THE woman living in an iconic TV show house said she’s plagued by fans knocking on her door, swarming her street, and tossing pizzas on her roof.
Joanne Quintana was forced to sell the property for $4million after years of unwelcome attention from die-hard fans have pushed her to the breaking point.
GettyJoanne Quintana owns the famous Breaking Bad house in Albuquerque, where anti-hero Walter White lived with his family in the hit TV series[/caption]
AlamyFor years, die-hard fans were knocking on Quintana’s door and swarming her street to get a glimpse of the house[/caption]
Sony PicturesFans would even throw pizzas on her garage roof in a homage to a iconic scene of the show[/caption]
Joanne Quintana’s family have owned the house in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for over 50 yearsKOB 4
At first, the home’s role in the hit series Breaking Bad seemed like a dream come true for Quintana and her family, who have owned the house in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for over 50 years.
“It was a ‘once in a lifetime thing’ that allowed us to witness ‘the magic of Hollywood,’” Quintana told local outlet KOB.
She even baked cookies for the cast and crew during every shoot, though Bryan Cranston, who played the cancer-stricken Walter White, was only able to enjoy one cookie on the final day of filming.
But the initial charm quickly wore off as the home became a pilgrimage site for Breaking Bad fans.
Strangers began showing up at all hours, taking photos, knocking on the door, and even leaving bizarre packages addressed to the fictional Walter White.
One package was so suspicious that the family even called the bomb squad.
“We average 300 cars a day,” Quintana said.
“Come Balloon Fiesta, hundreds of thousands come for balloons. Balloons go up, they come down. Where do they come? Here.”
Even though they quickly installed a gate, TV nerds continued to drive by and stare.
Some went as far as to reenact an iconic scene from the show by tossing pizzas onto the garage roof.
The act became an unsavory meme and drew criticism from Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan.
He said on the Better Call Saul podcast back in 2022: “There is nothing original, or funny, or cool about throwing a pizza on this lady’s roof.
“She is the sweetest lady in the world, and if you are getting on her nerves you are doing something seriously f*****g wrong.”
Despite efforts to discourage visitors, tensions boiled over when Quintana was caught on video in 2023 yelling at a couple filming the house, telling them, “Get out, you Mexican trash”, The New York Post reports.
AlamyQuintana and her family even tried putting up a gate, but that didn’t stop fans from driving by[/caption]
AlamyA ‘do not disturb’ sign is seen in front of the home, which will now be sold for $4million[/caption]
HandoutBreaking Bad is widely regarded as one of the greatest television series of all time[/caption]
AlamyAlthough its final episode aired in 2013, the show still draws in millions of fans from around the world[/caption]
Now, after decades of memories in the home, Quintana has had enough.
“This was our family home from 1973, almost 52 years,” she said.
“So we’re going to walk away with just our memories. It’s time to move on. We’re done. There’s no reason to fight anymore.”
The home’s $4 million price tag is a stark contrast to Albuquerque’s median home price of $400,000, according to the Associated Press.
While the asking price reflects its fame, Quintana insists her decision to sell is more about reclaiming peace than profiting off its Hollywood legacy.
Most famous TV houses
HOMES featured on iconic TV shows have become cultural landmarks, with fans visiting and some even fetching high prices when listed on the real estate market.
Here’s a list of some of the most famous TV houses and their real-world locations:
The “Breaking Bad” House – Albuquerque, New Mexico: Walter White’s home became a fan pilgrimage site, famous for the pizza-on-the-roof scene.
The “Full House” House – San Francisco, California: The Victorian-style home featured in the opening credits is often confused with the nearby “Painted Ladies.”
The “Friends” Apartment – New York City, New York: The iconic exterior shots of Monica’s apartment building were filmed in Greenwich Village.
The “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” Mansion – Los Angeles, California: This luxurious mansion became synonymous with Will Smith’s rise to fame in Bel-Air.
The “Sopranos” House – North Caldwell, New Jersey: Tony Soprano’s suburban New Jersey mansion is instantly recognizable to fans.
The “Stranger Things” House – Fayetteville, Georgia: The Byers family’s house is a key location in the hit Netflix series.
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