Andy Griffith may have been Mayberry’s favorite resident, however, off-camera, he lived lavishly in Hollywood. After Griffith became a household name with the “The Andy Griffith Show,” he moved from the North Carolina mountains to the Hollywood hills. In fact, he also had ties with another entertainment icon: Bing Crosby. The singer, comedian, and actor was the previous owner of Griffith’s Los Angeles home.
Located at 10500 Camarillo St., the home is in the exclusive neighborhood of Toluca Lake in North Hollywood. The house has six bedrooms and 7,132 square feet and was occupied by Crosby from 1936 to 1943.
In addition to Griffith, other owners of the lavish pad included Micky Dolenz from the Monkees and Jerry Van Dyke. According to Larry Stickney, who owned the home for 13 years., Griffith once tried to repair the home’s roof and had an accident that was made for TV.
Andy Griffith’s Accident
“At one point, Andy fell off the roof when he was trying to repair it,” Stickney said. In addition, Stickey added that even after Griffith moved out, he would still visit. “Over the years, Andy has come to visit and sometimes he has brought his daughters and granddaughters to see the house.”
According to Realtor.com, the home last sold in 2011 for a whopping $4,020,000. Even after seven decades and a wide variety of owners, man will never forget the house as the Bing Crosby estate.
The Hollywood crooner and actor lived with his family on the property from 1936, when it was built, until January 1943, when a Christmas-tree fire severely damaged the 20-room house.
“It seems his oldest son, Gary, was playing around the dry tree and one of the bulbs sparked that started the fire,” Stickney said at the time.
The fire resulted in $200,000 worth of damages. In addition, the family lost their cocker spaniel, a collection of Crosby’s recordings, golf trophies, and a pipe collection. Sadly, when Crosby sold the estate, he could only recoup $15,000 due to the damages. His family then moved to Mapleton Drive in Los Angeles’ Holmby Hills neighborhood.
The rebuilt house sits on two acres and comprises six bedrooms and five fireplaces. There is also a billiards room and a den with a wet bar. Outside, the manicured lawns feature rose gardens, fruit trees, a tennis court, and a swimming pool.
In addition, the home includes a memorabilia room to honor its famous owners and guests, including Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, and Bob Hope.
