HOLLYWOOD HILLS—The long-time home of Louis Zamperini, Olympic athlete and World War II hero, has been put on the real estate market for just under $2 million.

This is the first time in nearly 60 years that the property has been made available for sale. Boni Bryant of Sotheby’s International Realty is the property’s listing agent.

Louis Zamperini's former house at 2338 Hollyridge Dr. offers scenic views of  Downtown Los Angeles  and Hollywood.
Louis Zamperini’s former house at 2338 Hollyridge Dr. offers scenic views of Downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood.

The house built in 1922 is located at 2338 Hollyridge Drive, and takes up 3,445 square feet of a 15,788-square-foot lot. The listing describes the property as a “hillside English Revival ‘cottage with gambled thatched type roof’ [which] evokes the picturesque cottages of rural England.” The house features four bedrooms and three bathrooms, a “spacious and light filled” living room with original fireplace, and a sunroom that offers “spectacular views from Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood and beyond.” Below the main floor, the lower level includes a maid’s quarters and workshop. Above, the attic offers 1,400 square feet of additional living space.

Zamperini moved into the house in 1957, more than a decade after his return from World War II. During his service, Zamperini flew with the United States Army Air Corps as a bombardier. After his plane crashed in 1943, Zamperini was captured by the Japanese Navy and held as a prisoner of war for two years. Following his release in 1945, Zamperini was awarded the Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross and the Prisoner of War Medal.

Prior to his military service, Zamperini was an unlikely track and field star. Though he initially “hated running,” according to Laura Hillenbrand’s biography “Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption,” Zamperini grew to be a formidable athlete. In 1934, he ran a mile in 4 minutes, 21.3 seconds at the Southern California Track and Field Championship, “shattering the national high school record … by more than two seconds.” He later represented the United States at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, where he broke another record. He ran the 5,000-meter dash, and completed his last lap in only 56 seconds—more than 13 seconds faster than the previous Olympic record of 69.2 seconds.

In 2014, the movie “Unbroken,” brought Hillenbrand’s biography to the silver screen. Angelina Jolie, who was friends with Zamperini, directed and co-produced the film.

Zamperini’s former home will be available for an open house viewing from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 8, and Sunday, August 9. There will be another showing on Tuesday, August 11, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.