The Mulholland Drive estate that once housed Boris Karloff and Gregory Peck is back on the market, tagged at $6.5 million. Robert Guza Jr., the former head writer of General Hospital, is selling the property after holding it since 2003. It’s a steep jump from the $2.8 million his late wife, Meg Bennett, and he paid for the house, but the price tag reflects the rarity of what’s actually being sold. This isn’t just a house; it’s a time capsule from 1931, when Karloff was becoming the face of Frankenstein.
Karloff built the Cape Cod-style residence in 1941. He later sold it to Gregory Peck, the actor who won an Oscar for To Kill a Mockingbird. Peck lived there during his Hollywood prime, appearing in films like Roman Holiday and Spellbound. The property has survived decades of development in an area where old homes are frequently bulldozed for newer, larger constructions. Listing agents Holly Hatch and Chris Johnson of Coldwell Banker Realty note that the home retains much of its original character, a feature that sets it apart from the contemporary mansions reshaping the neighborhood.
Inside, the 4,585-square-foot main residence offers five bedrooms and seven bathrooms. A distinctive concealed closet connects the primary suite to the guesthouse, which has its own independent entrance. The kitchen features an island and breakfast nook, while large windows and glass doors blend the interior with the surrounding gardens. A home office with a fireplace and built-in bookshelves adds to the period feel. The layout is functional, with a gym that could easily become a sixth bedroom if a buyer wants to maximize space.
The grounds are arguably the real draw. A kidney-shaped pool and deck overlook the canyon, with views stretching to Catalina Island on clear days. A trail from the property provides direct access to Fryman Canyon, a popular hiking spot in the Santa Monica Mountains. For Guza and Bennett, this trail access was a primary motivation for buying the home in 2003. They valued the connection to the outdoors as much as the celebrity history. The 132% nominal increase in value over two decades underscores the premium placed on preserved historic homes in Beverly Hills.
The listing, reported by Mansion Global in July 2026, positions the estate as a unique opportunity for buyers seeking a slice of Old Hollywood. The property combines celebrity provenance with established landscaping and a hillside setting that newer luxury builds can’t replicate. Potential buyers aren’t just purchasing square footage; they’re acquiring a surviving example of the residential architecture that defined the area more than eight decades ago. The next step is finding a buyer willing to pay the premium for that history.