Marlene Dietrich’s Opulent Beverly Hills Residences and Hollywood Lifestyle
Exploring the glamorous California homes and personal life of the legendary actress.
1Nomadic Hollywood Lifestyle
Marlene Dietrich, born in 1901, maintained a nomadic lifestyle throughout her career, residing in Berlin, Paris, and New York. In Los Angeles, she famously rented sprawling Beverly Hills mansions from friends. Her daughter, Maria Riva, noted that Dietrich viewed these temporary homes as essential backdrops for her film projects and personal relationships.
2The First Art Deco Palace
In 1931, filmmaker Josef von Sternberg selected Dietrich’s first Beverly Hills residence. The home featured a distinct 1930s Art Deco aesthetic, characterized by fluid, detached elegance. Riva described the property as having an Olympic-sized pool with mosaic tiles that sparkled in the sunlight, surrounded by cypress and banana trees for privacy.
3The Countess di Frasso Rental
During the mid-1930s, Dietrich rented an eight-bedroom estate from socialite Countess Dorothy di Frasso. The rental agreement included the entire household staff, from the English butler to the ladies' maids. The property featured resort-like grounds, including a red clay tennis court and a garden path bordered by blooming gardenia bushes throughout.
4Ornate Interior Design Choices
Interior designer Elsie de Wolfe curated the di Frasso residence with extreme opulence. The home featured hand-painted murals, mirrored walls, and tables, alongside lacquered black flooring. Statement pieces included a Charles Baskerville mural titled Zebra and Black Panther With Cacti, while the game room boasted jade and agate backgammon playing pieces.
5Inventory of Extreme Luxury
The di Frasso home came with a two-hundred-page inventory book detailing every item, including bone china for fifty guests and 14-karat gold cutlery. Dietrich, who disliked formal inventories, treated these luxuries as standard accompaniments to fame. Her daughter Maria recalled eating soup with solid gold spoons as a normal daily occurrence.
6Hosting Hollywood Social Circles
Dietrich frequently hosted extravagant parties at the di Frasso estate, welcoming guests like Clara Bow and Ronald Colman. The home’s glamorous, overdone interiors were often featured in fan magazines, leading the public to mistakenly believe Dietrich owned the property. These events relied on meticulous planning, including engraved invitations and formal place cards.
7Cooking as Personal Therapy
Beyond her film career, Dietrich was a dedicated home cook who found the activity therapeutic during idle hours between shooting schedules. She gained a reputation in Hollywood for her culinary skills, particularly her French pot-au-feu. She often expressed more pride in her cooking abilities than in her carefully crafted studio image.
8Friendship with Ernest Hemingway
A 1951 photograph shows Dietrich in her living room with a signed picture from Ernest Hemingway. While rumors of a romance persisted, Riva clarified that their relationship was a deep, platonic friendship. Hemingway called her 'Daughter,' and Dietrich referred to him as 'Papa' until his death ten years after the photo.