The oceanfront Laguna Beach estate of the late Stephen J. Cannell, a prolific television writer and creator of crime dramas from the 1970s to the ’90s, is on the market for $20 million.
Sited on a blufftop lot that extends over the surf, this three-story house spans 4,710 square feet and features four bedrooms, five bathrooms and two dedicated offices. One of these offices served as a workspace for Cannell, whose 30 year-career included “The Rockford Files,” “The A-Team” and “21 Jump Street,” as well as best-selling crime novels.
It’s easy to imagine him there as he famously filmed his production company’s logo, seated at a typewriter before tearing the sheet of paper from the machine and tossing it into the air. As it floated down, it transformed into his logo that came at the end of his shows.
Records show Cannell and his wife, Marcia, bought the property for $5.15 million in June 1999.
Although they spent most of their time at their home in Pasadena, the Laguna Beach property became “the Cannell family’s cherished beachside estate, a place where creativity and coastal serenity came together,” the listing reads.
Built in 1947 and recently renovated, the house sits behind gates on nearly a quarter-acre lot with a front landscaped courtyard and yard.
A custom Dutch door opens into the bright, airy interior with abundant glass, new hardwood flooring and designer lighting and fixtures throughout.
The foyer leads straight ahead into the main living and dining rooms.
Highlights of the nearby gourmet kitchen include Thermador appliances, an oversized quartz-top island with seating and a breakfast nook.
Upstairs is the primary suite, which occupies the entire upper level.
A fireplace warms the bedroom, which opens to an expansive deck that runs the length of the house and offers views of Dana Point Headlands to Palos Verdes. Off the bedroom, a retreat can double as an office.
The spa-inspired bathroom features a walk-in shower, a new soaking tub, updated counters and flooring, and a sauna. A walk-in closet adds to the amenities.
On the lower level of the house are two bedrooms, a gym, a second full kitchen and a living space that opens to the backyard.
Outdoor amenities include an oceanfront spa, a barbecue island and a tiled patio that ends in a flagpole rising from a patch of grass. Steps lead down the oceanfront peninsula lead to a patio with Woods Cove Beach on the north side and Moss Point Beach on the south.
Shauna and Leita Covington of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties hold the listing.
Cannell’s contributions to television not only entertained audiences but also introduced them to future stars, including Johnny Depp (“21 Jump Street”), Jeff Goldblum (“Tenspeed and Brown Shoe”) and Kevin Spacey (“Wiseguy”).
Later in his career, he shifted to writing crime novels.
Cannell died in October 2010 at 69 and was followed in March 2024 by his widow. She was 81.