The Incredible Homes Of Hollywood’s Golden Age A-Listers
The Hollywood Golden Age left a lot to be admired, classy actresses and debonair actors, comedic geniuses, and quirky fashion designers. Most of the Hollywood stars from the 1930s to 1960s made storied careers for themselves, always having a reason to walk the red carpet or go on tour.
With more than enough money earned throughout their career, most of these stars probably had a pretty smooth retirement plan put in place. Judging by these homes, it certainly seems that way! Let's take a look and see where some of Hollywood's Gold Age stars have been enjoying their golden years.
Brigitte Bardot
Bardot is considered to be one of the symbols for the 60s, appearing in more than 40 films. A career that offered her the luxury of a gorgeous 63,507 square-foot 13th century stone mansion on the French Riviera in the South of France.
The house includes eight suites, all of which have different themes, as well as a separate guest house. Take away the house, and the property is impressive in its own right, adorning an old well, 80 olive trees, and a vineyard that produces up to 1,000 bottles of wine a year. The house is worth around $5.65 million.
Gene Hackman
Gene is known for playing Lex Luther in the film Superman: The Movie, he also won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in The French Connection. Roles that inevitably helped him in the acquisition of his $27 million home in Monterey, California.
The beachfront property used to be part of a larger 4-acre compound but is now its own entity, sitting on half the acreage. The house includes seven fireplaces, four bedrooms, including a master suite with the most luxurious in-house spa you've ever seen, and sits alongside the 10th hole of the famous Pebble Beach golf course.
Richard Chamberlain
Chamberlain is best known for his roles in Dr. Kildare, but in his spare time, he was building a personal oasis in Maui, Hawaii. He spent around four years designing the gated half-acre 6,000 square foot mansion that overlooks Keawakapu Beach. Not too shabby!
The house is considered minimalist with a subtle Asian theme. Chamberlain decided on four-bedrooms, a two-bedroom carriage house, two master suites, a library, atrium, a media room, and a chef's kitchen, not to mention a spa. The house sold for $19 million. We must have different definitions of "minimalist".
Billy Connolly
Billy Connelly is a comedic actor best known for making fun of everyone, including himself. After struggling with Parkinson's for a few years, Connelly decided to sell his New York apartment and move out of the busy city.
The 5th avenue apartment sold for $4.75 million, and it wasn't just because of the ritzy location. The apartment has three bedrooms and an open floor living area, which is practically unheard of in The Big Apple. Considering the windows are 11-feet tall, it's safe to say one of the best features is the fantastic view of the city.
Harry Belafonte
Civil Rights activist and musician Harry Belafonte made a very successful career for himself, earning the name King of Calypso. If his talent wasn't already something to admire, his 1792 160-acre farmhouse located in the quiet outdoorsy town of Chatham, New York certainly is.
Worth $2.9 million, the property has a beautiful view of the Catskill mountains and boasts five ponds with miles of hiking trails. There is also a tennis court and an over-sized pool. The house has four bedrooms, three fireplaces, a one-bedroom hunting cabin, a game room and guest quarters, a two-bedroom pool house, a caretakers house, and a barn.
Ed Asner
Seven-time Emmy Award-winner Ed Asner sold his Studio City, California estate for $1.848 million. Asner is well known for his time on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its CBS spin-off, Lou Grant.
The 2,791 square-foot home sits on a cul-de-sac behind lush landscaping just south of Ventura Boulevard. Built in 1954, the ranch-style home has three bedrooms, a master suite that opens up to a gorgeous brick patio, pool, and spa, as well as a bonus room in what used to be the garage. Not too bad for a man who paid $540,000 for the place in 1996.
Olivia Newton-John
Four-time Grammy Award-winner and Grease star, Olivia Newton-John is no stranger to extravagance, as you can see by her Mediterranean-style home in Malibu. The gated community is no stranger to celebrity owners. Newton-John's neighbor used to be Britney Spears!
Newton-John's 6,482 square-foot garden property boasts a a pool, spa, and a two-bedroom guesthouse. The inside of the house is just as opulent, featuring four suites, seven bathrooms, and five fireplaces. The vaulted ceilings and massive windows both leave something to be admired in the open layout of the house. Newton-John sold her house at $7.5 million.
Judi Dench
Dame Judi Dench has worked in the entertainment industry for over five decades, having over 100 films appearances under her belt with more than a few awards. When the 84-year-old isn't too busy filming, she likes to retreat to her Outwood, Surrey farmhouse in England.
The 6,910 square-foot home sits across five acres of secluded land and boasts two-stories of beautiful rustic architecture. The main home features four bedrooms, multiple fireplaces, and a master suite. In addition, the property has a two-bedroom cottage, heated swimming pool, pond, multiple barns and stables, fruit trees, and acres upon acres of gorgeous gardens. The price of the property in undisclosed.
Rita Moreno
The 87-year-old star of the reboot One Day at a Time built her dream home in the San Francisco Bay Area. Rita Moreno and her late husband Leonard Gordon designed their contemporary house about 18 years ago with one request of the architects: to build the house with as few walls as possible. Ironically, Moreno regrets the request, stating that she has nowhere to hang all of her art!
The 5,500 square-foot multi-level home dons four bedrooms, and walls of glass. The house is also brightly decorated to reflect her Puerto Rican heritage. The property worth is undisclosed.
Victoria Principal
When you hear the name Beverly Hills it's hard not to automatically think lifestyles of the rich and famous, because that's exactly what it is. You know you've made it in show biz when you're able to afford property in the 90210 area code. Principal's Oak Pass Road mansion is worth $2.7 million and is gorgeous.
The three-bed and three-bath mansion is modern and yet homey in style, having clean architectural lines and warm wood finishes. Before selling, Principal made a few cosmetic changes around the property, the most significant of the upgrades being the bluestone decking that now surrounds the swimming pool.
Joan Collins
Joan Collins is no stranger to luxury, as you can see by her 2,260 square-foot, 25th-floor condo in the Sierra Towers in Los Angeles. Her residence is close to the famous Sunset Strip and has a magnificent view that reaches from the heart of the city down to the Pacific Ocean.
The $4.5 million condo boasts two bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a large terrace that spans the exterior of the living room and a bedroom. Black granite countertops break up the white kitchen and a white marble tub is in one of the bathrooms for maximum relaxation.
Loni Anderson
Loni Andreson custom built her Sherman Oaks residence back in 2007 and was said to have "Santa Barbara style." The 4,630 square-foot living space has a living room with a fireplace, a media room, a center-island kitchen, five bedrooms, and six bathrooms, and a master suite that also has a fireplace. The formal dining area connects to a butler's pantry with a wet bar and wine cooler.
Apart from the house, the property doesn't disappoint. French doors open up to a saltwater pool and spa surrounded by mature oak trees. The house is worth $2.435 million.
Robert Conrad
Palm Springs has always attracted the Hollywood elite, but Bear Valley has earned its own A-Lister following. Set high in the scenic Sierra mountains, on a little more than two-thirds of an acre, sits Conrad's property.
The land includes the 5,000 square-foot main house that has views of the mountains and Bear Lake, a three-bedroom guest house, a patio with a fire pit, and a snowmobile garage. The main house has eight bedrooms and eight baths, with a master suite occupying its own floor with a fireplace, a teak soaking tub, and a steam room. The outdoorsy oasis is estimated at $1.75 million.
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is best known for her songs "Honky Tonk Woman" and "Proud Mary," for which she won a Grammy. With all of her years in the music business, she's certainly earned this beautiful 3,000 square-foot house in Los Angeles, California, estimated at $1.4 million.
There are a total of four bedrooms and five bathrooms in the house, including a master suite that features a walk-in closet and direct access to the outdoors. Don't forget about the custom pool and cabana in the back! The backyard wasn't the only custom-made part of the house though, Turner had the front doors made with handles shaped like arms and hands.
Dick Cavett
Dick Cavett's 7,000 square-foot "Tick Hall" has a lot to admire. After a house fire in 1997, the mansion was entirely rebuilt using photographs and memory. The beachfront property offers seven bedrooms and five bathrooms on nearly 20 acres of land. There is even a cliff with a private staircase that leads down to the beach!
The three-level home adorns a finished basement, wraparound porch, hardwood floors, an expansive kitchen with marble countertops, and, of course, beautiful ocean views. Outside there is a pool with a separate cabana. The house was last listed at $48.5 million.
Ali MacGraw
The Love Story star lived in this Palm Springs residence with her late ex-husband Steve McQueen. The 4,493 square-foot home was designed in 1964 and has remained largely unchanged.
McGraw's house is mostly hidden from street view and has a sunken entryway at the bottom of a flight of steps. The estate features four bedrooms and bathrooms, a family room, an eat-in kitchen, a living room that is entirely made of glass walls so there is nothing obstructing the view of the rugged hillside, and, of course, a pool. The house is estimated to be worth around $4.5 million.
Maggie Smith
It's no surprise that Maggie Smith's residence is one of the mansions that is used as a backdrop in Downton Abbey. The Byfleet Manor in Surrey, England was built in 1686, and the 17th-century house is considered to be a rare find on the market.
The 6,000 square-foot four-story mansion sits on a sprawling 18-acres of land. The residence features four reception rooms, eight bedrooms, a wood-paneled hall, and a dining room that opens up to a stone terrace. Recently, the manor went under some restoration, and two asymmetrical wings were added. Byfleet was sold for $6 million.
Vanna White
Vanna made her living being the hostess of the game show Wheel of Fortune. The job paid her very well because the hostess lived in one of the most exclusive gated communities in California, Beverly Park! In 2017, Vanna's home sold on the market for $47.5 million.
White's 14,554 square-foot Tuscan-style mansion sits on about 5.08 acres of land. The residence is nothing short of spectacular, having over eight bedrooms, ten bathrooms, a personal gym and a mini spa, a finished basement with a wine cellar. Outside, there is a private pool and a vineyard that produces wine.
Shirley MacLaine
Unlike the majority of her peers, Shirley MacLaine decided to move out of California and take up residence in New Mexico. She ended up purchasing the Plaza Blanca Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico, as a hideaway where she could relax and write. The ranch is a 7,451-acre property with a swimming pool, house for a caretaker, a coop for chickens, barn for horses, and a greenhouse so she could grow her own food.
MacLaine added onto the main house, creating two separate residents and hosting a few spiritual retreats on the land. The ranch's listing price was $18 million.
Pierre Cardin
The Italian-born French fashion designer has always been interested in shapes and geometric designs, meaning his house is going to be anything but ordinary. In 1975, Cardin began designing the Palais Bulles, the Bubble Palace, on a rocky cliff within Massif de L'Esterel, a volcanic mountain range in the South of France. The 13,000 square-foot mansion was completed in 1989.
Along with other contemporary art, Cardin decorated the ten bedrooms, a living room, a 500-seat amphitheater, three swimming pools, and various gardens with his own creations. If you have a spare $355 million lying around and don't care for right angels, this is your dream home!
