Comedian Matt Rife buys home of couple who inspired “The Conjuring”, becomes 'guardian' of haunted Annabelle doll
- - Comedian Matt Rife buys home of couple who inspired “The Conjuring”, becomes 'guardian' of haunted Annabelle doll
Wesley StenzelAugust 2, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Matt Rife in April 2025; the Annabelle Raggedy Ann doll in a case in the Warrens' Occult Museum
Matt Rife is pivoting to the paranormal, at least when it comes to his new pad.
The stand-up comedian has bought the former house of Ed and Lorraine Warren, the ghost hunters who inspired the couple played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga in The Conjuring franchise.
"I have officially purchased Ed and Lorraine Warren’s home and Occult Museum," Rife wrote on Instagram on Friday, noting that he has become "the legal guardian, for at least the next five years, of the entire haunted collection, including THE ANNABELLE DOLL."
In a separate video on TikTok, Rife explained the significance of his decision. "This might be the most important and prominent piece of paranormal history in the world," he said. "I know a lot of you guys don't know what any of this means whatsoever, but if you follow ghost stuff, this is as big as it gets."
Michael Tackett/ Warner Bros
Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga in 2013's 'The Conjuring'
The comedian also clarified that while he does own the paranormal investigators' former house, he does not own its various curios. "We are the legal guardians and caretakers of all 750 haunted artifacts and items in the Warren Museum, including the Annabelle doll," he said. "We do not legally own the items, but we are the legal guardians and caretakers of the items for at least the next five years."
Rife obtained Annabelle shortly after Dan Rivera, an investigator for the New England Society for Psychic Research, died suddenly while showcasing the infamous Raggedy Ann doll in July. The NESPR, which the Warrens founded, claims that the doll was at one point attached to "an inhuman demonic spirit."
Matt Rife/ Instagram
Matt Rife (right) and Elton Castee with the allegedly haunted Annabelle doll
Annabelle inspired the opening scene of The Conjuring in 2013, and eventually launched a trilogy of spinoff films: 2014's Annabelle, 2017's Annabelle: Creation, and 2019's Annabelle Comes Home, the last of which took place exclusively in the Warrens' oddity-filled family residence.
Rife said his affection for the Conjuring movies inspired his massive purchase. "If you know me, you know I'm obsessed with the paranormal and all things haunted," he wrote on Instagram. "You also may know the Conjuring films are my favorite scary movies of all time. So I'm incredibly honored to have taken over one of the most prominent properties in paranormal history."
Russell McPhedran/Fairfax Media via Getty
Lorraine and Ed Warren in 1980
The comedian went on to claim that the Warrens "arguably put demonology and paranormal into the mainstream" and noted that they "are the very heart of some of the most famous haunted stories of all time," including The Conjuring and The Amityville Horror.
Rife also explained that he and his friend Elton Castee, who is taking on the venture with him, intend to ensure that the Warrens' property will still host visitors. "We plan to open the house for overnight stays and museum tours, so you yourself can experience and learn all the haunted history surrounding this amazing place," he wrote.
Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection
Annabelle in 'The Conjuring'
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In his TikTok, Rife acknowledged the potential supernatural risk he took by purchasing the house. "This is the most random hobby ever, but it's so f---ing cool, man," he said. "I should probably collect stamps or something — might be a little safer."
The fictional Warrens will return to the big screen in The Conjuring: Last Rites, which Farmiga recently told Entertainment Weekly will be her final outing in the series. "It is the end of the road. It's got to be the end of the road," she said. "I would literally explode on camera. What Last Rites demanded of us physically, emotionally, mentally, stamina-wise... It's been a long haul, man. It's been a really, really long haul, but it's time."
The Conjuring: Last Rites hits theaters Sept. 5.
on Entertainment Weekly
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