Many, many months ago my very good friend and fellow stalker Kerry challenged me to find Julia Roberts’ house from the Academy Award winning movie Erin Brockovich. Kerry knew that the home was located somewhere in the Ventura area, but had no idea of its exact whereabouts. So, I, of course, enlisted the help of Mike, from MovieShotsLA, who wound up finding the home’s location pretty much immediately! Flash forward to six weeks ago when my family and I took a little weekend vacay to Ventura. I managed to sneak in some stalking during our trip, as I always do when on vacation, but by that time had completely forgotten about the Erin Brockovich house. That’s the blonde in me!! Well, as soon as I got home and posted my first Ventura blog entry, I got a very excited phone call from Kerry, who wanted to know when I would be writing about the house that she had challenged me to find so long ago. Well, let me tell you, I almost fell out of my chair. I felt absolutely TERRIBLE that I had forgotten all about it!!!! And I felt even more terrible about an hour later when Mike called me up and asked me the very same thing! LOL LOL LOL So, this past weekend, when my parents announced that they would be spending a few nights in Ventura, I begged them to do a little Erin Brockovich stalking for me. Semi-begrudgingly they agreed. So, even though I don’t usually like to blog about locations I haven’t personally visited myself, I had to make an exception just this once, for Kerry’s – and Mike’s – sakes! 🙂
I am very happy to report that, although the paint color is now different, the Erin Brockovich house is still very recognizable from the movie. On a side note, my mom had actually offered to pose in front of Erin’s house for the above picture like I usually do in my stalking photographs, which I thought would have been absolutely HILARIOUS, but unfortunately she was having a bad hair day at the time, so she didn’t end up doing it. LOL
Located directly next door to Erin’s house is the residence that stood in for the home of her boyfriend George, who was played by Aaron Eckhart, in the film. And I am happy to report that it looks exactly the same today as it did when Erin Brockovich was filmed there back in 2000 – right down to its paint color! 🙂 I love it when that happens!!!
There has been one major change to the two houses since filming wrapped, though. In Erin Brockovich, Erin and George’s homes shared a large front yard area, but today there is a tall hedge separating the two properties, which changes their appearance quite significantly.
Quite a few scenes take place in that shared front yard area, including the FABULOUS scene when Erin and George first meet and she makes that GREAT speech about her telephone number! Love it!
The scene when Ed Masry gifts Erin $5,000 and a new car also takes place out in front of the home.
Some filming also took place in the backyard area of the two houses, and, I believe, inside of the homes, as well.
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Just around the corner from Erin’s home is the Main Street Restaurant and Steakhouse, which makes a very brief appearance at the beginning of the movie as the restaurant where Erin takes her kids for a bite to eat after finding a cockroach in her kitchen.
A little bit of movie trivia for you – the waitress in that scene was played by none other than the real life Erin Brockovich. Her character’s name in the movie? Why Julia, of course! 😉 LOL
Until next time, Happy Stalking! 🙂
Stalk It: The Erin Brockovich house is located at 545 South Emma Avenue in Ventura. George’s house is located right next door at 555 South Emma Avenue. Main Street Restaurant and Steakhouse is located just a few blocks away at 3159 East Main Street, also in Ventura.
I love this!!!!
I’ve lived in Ventura most my life. I spent years in and around the neighborhood around the Emma Ave houses used in the filming. I just rewatched the movie for the first time in a while. There’s a brief scene within the first 20 minutes or so where Erin (Julia) is picking up her youngest (I think) from the sitter. She walks upstairs to the sitter’s apartment and gets her child. I could swear those are the Apartments on Kirk Ave where I lived years ago! If you look at the map of the area, follow Emma up to Preble Ave, then ‘make a right’ and follow Preble towards Mills rd and the 101, you’ll see a rather short street called Kirk Ave. That’s where I think that brief scene might be from.
Good times in that area, including S. Dos Caminos, Eva, S Brent, Ocean Ave, pretty much the whole area! Well, obviously this is an older post, but in the long shot anyone wanders back in here and has an idea about that brief scene’s location, let me know!
They probably screwed up the insides of the house, as it would be respectful and nice if they left it simple – similar to the movie. No flat panel tvs hanging on walls, no LED lights, no granite countertops and nothing the character Erin wouldn’t afford herself. That. would be something.
Hopefully it’s not ugly inside, but i expect the worst.
We just moved to the neighborhood and heard what we thought were rumors, Googled it, found your site and are totally excited of this movie history just down the block. Thanks for posting this info.
John & Pam
I was just by there today and the Erin B. House is for sale!
OMG……..I am speechless! I dont even know what to say. When I saw the words Erin Brockovich……I nearly fell off my chair! Youre the BEST Linds…….thank you for making my day!!!!!! And thanks to Mike, and of course, your sweet Mom & Dad for taking the pictures!!!!!!! This has been quite the location week for me! Ok, I have to your post and check out the pics again……..
K~