It’s been a little over a year since Gene Hackman’s passing at age 95, and his real estate legacy remains in the spotlight. In February, the two-time Oscar winner’s Santa Fe compound shattered expectations when it sold after just eight days on the market. Now, another property tied to the legendary actor has surfaced, this one tucked away in L.A.’s San Fernando Valley.
Hackman owned the nearly century-old Woodland Hills residence only briefly, from roughly 1970 to 1971, before eventually settling in New Mexico. But the storybook property’s Hollywood pedigree stretches back much further. Known historically as the Canoga Estate, the English Cotswold-inspired home was built in 1928 by prominent local developer Harold Ferguson as the centerpiece of a 250-acre ranch. It was later acquired by Casablanca director Michael Curtiz, who owned it for more than 15 years. Blueprints dated 1935 bear the filmmaker’s name, documenting modifications made during his tenure.
According to listing agent Deanna D’Egidio of Harcourts Plus, the vast acreage, expansive stables, and multiple outbuildings were among the property’s original draws. Geographic convenience also played a role. “Jack Warner lived in the area (Warner Brothers president), whom Curtiz worked for on most films,” D’Egidio notes, adding that the historic Warner Ranch site is now the commercial district known as Warner Center.
