The Bette Davis House is one of the most talked-about real estate stories in classic Hollywood history. Few actresses have left behind such a rich trail of homes, each one telling a different chapter of a remarkable life. From modest early rentals in West Hollywood to a grand hacienda-style estate in Beverly Hills, Davis’s properties were as bold and expressive as she was. What kind of home does a two-time Oscar winner choose? And how did her legendary personality shape every place she ever lived?
For fans of classic Hollywood, exploring the homes of Bette Davis offers a rare window into the private world of a very public star. Her real estate journey stretched across Los Angeles neighborhoods, from Toluca Lake to Coldwater Canyon, and even touched the East Coast. This article takes a close look at those homes, her life story, and the lifestyle that made the Bette Davis celebrity home one of the most fascinating in Hollywood history.
Who Is Bette Davis?
Bette Davis was an American actress of film, television, and theater, widely regarded as one of the greatest actresses in Hollywood history. She was known for playing strong, complicated, and often unlikeable characters — the kind of roles other actresses turned down. Her performances had a fire to them that audiences couldn’t ignore, and that made her a superstar for decades.
Davis co-founded the Hollywood Canteen for servicemen during World War II and served as the first female president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She wasn’t just a film star — she was a trailblazer. At a time when women in Hollywood were expected to look pretty and follow orders, Bette Davis pushed back hard, fought for better roles, and changed the industry in the process.
Her influence went well beyond her films. She inspired countless actresses who came after her, and her legacy continues to show up in popular culture, fashion, and even music. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked her as the second greatest female star of classic Hollywood cinema, just behind Katharine Hepburn.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ruth Elizabeth Davis |
| Born | April 5, 1908, Lowell, Massachusetts |
| Died | October 6, 1989, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France |
| Profession | Actress (Film, Television, Theater) |
| Nationality | American |
| Career Span | Over 50 years |
| Total Films | 100+ |
| Academy Awards | 2 wins (Best Actress) |
| Oscar Nominations | 10 nominations |
| Major Films | Of Human Bondage, Jezebel, All About Eve, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? |
| Net Worth at Death | ~$1–2 million (approx. $2.5 million today) |
| Marriages | 4 (Harmon Nelson, Arthur Farnsworth, William Grant Sherry, Gary Merrill) |
| Children | 3 (Barbara Davis Sherry, Margot Merrill, Michael Merrill) |
| AFI Lifetime Achievement | 1977 (first woman to receive the honor) |
Where Did Bette Davis Live?
Bette Davis was not the type to stay in one place for long. Throughout her life, she moved frequently between several Los Angeles neighborhoods and also owned property on the East Coast. During her peak Hollywood years, she gravitated toward Beverly Hills and the Coldwater Canyon area, both of which were considered among the most prestigious addresses in Southern California.
Davis moved to Hollywood in 1930 after appearing in Broadway plays. When she first arrived, she was just a young actress chasing a dream, living in affordable rentals with her mother and sister. As her career took off, her homes became grander and more personal. Each property reflected a different phase of her life — the hopeful newcomer, the rising star, the Oscar winner, and eventually the Hollywood legend.
In her later years, Davis split her time between California and the East Coast. She eventually settled into a quieter lifestyle, though she never stopped working. Even in her final years, she was appearing in films and accepting awards on international stages.
Bette Davis House Overview
The most iconic Bette Davis house from her Hollywood peak years was located at 1700 Coldwater Canyon in Beverly Hills. According to the book Dark Victory, the Coldwater Canyon home was described as “a hacienda-style house complete with a swimming pool, tennis court, and an acre of land.” This property perfectly matched Davis’s personality — it was private, commanding, and full of character.
The hacienda architectural style was very popular in California during the 1930s and 1940s. It featured stucco walls, red-tiled roofs, arched doorways, and lush courtyard-style landscaping. For a woman like Bette Davis, who valued both elegance and privacy, this style of home was a natural fit. The grounds were large enough to offer true seclusion in an era before celebrity culture became as invasive as it is today.
The Coldwater Canyon address also placed her close to the heart of the entertainment industry while maintaining a level of distance from the bustle of the city. It was the kind of home that said: this person has made it. And Bette Davis had absolutely made it.
Luxury Amenities of Bette Davis House
The Bette Davis Beverly Hills home was known for several impressive features:
- Swimming pool
- Tennis court
- One-acre private grounds
- Spacious guesthouse
- Formal gardens and landscaping
- Multiple bedrooms and entertaining spaces
- Enclosed courtyard area
- Large, shaded outdoor living areas
Inside Bette Davis’s Home
Inside the Coldwater Canyon property, everything was designed with comfort and character in mind. Davis was known to have a keen eye for interior design, preferring warm, livable spaces over cold, formal décor. Friends and colleagues who visited her home often described it as elegant but not stuffy — a true reflection of her personality.
Davis loved English-style furnishings and was drawn to warm wood tones, plush textiles, and personal touches like framed portraits and memorabilia from her career. Her earlier homes had a similar warmth. As Davis herself described one of her earlier residences, it was “a white, ivy-covered little English house,” which spoke to her appreciation for traditional, storybook charm.
The larger Beverly Hills home expanded on those tastes. With an acre of land, there was room for a proper dining room, multiple sitting areas, and a generous master suite. The outdoor spaces were equally important to her — she loved gardens and open air. Davis was, in many ways, someone who valued a real home over a showpiece, and her interiors reflected that sensibly human side of her.
Bette Davis House Then and Now
| Feature | Then (1930s–1940s) | Now (Current Status) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Address | 1700 Coldwater Canyon, Beverly Hills | Private ownership, address remains residential |
| Architectural Style | Hacienda / Spanish Colonial | Updated but retains regional character |
| Estimated Value | ~$50,000–$100,000 (1937 era pricing) | Estimated $4–8 million+ in today’s market |
| Property Size | 1 acre | Property lines likely unchanged |
| Key Features | Pool, tennis court, guesthouse | Modern updates likely added over decades |
| Neighborhood Feel | Quiet, celebrity-heavy enclave | Still among LA’s most desirable addresses |
| Ownership | Bette Davis (personal residence) | Private owners; not open to the public |
Personality and Design Influence
Bette Davis was not someone who blended in. Everything she did — from her choice of film roles to her public statements — had an unmistakable stamp of individuality. It makes perfect sense that the same would be true for her homes. Her properties were always personal spaces, never just investment assets.
Her preference for English cottage-style homes in her early years showed a romantic, almost nostalgic side. The grand hacienda in Beverly Hills showed ambition and arrival. Davis was known for her fierce determination and her refusal to conform to traditional Hollywood standards, and this spirit extended into how she lived. She didn’t decorate to impress others. She decorated to feel at home.
Davis also valued functionality. She entertained at her properties but was equally content working in a quiet study or walking through her garden. Her home choices speak to someone who understood that a life well-lived needed both beauty and purpose.
House Value and Property Details
The Bette Davis home in Beverly Hills at Coldwater Canyon was acquired in 1937, during the peak of her career. At the time, real estate in Beverly Hills was significantly less expensive than it is today, but the property was still a major purchase. Today, properties in the Coldwater Canyon area of Beverly Hills regularly sell for millions of dollars.
Here are the key property details related to the Bette Davis estate:
- Primary Address: 1700 Coldwater Canyon, Beverly Hills, California
- Acquired: circa 1937
- Architectural Style: Hacienda / Spanish Colonial Revival
- Land Size: Approximately 1 acre
- Key Amenities: Swimming pool, tennis court, guesthouse
- Estimated Era Value: $50,000–$100,000 (late 1930s)
- Estimated Current Market Value: $4 million–$8 million+
- Current Status: Private residential ownership
- Condition: Property has been updated by subsequent owners over the decades
Real Estate Portfolio Breakdown
Bette Davis moved many times during her Hollywood career, and her real estate portfolio tells the story of her rise from hopeful newcomer to established legend.
Early Hollywood Rentals (1930–1932): When Davis first arrived in Los Angeles, she lived in modest rental homes with her mother and sister. In April of 1932, the family moved into a large Tudor home in the posh Toluca Lake neighborhood, just around the corner from the Warner Bros. Studio in Burbank, with a yard that led down to Toluca Lake. This was a step up, but they didn’t stay long.
Malibu and West Hollywood (1932–1935): By June 1932, the family was moving to a house at 135 Zuma in Malibu. Later, after her marriage to Harmon Nelson, Davis moved into a home at 1217 Horn Avenue in West Hollywood, which she described as a white, ivy-covered English-style cottage with a back guesthouse for her mother and sister.
Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills (Mid-1930s): As her career grew, Davis and her husband moved to a large home on Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills, directly across from the Beverly Hills Hotel. This was one of the most coveted addresses in all of Los Angeles, placing her among the true elite of the film world.
Coldwater Canyon, Beverly Hills (1937–Late 1940s): The crown jewel of Davis’s California real estate was her hacienda at 1700 Coldwater Canyon. This one-acre estate became her primary home during the most celebrated years of her film career. It was here that she lived while making some of her greatest films.
East Coast Properties: Davis also maintained connections to the East Coast throughout her life, spending time in New England. She had a deep fondness for the northeastern United States, where she grew up, and this sentiment was reflected in her occasional returns to the region as she grew older.
Conclusion
The story of the Bette Davis House is really the story of a woman who never stopped reaching for something better. From a small rental in West Hollywood to a grand hacienda in Beverly Hills, her homes tracked the arc of one of Hollywood’s greatest careers. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress twice and was the first person to accumulate ten Academy Award nominations for acting. Her wealth, while modest by today’s celebrity standards, was hard-earned over six decades of relentless work.
What makes the Bette Davis celebrity home story so compelling isn’t the price tags or the square footage — it’s the personality behind every property. Davis chose homes that reflected who she was: strong, refined, private, and a little unconventional. Her legacy includes over 100 film, television, and theater roles, two Academy Awards, and a reputation as one of the most formidable talents in cinematic history. It’s a legacy that lives on not just in her films, but in every piece of real estate that once bore her name.
