The Real Addresses: 7 Iconic 'This Is Us' Filming Locations That Are NOT In Pittsburgh

For fans of the Pearson family, the emotional landscape of This Is Us feels deeply rooted in the East Coast, from the blue-collar heart of Pittsburgh to the bustling suburbs of New Jersey. Yet, as of the show's conclusion, the truth behind the camera reveals a classic Hollywood illusion: the vast majority of the series was shot thousands of miles away in sunny Southern California. This deep dive into the show's geography will reveal the exact Los Angeles locations that stood in for the East Coast, providing a fresh perspective on the places that housed the Big Three's most pivotal moments.

The series, created by Dan Fogelman, masterfully convinced audiences that they were watching life unfold in the Mid-Atlantic states, employing clever cinematography and set design. However, the production crew rarely left the confines of Los Angeles and its surrounding areas, with the primary base of operations being Paramount Studios. This article, updated for late 2025, reveals the most iconic, real-world filming locations used throughout the show's six seasons, from the Pearson family's original home to the scenic backdrop of a major wedding.

The Big Three's Iconic Homes: Addresses Revealed

The Pearson family's various residences served as the emotional anchors of This Is Us, representing different eras and stages of life. While the characters lived in Pittsburgh, New York, and the Poconos, the real-world buildings are all clustered around Los Angeles, a testament to the show's production efficiency.

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1. The Original Pearson Family House (Pittsburgh)

The quintessential Craftsman-style home where Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Mandy Moore) raised their children is arguably the most important location in the entire series. It was the setting for countless flashbacks, holiday gatherings, and, most tragically, the devastating fire that led to Jack's death.

• Fictional Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Western PA).
• Real Filming Location: 5223 Shearin Avenue, Los Angeles, CA.
• Neighborhood: Eagle Rock, a northeast Los Angeles enclave.
• Details: The exterior shots of the house are a real private residence. The interior, however, was a meticulously detailed set built on the Paramount Studios lot, allowing the crew the flexibility to film the fire and subsequent damage without harming a real home.

2. Randall Pearson's Family Home (New Jersey/Philadelphia)

Randall (Sterling K. Brown) and Beth Pearson's (Susan Kelechi Watson) home, which was meant to be in the affluent suburbs of New Jersey or later Philadelphia, is a beautiful, stately house that perfectly reflects Randall's career success and family life.

• Fictional Location: New Jersey Suburbs/Philadelphia.
• Real Filming Location: 1090 Rubio Street, Altadena, CA.
• Neighborhood: Altadena, a small, mostly residential community in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, just north of Pasadena.
• Details: The house, built in 1911, is a two-story residence with a distinctive, East Coast suburban feel, making it an ideal stand-in for the Mid-Atlantic setting.

3. Kevin Pearson's Hollywood Mansion (Los Angeles)

When Kevin (Justin Hartley) first moves back to Los Angeles to pursue acting, he lives in a sprawling, modern mansion that contrasts sharply with his childhood home. This location is one of the few that actually matches the fictional setting.

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• Fictional Location: Los Angeles, California.
• Real Filming Location: 2100 La Mesa Drive, Santa Monica, CA.
• Details: This luxurious property, built in 1951, truly embodies the high-end, celebrity lifestyle of a successful TV actor in Hollywood.

The Secret Locations: From The Poconos to Paso Robles

Beyond the main homes, This Is Us frequently used unique, remote locations to represent the Pearson family's retreats and major life events. These locations required the production team to venture slightly outside the immediate Los Angeles area, but still keep filming within California.

4. The Pearson Family Cabin (The Poconos)

The rustic cabin held deep sentimental value for the Big Three, serving as a retreat and a place where Jack and Rebecca created a time capsule. The show explicitly states this cabin is in the Poconos Mountains of Eastern Pennsylvania.

• Fictional Location: The Poconos, Pennsylvania.
• Real Filming Location: Kelly Gulch, Canyon Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA.
• Details: The production team found a secluded, wooded area in the Los Angeles mountains that could convincingly double for the Poconos. This location provided the necessary natural backdrop for the family's escape from city life, proving that a little Hollywood magic can transport an audience anywhere.

5. Kate's Later Home (A Celebrity's Real House)

In a surprising twist of Hollywood trivia, one of the homes used for a Pearson family member was actually owned by a famous actress. For a period, Kevin's house (and later Kate's) was filmed at the real-life residence of Alyson Hannigan, known for her roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and How I Met Your Mother.

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• Fictional Location: Los Angeles, California.
• Real Filming Location: Alyson Hannigan's real home in Los Angeles.
• Details: Hannigan revealed that the production used her home for filming, adding a unique layer of celebrity connection to the show's locations. This is an excellent example of how production companies utilize existing, high-end properties for a more authentic and cost-effective look.

6. The Wedding Venue (Paso Robles)

In the final season, a major wedding episode required a beautiful, expansive setting. The production team chose to film outside of the immediate LA basin, heading north to California's wine country.

• Fictional Location: Unknown, likely a scenic destination.
• Real Filming Location: Allegretto Vineyard Resort in Paso Robles, CA.
• Details: The episode, which aired in 2022, showcased the resort's stunning architecture and vineyards, providing a fresh, non-LA backdrop for a key family event. This was a rare instance of the crew filming far from their Paramount base.

The Studio Magic: Paramount and The Pittsburgh Illusion

The logistical heart of This Is Us lay not in a real city but on a studio lot. The consistent look and feel of the show, despite jumping across decades and states, was maintained by relying heavily on soundstages and the backlots of Hollywood.

7. Paramount Studios (Hollywood's Core)

Almost all interior scenes—including the inside of the Pearson family's Craftsman house, Randall's New Jersey home, and various apartments, offices, and hospitals—were filmed on soundstages at Paramount Studios in Hollywood.

• Location: 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA.
• Details: Filming on a studio lot provides a controlled environment, which is crucial for a show that constantly travels through time and season. The ability to control lighting, sound, and weather is why most of the series' drama, from intimate bedroom scenes to intense family arguments, took place here. The production designers deserve immense credit for creating sets so convincing they felt like real East Coast homes.

The use of Los Angeles and Paramount Studios as the primary filming locations for a show set predominantly on the East Coast is standard practice in the television industry, but it never fails to surprise dedicated viewers. The next time you watch Jack and Rebecca navigate the streets of Pittsburgh or see Randall and Beth on their New Jersey porch, remember that it's all a carefully constructed, beautiful illusion, brought to life by the magic of Hollywood in Southern California.