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.
