Bette Davis's Coast-to-Coast Homes Reveal Hollywood Rebel's Private Life
The legendary actress's residences mirrored her unconventional Hollywood journey.
1Legal battles shaped lifestyle
Davis's 1936 lawsuit against Warner Bros. over creative control marked her rebellious persona. This defiance extended to her living choices, owning 75+ residences. Her nomadic childhood after father's abandonment influenced this pattern, with memoir entries linking her four marriages to this early instability. The Zuma Beach cottage in 1932 became first marital home with husband Harmon Nelson.
2West Hollywood creative hub
The 1932 English-style 'dream cottage' at 1217 Horn Avenue housed Davis's mother and sister in its ADU while she pursued roles. This ivy-covered property reflected her rising stardom post-Dark Victory. Nearby, her Brentwood Heights home (1933) featured Scottish terriers - a passion leading her to preside over animal welfare group Tailwaggers, calling dogs 'more human than we are.'
3Coldwater Canyon grandeur
Her 1937 hacienda at 1700 Coldwater Canyon Drive boasted tennis courts and acreage, where she hosted Hollywood's croquet craze. Biographer Sikov notes she preferred reading scripts there over socializing - a habit her first husband cited in divorce proceedings. The property became stage for both leisure (poolside reading) and industry work (1941 CBS radio rehearsals).
4Modest Glendale estate
The 1942 Rancho Avenue Tudor home broke Hollywood norms as a two-bedroom estate on two acres with equestrian trails. Its stables and pool served family life during WWII years when Davis took career breaks. This contrasted with her earlier nomadic periods, showing stability while maintaining distance from studio systems through rural California living.
5Malibu family chapter
Post-All About Eve, Davis and fourth husband Gary Merrill expanded into a Malibu rental (1950), later adopting two children. Her memoir details blending households: 'I moved his antiques without pitching them in the ocean.' This coastal phase followed her 1947 biological daughter's birth, marking career-family balance attempts before Maine relocation.
6Maine's Witch-way haven
The accidental discovery of Cape Elizabeth's eight-acre 'Witch-way' estate (1950s) featured ocean views and skating pond. Davis joked about the witch reference to herself, embracing New England isolation. This three-story clapboard house hosted her mother, symbolizing reconciliation with childhood roots after Hollywood battles - a theme recurring in her memoir's domestic reflections.
7Final LA floral retreat
Her 1967 Los Angeles porch, draped in bougainvillea, preceded Connecticut relocation. Davis called herself a 'country mouse,' cultivating flowers as personal gifts. This property witnessed her later career phase, still defiant - she'd display manuscripts during guests' visits. The vibrant exterior contrasted with Hollywood's expected glamour, mirroring her unorthodox star persona.
8Real estate as autobiography
Davis's properties chronicle Hollywood's evolution from studio control to independent stardom. Each home reflected professional turning points: lawsuits, Oscar wins, family expansion, and industry rebellion. Unlike peers' jewel collections, she acquired houses as tangible manifestations of autonomy - from Malibu rentals to Maine estates, constructing identity beyond Warner Bros.' prescribed star image.