Denzel Washington’s Houses: Here’s Where the Acting Legend Has Lived

After a full and celebrated career, Denzel Washington is ready to retire in the near future. But where are Denzel Washington’s houses, and where might the New York native spend his time away from the big screen? The actor has maintained homes on both coasts; his latest acquisition is a luxury condo in Century City which previously belonged to Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, a granddaughter of the late King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. He also previously owned a home on the east coast, in a celeb-favorite Robert A.M. Stern–designed building in Manhattan. “The difference between a house and a home, it’s a big difference,” Washington, who has been married to fellow actor Pauletta Pearson for 41 years, once told People. “You can buy a house, but that doesn’t make it a home—and not to say a man can’t make a home a home, but my wife has made our house a home, and raised these beautiful kids and protected them and sacrificed for them, she did the heavy-lifting.”

As Washington, who stars opposite Paul Mescal in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, heads toward retirement, setting up that ideal home environment will be more important than ever. Below, we’re sharing a glimpse into some of the stunning homes Washington has owned over the course of his 40-year career.

Toluca Lake estate

By 1988, Washington had already broken out on the small screen with his role as Dr. Philip Chandler on the medical drama series St. Elsewhere. The leading part laid the foundation for the actor to take on bigger roles, including his Academy Award–winning turn as a defiant soldier in 1989’s Glory. His success also allowed him to drop $1.1 million for a legendary Hollywood estate in Toluca Lake. The Colonial Revival–style residence was originally built in 1940 for comedian and actor Leon Errol by trailblazing Los Angeles architect Paul Revere Williams. Oscar-winner William Holden later lived there for more than a decade in the late 1940s, and even hosted the wedding of his good friends Ronald Reagan and Nancy Davis at the estate in 1952. The 6,300-square-foot house included four bedrooms, a formal dining room, a home office, and a primary bedroom with its own balcony and media room. The half-acre grounds also included a separate guest cottage, a pool and spa, and a koi pond and fire pit. Washington held onto the home for some time before selling it to TV writer-producer Brenda Hampton for $1.9 million in 2000.

Malibu mansion

Though it’s unclear when Washington purchased his home in Malibu, it’s said to have been the same place that “Love Will Keep Us Together” singers Captain & Tennille resided during the ’70s. Washington reportedly purchased the three-bedroom, two-bathroom retreat from them, and held onto it for an indeterminate amount of time. Other previous tenants also included musician Jimmy Page and actor Jan-Michael Vincent. The dwelling featured open-beamed ceilings, a 180-degree view of the nearby beach, and a guest house, detached gym, and jacuzzi. Years later, it would hit the rental market for about $490 a night.

Beverly Park mega-mansion

In 1996, Washington and his wife, Pauletta, picked up a pair of Beverly Park lots from Disney chairman Michael Eisner and his wife, Jane, for approximately $6.5 million. The two-acre estate now consists of two structures— a stunning four-story main mansion spanning almost 30,000 square feet, and a 5,000-square-foot guesthouse by the pool. There are a total of nine bedrooms and fifteen bathrooms between the two homes, with a tennis court on the grounds. In late 2020, firefighters responded to a smoke report at the house, though it appeared that the Washingtons were not home during that time. They still own this property and consider it their primary residence, nearly 30 years later.

Central Park West apartment

The Washingtons next picked up an apartment in Manhattan’s then most-expensive luxury building—15 Central Park West—in 2006, paying $13 million for the privilege of having neighbors like Sting, Robert DeNiro, Nascar’s Jeff Gordon, and more. The Robert A.M. Stern–designed building featured a limestone exterior, with building amenities like a 14,000-square-foot fitness center, an in-house restaurant with butler service, a 20-seat theater, a 75-foot swimming pool with a glass roof, and white-glove delivery service. Though details of their particular unit are scant, other apartments included uninterrupted views of Central Park to the East and the Hudson River to the West. As Vanity Fair put it, 15 Central Park West is the architectural equivalent of “the highest-grossing movie in history.”

Century City condo

In 2022, the Washingtons snapped up a $10.9 million condo in Century City comprising two residences combined into one by the seller, Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, the granddaughter of Saudi Arabia’s late King Faisal. Their new home measures 8,150 square feet, with six bedrooms and eight bathrooms, accessible via two private entrances. Images of the home reveal unique orange front doors that open onto herringbone-patterned hardwood floors. There’s a family–dining room that opens onto a covered terrace through a set of glass sliders, several breakfast nooks, and multiple entertaining spaces. Other celebrities who have called the building home include Rihanna, Paula Abdul, and the late Matthew Perry.