clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Mapping Rock Hudson's LA: Malibu to Lake Arrowhead

View as Map

Today marks what would have been legendary screen star Rock Hudson's 88th birthday. Hudson died in 1985 of AIDS, becoming one of the first celebrities to go public with the disease. Today, we celebrate his birthday by sharing Rock Hudson's LA. We've written about a few of his homes and hangouts, including his home in Studio City and his weekend getaway in Lake Arrowhead. Now we've compiled all the homes we could find addresses for that were once occupied by Rock. Unfortunately, we can't say that this list is comprehensive as a few of his homes are glossed over leaving out street numbers or any info whatsoever, including a rental on Longridge Avenue in Sherman Oaks, three homes he lived in between the Longridge house and the home on Avenida del Sol, and his father's home in Long Beach where Rock lived upon first arriving in LA from Illinois. A web site also claims that Rock may have owned a John Lautner house at 1011 Cove Way in Beverly Hills. If you have any leads on other Rock Hudson homes let us know in the comments.


· Book: Rock Hudson: His Story [Amazon]
· Rock Hudson Archives [Curbed LA]

Read More

Hilltop Estate

Copy Link

According to the listing for Lake Arrowhead's Hilltop Estate, the 4-acre estate was a favorite vacation spot of Rock. In his biography, Rock Hudson: His Story, Rock and friends Mark Miller and George Nader would travel to Lake Arrowhead because it was far enough away "from the movie colony that for a weekend, they didn't have to worry about being seen with too many boys."

3893 Avenida del Sol

Copy Link

Rock lived in the Avenida del Sol home with straight roommate Bob Preble during the early 50's (although there was only one bedroom, and Bob admits to some experimentation). According to his bio, Rock and Bob lived together for three years in four different homes, with the Avenida del Sol house being the last before Bob married a woman and departed.

8382 Grand View Dr

Copy Link

After Bob Preble moved out of his Avenida del Sol home, Rock decided to move in with his boyfriend Jack Navaar. But Jack wanted his own place with Rock, so they moved to the Grand View house in May 1953. Rock lived in the home until he purchased the house on Warbler Way in 1954. [Image via Google Street View]

9151 Warbler Place

Copy Link

Rock bought the small home on Warbler Place* in November 1954. According to his biography, Rock "furnished the living room with redwood lawn chairs because he put all his cash into the house." Upon marrying wife Phyllis, the two settled in the home. Two years later, Phyllis took the home from Rock in their divorce. *updated to Warbler Place, 11/19/13

Granville Towers

Copy Link

Rock camped out in the Granville Towers, then known as The Voltaire, while going through his divorce from wife Phyllis after two years of marriage. Rock moved into a furnished apartment. For whatever reason, before moving in Rock had the apartment swept for electronic listening devices.

The Castle

Copy Link

Rock Hudson's last home, he lived at "The Castle" from 1962 until his death from AIDS in 1985. "The Castle was decorated in what one of Hudson‘s friends termed 'early butch'" Rock originally rented the home and quickly fell in love with it, but he did not have the cash to buy it. Universal Studios bought the home for Rock for $167,000, on condition that he agree to renew his contract with the studio, which he did.

19200 Pacific Coast Highway

Copy Link

Rock Hudson's Malibu home, built in 1948, features 3 bedrooms, and 2 baths according to Redfin. The link to the right is a video from 1965 of Rock and famous friends celebrating Labor Day at the house. [Photo via therockhudsonproject.com]

Newport Beach House

Copy Link

In 1959, Rock moved from his house in Malibu to Newport Beach. He decided to take up sailing and bought a sailboat which he named the Khairuzan, after his role in the Golden Blade. From his biography: "I have had the best summer of my life at Newport Beach with my boat and my house. I enjoy being alone. Boats and the sea are the greatest things in the world for relaxation and peace of mind, when the only thing that really matters is: Are the sails right? I am going to live at Newport all the year round. I can get to the studio in an hour."

Rock Hudson's Desert Getaway

Copy Link

According to the listing for the home, which popped onto the market in June of this year, the post and beam mid-mod was built in 1958. "Original details from Rock Hudson’s time include the large front door with green glass handles and a roadrunner etched into the glass window. “H” gates mark the entrance to a citrus grove and side yard."It was on the market for $599k, but was delisted just last week.

Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Copy Link

Rock Hudson's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame has seen better days. The sidewalk around the star is cracked, probably from the constant vehicle traffic. The star sits in the driveway for the parking lot to the east of the Henry Fonda Theater. Rock received his star on February 8, 1960.

Loading comments...

Hilltop Estate

According to the listing for Lake Arrowhead's Hilltop Estate, the 4-acre estate was a favorite vacation spot of Rock. In his biography, Rock Hudson: His Story, Rock and friends Mark Miller and George Nader would travel to Lake Arrowhead because it was far enough away "from the movie colony that for a weekend, they didn't have to worry about being seen with too many boys."

3893 Avenida del Sol

Rock lived in the Avenida del Sol home with straight roommate Bob Preble during the early 50's (although there was only one bedroom, and Bob admits to some experimentation). According to his bio, Rock and Bob lived together for three years in four different homes, with the Avenida del Sol house being the last before Bob married a woman and departed.

8382 Grand View Dr

After Bob Preble moved out of his Avenida del Sol home, Rock decided to move in with his boyfriend Jack Navaar. But Jack wanted his own place with Rock, so they moved to the Grand View house in May 1953. Rock lived in the home until he purchased the house on Warbler Way in 1954. [Image via Google Street View]

9151 Warbler Place

Rock bought the small home on Warbler Place* in November 1954. According to his biography, Rock "furnished the living room with redwood lawn chairs because he put all his cash into the house." Upon marrying wife Phyllis, the two settled in the home. Two years later, Phyllis took the home from Rock in their divorce. *updated to Warbler Place, 11/19/13

Granville Towers

Rock camped out in the Granville Towers, then known as The Voltaire, while going through his divorce from wife Phyllis after two years of marriage. Rock moved into a furnished apartment. For whatever reason, before moving in Rock had the apartment swept for electronic listening devices.

The Castle

Rock Hudson's last home, he lived at "The Castle" from 1962 until his death from AIDS in 1985. "The Castle was decorated in what one of Hudson‘s friends termed 'early butch'" Rock originally rented the home and quickly fell in love with it, but he did not have the cash to buy it. Universal Studios bought the home for Rock for $167,000, on condition that he agree to renew his contract with the studio, which he did.

19200 Pacific Coast Highway

Rock Hudson's Malibu home, built in 1948, features 3 bedrooms, and 2 baths according to Redfin. The link to the right is a video from 1965 of Rock and famous friends celebrating Labor Day at the house. [Photo via therockhudsonproject.com]

Newport Beach House

In 1959, Rock moved from his house in Malibu to Newport Beach. He decided to take up sailing and bought a sailboat which he named the Khairuzan, after his role in the Golden Blade. From his biography: "I have had the best summer of my life at Newport Beach with my boat and my house. I enjoy being alone. Boats and the sea are the greatest things in the world for relaxation and peace of mind, when the only thing that really matters is: Are the sails right? I am going to live at Newport all the year round. I can get to the studio in an hour."

Rock Hudson's Desert Getaway

According to the listing for the home, which popped onto the market in June of this year, the post and beam mid-mod was built in 1958. "Original details from Rock Hudson’s time include the large front door with green glass handles and a roadrunner etched into the glass window. “H” gates mark the entrance to a citrus grove and side yard."It was on the market for $599k, but was delisted just last week.

Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Rock Hudson's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame has seen better days. The sidewalk around the star is cracked, probably from the constant vehicle traffic. The star sits in the driveway for the parking lot to the east of the Henry Fonda Theater. Rock received his star on February 8, 1960.