John Elgin Woolf: The Architect Who Redefined Hollywood Glamour

Slim Aarons | Beverly Hills Pool Party (1952) shot at Robert Evans’ Woolf Designed Home

When I first stepped into legendary producer Robert Evans’ Beverly Hills estate in 2005, I was captivated—not just by the home’s undeniable glamour, but by its extraordinary architecture. The mastermind behind it all? John Elgin Woolf, the man who invented Hollywood Regency, the architectural style that defined an era and became synonymous with Tinseltown’s golden age.

Born in Atlanta in 1910, Woolf’s journey to Hollywood wasn’t a direct path. He initially pursued acting, even hoping for a role in Gone with the Wind. While the acting career didn’t pan out, his Southern charm and artistic sensibilities opened other doors. Woolf quickly made a name for himself as the architect of choice for Hollywood’s elite, crafting some of the most iconic homes of the 1950s and 60s.

The Woolf Designed 1110 Maytor Place Sold For $15,500,000 in 2019

An Architect for the Stars

From Judy Garland to Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn to Bob Hope, Woolf’s clients were the crème de la crème of Hollywood. His homes were as dramatic as the stars who lived in them, blending opulence with theatricality. Signature features included mansard roofs, grand “Pullman” doors, oval windows, and lavish round pools with fountains. Woolf’s designs weren’t just homes—they were stages for the high-glamour lifestyles of his clients.

John Elgin Woolf

Woolf’s success was equally a product of his partnership with Robert Koch, an interior designer who was also his life partner. Together, they created spaces that combined timeless elegance with modern innovation, delivering homes that were both sophisticated and comfortable.

Woolf’s Signature Hollywood Regency Style Architecture

Known for creating the Hollywood Regency style, Woolf paired modern simplicity with glamorous details. The tall arched pullman doors in a playful aqua tone create a dramatic focal point, complemented by decorative metal framework that adds sophistication. Symmetry is emphasized through neatly clipped geometric hedges, while rounded windows and ivy-patterned walls provide whimsical and textured accents. The clean stucco facade and understated color palette are elevated by luxurious touches like the chandelier. The design seamlessly merges modernist lines with classical ornamentation, embodying the theatrical elegance of Hollywood Regency architecture.

Timeless Investments and Living Masterpieces

John Elgin Woolf’s Hollywood Regency style homes continue to command attention—and staggering price tags—in the luxury real estate market. Here’s a snapshot of trades.

Robert Evans’ Former Estate: Sold for $16,000,000 on January 6, 2020. Located at 1032 N. Beverly Dr., this property is an iconic representation of Woolf’s style, complete with a round pool immortalized by Slim Aarons’ photography.

Legendary Hollywood Producer Robert Evans lounging by his iconic John Elgin Woolf home.

Errol Flynn and Moby’s Home, 9250 Cordell

Sold in 2016 for $3,875,000. This Trousdale Estates home epitomizes the elegance Woolf brought to mid-century design.

8450 Melrose Place (Woolf’s Studio)

Purchased by developer Zach Vella for $30,000,000 in 2013, this property once served as Woolf’s creative hub.

8850 Evanview Drive

Former home of Vincente Minnelli and Judy Garland. Sold for $4,675,000 in 2020. This Hollywood Hills residence exemplifies Woolf’s ability to fuse grandeur with intimacy.

Bob Hope's Toluka Lake estate sold for $15,000,000 to Ron Burkle who is reportedly planning to preserve and restore the main residence, which was originally built in 1939 by architect Robert Finkelhor and expanded into a 15,000 square foot home in the 1950s by John Elgin Woolf.

Bob Hope Estate

1447 Queens Road

Built by John Elgin Woolf, along with his partner, for his own residence, Sold for $3,250,000 in 2019.

805 Hillcrest

Sold for $12,500,000 in 2016. The one-story, single-family home was built for dentist Alva Vance and his wife Catherine in 1954 by John Elgin Woolf the Hollywood Regency style.

Paul Trousdale's former estate (pictured above) was listed for $31,990,000 and sold for $20,000,000 in 2021.

Star-Studded Legacy: The Homes That Shaped Hollywood History

The legacy of John Elgin Woolf is etched into Hollywood's architectural history, with homes that not only embodied the glamour of their era but also housed some of its most iconic stars. While some of these properties remain standing as living monuments to his visionary design, others have faded into history, leaving behind only their storied addresses. From the elegant estates of film legends to residences that epitomized Hollywood Regency style, these homes were as much a part of the stars' allure as their on-screen performances.

• Cary Grant, 9966 Beverly Grove Drive, Los Angeles.
• Barbara Stanwyck, 273 South Glen Boulevard, Los Angeles.
• Ira and Leonore Gershwin, 1021 North Roxbury Drive, Beverly Hills.
• Fanny Brice, 312 North Faring Road, Los Angeles.
• Bob Hope, 10346 Moorpark Street, North Hollywood.
• Agnes Moorehead, 1023 North Roxbury Drive, Beverly Hills.
• Ronald Colman, 1003 Summit Drive, Beverly Hills.
• Charles Feldman and Jean Howard, 2000 Coldwater Canyon, Los Angeles.
• Lillian Gish, Trancas Beach, Malibu.
• Mervyn LeRoy, 332 St. Cloud Road, Bel Air.
• Paul Lynde, 103 Robin Drive, Los Angeles.
• Ray Milland, 10664 Bellagio Road, Los Angeles.
• Ricardo and Georgiana Montalban, 9256 Robin Drive, Los Angeles.
• Loretta Young, 8313 Fountain Avenue, Los Angeles.
• Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, 9191 St. Ives Drive, Beverly Hills.

John Elgin Woolf’s homes were more than just residences—they were portals to a world where glamour, creativity, and innovation thrived. His architectural legacy captures the spirit of Hollywood’s golden age, a time when stars lived as dramatically as they performed. Today, his designs remain a testament to his genius, standing as enduring symbols of elegance and individuality. As long as there are dreamers drawn to the allure of timeless beauty and bold reinvention, Woolf’s influence will continue to inspire, reminding us that great design isn’t just about creating spaces—it’s about creating legacies.