The legendary Beverly Hills estate once owned by Academy Award-winning actor James Cagney has emerged on the luxury property market with a staggering price tag of $38.5 million. This hidden "village" compound, originally constructed for the esteemed performer in 1939, spans approximately 10,778 square feet across five acres of meticulously private land. The property offers such comprehensive amenities that an owner could theoretically never need to depart its grounds.
A Storied Hollywood Legacy
James Cagney, celebrated for iconic roles in films like The Public Enemy, White Heat, and his Oscar-winning performance in Yankee Doodle Dandy, owned this estate for decades. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked the New York City-born actor as the eighth greatest male star of Hollywood's Golden Age. Renowned director Orson Welles once declared Cagney "maybe the greatest actor who ever appeared in front of a camera," noting he "broke every rule about movie acting."
Architectural Grandeur and Design
Designed by Welton-Becket, the rustic main residence serves as the compound's romantic architectural centerpiece. It features seven bedrooms, six full bathrooms, and two half baths, with highlights including a grand ensuite equipped with a gorgeous copper soaking tub and separate shower. European terracotta roof tiles, exposed beam cathedral ceilings, and multiple original fireplaces enhance the Tuscan-inspired aesthetic.
The listing, handled by Timothy Di Prizito and Aaron Kirman of Christie's International Real Estate Southern California, describes the multi-residence compound as sitting beneath the Franklin Canyon Nature Reserve. The property has undergone extensive renovation and restoration, emerging as "a true trophy property" where "architecture, landscape and artistry converge."
The Village-Like Enclave
"The private gated estate unfolds as a village-like enclave with multiple residences connected by hand-laid stone pathways," the listing explains. These pathways wind through tiered citrus gardens, stone walls, and courtyards dotted with sculptures. Additional structures include:
- The guest residence known as The Boathouse, featuring antique wood floors and trussed beams reclaimed from 19th century French Oak with its own gated driveway
- A separate multipurpose creative studio
- Car garages
- Tennis and pickleball courts with a tennis pavilion containing a bar
- A glass-tile swimming pool and spa
The main residence also boasts a wine cellar and a formal dining room that opens onto greenery through French doors, complete with a candle-style chandelier overhead. Various spaces within the compound can be adapted for different uses, with one currently serving as a gym.
Ownership History and Current Sale
Following Cagney's death from a heart attack at age 86 on Easter Sunday in March 1986, the property passed to his widow, Frances Willard Vernon Cagney. The current owner, Steven Dunn, purchased the estate from Frances in 1986. Dunn told the Wall Street Journal that his decision to sell stems from being "ready for change," marking a potential new chapter for this historically significant property.
This extraordinary compound represents not just a luxury real estate opportunity but a tangible piece of Hollywood history, preserving the legacy of one of cinema's most influential performers within its walls and gardens.
