed to be the one who found his body.
Perry had another assistant, Briana Brancato, who worked for the Odd Couple actor for seven years.
But Brancato, 34, left just a few months ago to become a personal trainer.
A rental listing for the Beverly Hills property was removed in June 2022, likely when Perry began living there. The actor has been regularly spotted in the house since October 2022.
Now the house is empty and last week the bins outside were filled with mattresses and pillows as it is being vacated for another tenant.
Malakzad, who never met Perry in person, said he was a good tenant who moved out “a few weeks ago.”
Neighbors down the street, Chalette Drive, didn’t know Perry had lived there, although they sometimes saw his staff, including a housekeeper and an assistant, coming and going.
In early February this year, Perry was spotted outside the Beverly Hills mansion having furniture delivered to the secret hideout
The actor has been regularly spotted in the house since October 2022
Now the house sits empty and on Wednesday the bins outside were filled with mattresses and pillows as the house was vacated for another tenant
Aerial photos show Perry’s pool and hot tub at his $6 million Pacific Palisades home, where he was found dead late last month at age 54
The rented home has three bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms and is 6,305 square feet, according to the listing on real estate site Zillow.
The bright living space had painted floors and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that opened onto a backyard with a pool and views that a neighbor told was “one of the best in the city.”
Iwamasa says on his LinkedIn page that he works as an “executive assistant” to Perry’s manager Doug Chapin.
According to his LinkedIn account, Iwamasa had helped manage Perry’s affairs for more than 25 years
His roles include: “Executive assistant with personal manager responsibility for client Matthew Perry (“Friends”; actor, author and producer) for 25 years (ongoing).”
“I thrive in chaotic situations that require order,” he adds. “I am discreet, loyal and respect absolute confidentiality.”
“I love deadlines, contracts, dotting the i’s and solving puzzling situations and projects.”
Just two months before his unexpected death and days after his 54th birthday, Perry and Iwamasa were spotted together shopping at The Grove in LA, reported at the time.
One of Iwamasa’s family members, who lives in Los Angeles, confirmed to that the assistant had been living with Perry in recent months, although the relative had not spoken to Iwamasa since the actor’s death.
In Perry’s last post on Instagram, he was pictured using the hot tub overlooking his seaside neighborhood on a moonlit night on October 23, five days before his death.
“Oh so warm water swirling around makes you feel good?” he captioned the post.
A source told People Magazine last week that Perry called his new home “heaven” and was “incredibly happy” after completing work on the house.
Just two months before his shocking death and days after his 54th birthday, Perry and Iwamasa were spotted shopping at the Nike store in The Grove in LA
Perry also had another assistant, Briana Brancato, 34, pictured together in an Instagram photo. He never mentioned her by name in his memoirs, only describing her under the pseudonym “Erin.”
The actor’s family told the magazine: “We are heartbroken at the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother.” Matthew has brought so much joy to the world as both an actor and a friend. You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the tremendous love that has flowed his way.”
Last week, Perry’s girlfriend, former Miss Teen USA Athenna Crosby, told that he had been healthy and in good spirits in the days before his death.
Crosby, the woman who was photographed having lunch with the actor at the Bel-Air Hotel a day earlier, said: “I don’t think he had any desire to go back to drugs and alcohol.”
“I think he was so proud to finally be over that hump because he had openly struggled with addiction for decades and had only been in and out of rehab for the last few years.”
“He was relieved that he finally felt like it was behind him, and he tried everything he could to fight it.”
“While we were having lunch, he refused to touch the drinks menu. He said that he is really interested in fitness and pickleball and that he wants to get all of his friends into it.
“I think he was really serious about transforming himself into a completely new man.”
Other family friends reported that he seemed “exhausted” in the days before his death.
The document also lists Perry’s industry as “entertainment” and his stepfather Keith Morrison as an “informant.”
Model and entertainment reporter Athenna Crosby, 25, had lunch with Matthew Perry in Los Angeles the day before his death
In an exclusive interview with , the glamorous brunette said: “I don’t think he had any desire to go back to drugs and alcohol.”
He is believed to have drowned, but an official cause of death has not been announced. On Wednesday, Perry’s official death certificate was released for the first time, but the cause of death was still listed as “deferred.”
First responders on scene discovered that Perry was underwater when he was found by his assistant. The assistant raised his head in a desperate attempt to give him some air.
When the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived at his Pacific Palisades home, the actor was later found to be dead.
This came after a 15-second 911 call came in that revealed the moment his assistant called 911 to report a possible cardiac arrest.
Perry has been open about his past struggles with alcohol and drug abuse, but has said in recent interviews that he is clean and sober.
Perry wrote in his memoirs published last year that he spent $9 million trying to get sober, revealing that he attended 6,000 AA meetings, went to rehab 15 times and detoxed 65 times have.
First responders reportedly found antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications on the property – but there were no signs of illegal drugs.