For Max and Deidre Wellman, Westlake Village isn’t just where they live—it’s where their story started.

Both native to the community, the couple first met as children in the same 5th grade class at Westlake Hills Elementary School. It was there, in Mrs. Principe’s 5th grade class of 1999, that a shared childhood began to take shape—one rooted in the same neighborhoods, schools, and early friendships that still carry through today. They continued on together through Colina Middle School and Westlake High School, growing up in a community they both describe as stable, safe, and formative.

Even now, many of those early connections remain. Several of their closest friends are still people they met in elementary school, including Dr. Lauren Poliakin, now a respected surgeon in the region. That continuity is part of what makes Westlake Village feel different from everywhere else.

After graduating high school, their paths diverged as they left for different universities. Deidre attended Loyola Marymount University, earning a degree in Communication Studies, while Max went to San Diego State University for Political Science before later completing his law degree at Southwestern Law School. Even though they went their separate ways, they remained in touch. Years later, when Max returned to Los Angeles for law school, they reconnected and eventually started dating.

They spent their early years together  in West Hollywood and Beverly Hills, building careers and a life, before marrying in 2019. But when it came time to start a family, the decision of where to settle was immediate: back to Westlake Village.

“We knew it was the only choice,” they’ve said of the move. “We wanted our daughter to grow up with the same experience we had.”

Today, their professional lives are centered in Los Angeles.  Deidre is a four-time Emmy-winning correspondent and producer at Entertainment Tonight, where she conducts celebrity interviews that air nightly across broadcast and digital platforms. Her work has taken her from red carpets to set visits, where she has interviewed some of the biggest names in entertainment, including George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Usher, and Billie Eilish. She is involved in every step of the process, from developing interview questions to conducting interviews and overseeing post-production. Whether covering a red-carpet premiere, awards show, set visit, or home tour, each assignment brings something different. She values the opportunity to travel, meet a wide range of people, and help share their stories with audiences.

Max is an attorney and serves as chair of the litigation department at his firm in Los Angeles. In addition to his work in entertainment and business litigation, he acts as outside general counsel to a range of clients, including talent, studios, agents, managers, production companies, merchandising companies, celebrity-founded consumer brands, artists, entrepreneurs, and content creators. He has been recognized by The Hollywood Reporter on its annual Top 100 Power Lawyers list, as well as in Variety’s Legal Impact Report and the Los Angeles Times’ Entertainment Business Visionaries list.

With demanding schedules and frequent travel, home life has become something they actively protect. Weekends in Westlake Village are reserved for family time, local routines, and a slower pace that contrasts with their weekday lives in the city.

That rhythm changed in March 2025 with the arrival of their daughter, Layla. By the time this profile publishes, she will be about 15 months old. Her days are filled with music classes, dancing, bubbles, stroller walks, and coffee outings with her parents. For Max and Deidre, parenthood has reshaped how they experience the neighborhood they grew up in—this time through their daughter’s eyes. .

Their day-to-day life is rooted in familiar local spots they’ve known for years. Coffee runs often include stops at Stir at the Four Seasons Hotel or Bonibi by the lake. Casual meals usually mean longtime favorites like East Coast Bagel and Sea Casa, while dinners are often at places such as Rustico, Brent’s Deli, and Lakeview Garden.

Time outdoors is just as central. The family regularly visits parks like Upper Ranch and Westlake Hills, where playgrounds have become their weekly routine. Holiday traditions have taken on a new meaning since becoming parents —fall trips to Underwood Family Farms as well as checking out Holiday Road, an immersive holiday experience in Calabasas every December.

Fitness and personal interests also play a role in their daily lives. Max has been an avid golfer since childhood and still plays courses such as North Ranch Country Club and Sherwood Country Club. Deidre, who has long prioritized staying active, joined Bunda Westlake Village in 2025, where group fitness classes became part of her routine throughout pregnancy and postpartum recovery.

One of their favorite memories in the neighborhood so far was hosting a large co-ed baby shower in their backyard just weeks before Layla was born. The gathering featured a grazing table with cheeses and fresh fruit, a pizza company serving made-to-order pies from a specialty oven, and a full bar with cocktails. Surrounded by friends and family from both sides, the day felt especially meaningful. Having recently moved into their home, the celebration also served as a housewarming, making it both a milestone baby shower and a warm introduction to their new space.

For Wellman’s, Westlake Village is both familiar and evolving. It is the place where they grew up, where they reconnected, and now where they are raising their daughter—continuing a cycle that began decades ago in a classroom just a few streets away.