Early leading man’s home for sale in Hollywood Hills

An Italian Revival-style villa in Hollywood Hills built in the 1920s for early actor Orville Caldwell is on the market at $1.649 million.

Among other previous owners of note was artist and caricaturist Cleanthe Carr, who bought the property in 1992 and sold it a decade later for $969,000. The home last changed hands a decade ago for $1.537 million.

The 3,435-square-foot house and central courtyard were the site of many Hollywood dinner parties throughout the years. Archways, coved ceilings and French doors lend a romantic air to the interiors.

The multi-level main house has a step-down living room, a formal dining room and four bedrooms. The guesthouse contains a bedroom. There are four full bathrooms and two partial bathrooms.

Caldwell, who died in 1967 at 71, rose to leading-man fame in the 1920s making such films as “The Wives of the Prophet,” “The Harvester” and “The Patsy.” Times news reports from the period recount how he broke a kneecap riding a “high-spirited and fleet-footed” steed that got spooked during a shoot and laud his skills as a do-it-yourselfer at his retreat along the Russian River.

He made his last film in 1938, a mystery called “The Last Warning,” and was the first deputy mayor of Los Angeles from 1941-50.

Jason Berns and Laura Berns of Keller Williams Realty are the listing agents.

Twitter: @LATHotProperty