Robin Williams, the beloved comedian and actor, once called this San Francisco residence his own. He filled the home with secret rooms and concealed passages, all designed for the delight of his children. Now, this remarkable property is hitting the market with an asking price of $25 million.
Public records indicate that Robin Williams and his former spouse, Marsha Garces Williams, a producer of “Mrs. Doubtfire,” acquired this residence in the Sea Cliff neighborhood for .2 million back in 1991. It was the same year that Williams starred in the movie “Hook.” According to the 2018 book titled “Robin,” Williams first ventured to the Bay Area when he was a teenager.
The couple, who wed in 1989 and later divorced in 2010, had two children together. Following the divorce, Marsha Williams was granted ownership of the house.
Marsha Williams, the current owner, described the house as “beautiful” and filled with happy memories. She is opting to sell the property now that her children have grown, expressing her desire to downsize. She fondly recalled the “fantastic years of fun and play and joy” experienced in the home.
This gated and walled house occupies a corner lot, as noted by the listing agent, Steven Mavromihalis of Compass. Built around 1926, the home was originally owned by Oliver J. Olson, as documented in the 2014 book “The Liberty Ships of World War II.”:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999x0:1001x2):format(webp)/robin-williams-former-home-for-sale-102623-4-6970d875f1344eafb4392b68160d41ff.jpg)
The Williamses embarked on a comprehensive renovation of the house, essentially rebuilding it from the ground up. Original features such as woodwork, moldings, and ironwork, including distinctive angled wooden beams above the main staircase, were meticulously preserved. However, the couple also infused the home with a whimsical charm. Above the main entrance, framed by stone columns, they incorporated cast-stone Comedy and Tragedy masks.
Mavromihalis conveyed the essence of playfulness that the Williamses infused into the house. Notably, they designed a concealed passageway connecting the children’s bedrooms. In the media room, there is a Prohibition-era style bar hidden behind a wall, alongside a drop-down projector for movie screenings. The exterior of the house is adorned with metal gargoyles, in the form of iguanas and turtles, appearing as though they are scaling the walls of the residence.
The house, as currently configured, comprises six bedrooms. The primary suite is equipped with a Japanese-themed bathroom that includes a raised soaking tub. Additionally, there is a separate one-bedroom guest apartment with its private entrance.
The property further offers a library and a media room, both with French doors leading to the outdoors. Other features include a wine cellar, pantry, walk-in vault, multiple storage rooms, and cedar-lined closets. Numerous patios and a loggia with views of the Golden Gate Bridge can be found outside.
In the context of San Francisco’s luxury real estate market, Mavromihalis pointed out a significant decrease in activity compared to 2021, primarily due to higher interest rates. However, he noted a recent surge in high-end transactions over the past few weeks, particularly in the $8 million to $15 million range. Mavromihalis attributed this change to a market previously saturated with inventory that has now seen several properties entering into contracts.
Robin Williams embarked on his career in stand-up comedy and later achieved stardom in various films, including “Patch Adams” and “Aladdin.” He received four Oscar nominations, clinching the award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Good Will Hunting.” Tragically, he passed away in 2014 at his residence in Tiburon, California, just north of San Francisco.
