A stately Cotswolds-inspired estate once owned by “Casablanca” director Michael Curtiz and Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman is hitting the market in Los Angeles on Wednesday for $5.99 million.
Mansion Global first reported news of the incoming listing.
Known as the Canoga Estate, the nearly century-old Woodland Hills property, listed by Deanna D’Egidio of Harcourts Plus, sits behind mature deodar cedars, oaks and pines in the quiet Forest Hills neighborhood — an off-the-radar enclave marketed in the mid-20th century as “the Bel-Air of the Valley.”
Originally built in 1928 by Southern California developer Harold Ferguson, the dwelling was once the centerpiece of a more than 250-acre property that included stables and a carriage house. While the surrounding acreage was eventually subdivided, the main residence still occupies more than 2 private acres, all less than half an hour’s drive from Studio City and the beaches of Malibu.
The ownership history reads like a who’s who of 20th-century Hollywood.
After Ferguson’s time as owner came to a close, the home was acquired by legendary filmmaker Michael Curtiz, the Academy Award-winning director behind “Casablanca,” “White Christmas” and “The Adventures of Robin Hood.” Blueprints dated to 1935 and bearing Curtiz’s name document modifications made during his ownership.
According to D’Egidio, Curtiz was likely drawn to the estate’s extraordinary scale and privacy, as well as neighboring colleagues. “Jack Warner lived nearby, and Curtiz worked closely with Warner Bros. throughout his career,” she said.
The property later passed through a succession of notable owners, including Gene Hackman, who owned the estate around 1970 and 1971.
Yet celebrity pedigree is only part of the story.
The home’s architectural significance was recognized almost immediately after it was built, earning feature in a 1930 edition of Architectural Digest. Copies of that issue remain displayed inside the residence today, and a quick scan of the photos makes it clear how much of the estate has been preserved in remarkably original condition.
A granite brick cobblestone driveway leads to the main residence, where cathedral-style vaulted ceilings are accented with exposed wood beams. Original leaded-glass windows and doors remain intact, alongside copper gutters, hand-painted bathroom tiles, slate roofing and hand-honed wood floors that together give the house a storybook cottage-inspired feeling.
The main residence spans 4,847 square feet and includes five bedrooms, five full bathrooms and two powder rooms. Additional living space includes a guest house with two full bathrooms that also serve the pool and dressing areas, along with a separate recreation room.
Rose gardens — with more than 160 manicured rose bushes on the grounds — unfold across the property, while winding pathways weave through mature landscaping that has been cultivated over generations. A koi pond, a tennis court, an expansive lawn and a pool complex with dedicated changing rooms add to the estate’s resort-like atmosphere.
Today, the neighborhood’s tree-lined streets remain one of the area’s defining characteristics.
“The community literally feels like a forest,” D’Egidio said. “You have these hundred-year-old cedar trees, pine trees and oak trees everywhere. It’s one of those places people stumble upon and can’t believe exists.”
That was the experience of one previous owner, television producer Sandy Stewart, whose family created game-show staples including “The Price Is Right” and “The $100,000 Pyramid.” According to D’Egidio, Stewart discovered the neighborhood by chance while driving to a friend’s house and immediately fell in love with it.
The estate’s carriage house, which was separated from the property decades ago and sold independently in the 1950s, has its own Hollywood pedigree. Once owned by Jodie Foster, it sold in 2020 for $1.93 million.
Inside the main residence, current furnishings were carefully selected to complement the home’s historic architecture rather than compete with it.
“Our vision was rooted in European vintage glamour,” D’Egidio said. “The owner had assembled an incredible collection of antique furnishings, and we wanted everything to honor the architecture and the home’s history,” and designer Francesca Grace layered antique pieces, nostalgic textiles and custom furnishings throughout the residence.
In an era when many historic properties are demolished or stripped of their original character, D’Egidio believes the home’s preservation may be one of its greatest assets.
“Buyers today are craving authenticity,” she said. “They’re looking for homes with history, character and craftsmanship. You simply can’t recreate something like this.”