Hot Property: Hideway fit for a secret agent
A gated Mediterranean owned by actor Pierce Brosnan, who was the fifth James Bond in the long-running film series, has come on the market in Malibu at $3.9 million.
Designed as an artist’s retreat, the two-story beach house includes a separate space that can be used as an office or media room. The living room has high wood-beam ceilings, walls of glass, a fireplace, plank oak floors, built-in cabinetry and two balconies with ocean and mountain views. Skylights and picture windows bring light into the kitchen. The master suite includes a sitting area, balconies and a bathroom fireplace. In total there are five fireplaces, three bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms and more than 3,400 square feet of living space, according to the Multiple Listing Service.
Before starring in “The Ghost Writer” (2010) and “Mamma Mia!” (2008), Brosnan, 57, played secret agent 007 in “Die Another Day” (2002), “The World Is Not Enough” (1999), “Tomorrow Never Dies” (1997) and “GoldenEye” (1995). His title role television series “Remington Steele” ran from 1982 to 1987.
Although Brosnan did not respond to requests for comment on why he is selling, the Arizona Republic reported earlier this year that the longtime Malibu resident and his wife were in the process of building their “dream house” in the beach community.
The actor purchased the property in 1996 for $600,000, public records show.
The heart of the Tin Man’s family life
The family home of Jack Haley, who played the Tin Man in “The Wizard of Oz,” has come on the market at $3,599,000.
Haley raised his two children in the Spanish-style house, which sits in the flats of Beverly Hills. The two-story home, built in 1926, has a sun room, a den, an office, four bedrooms and four bathrooms in 4,889 square feet. The song-and-dance man bought the house in 1941 for $26,000.
“He never had a mortgage,” said grandson Barry Bregman, who recalled the home as the center of family and social gatherings. “I spent every weekend of my life in that house.”
Bregman remembered in the late 1950s when Haley bought one of the first color television sets in the area and had a huge party to watch the 1939 movie classic.
Although his grandfather was adept at using an oil can in the film, he was not a do-it-yourselfer when it came to the house. “He was magic with real estate but not handy with a hammer,” Bregman said.
After Haley retired from show business, he and comedian Jackie Gleason formed the Kramden Investment Co. and bought and sold commercial and residential real estate.
As a child, Bregman capitalized on his grandfather’s house being a regular stop on star tours. “I pitched a lemonade stand there,” he said. Bregman moved into the house in the early ‘70s with his mother, Gloria, who lived there until her death this year.
Haley died in 1979 at age 80.
Kristina Long and Sharona Davidian of Sotheby’s International Realty’s Sunset office have the listing.
Her term limit was up in Pacific Palsades
The Pacific Palisades home of actress Mary McDonnell and her husband, actor Randle Mell, has sold for $2 million.
The traditional house, built in 1936, has living and dining rooms with plantation shutters, an office/library, a family room and pantry off the kitchen, two downstairs bedrooms, two upstairs bedrooms and two bathrooms in 2,558 square feet. The garage was converted to a music and game room.
McDonnell, 58, received an Oscar nomination for supporting actress for “Dances With Wolves” (1990). She starred as President Laura Roslin on “Battlestar Galactica” (2004-09) and appeared on “The Closer” (2009) and “Grey’s Anatomy” (2008-09).
Mell, 58, has appeared in “Monk” (2007), “24” (2003-04) and “Law & Order” (1994-96).
The couple bought the property in 1999 for $1.4 million.
Tony Myers of Re/Max Execs, West Los Angeles, was the listing agent, according to the MLS, while Stefanie Bluestone of Keller Williams, Santa Monica, represented the buyer.
Where he lived the ‘Baywatch’ life
“Baywatch” co-creator Gregory J. Bonann has listed his Malibu beach compound for sale at $18.5 million.
The property is entered through a stone landing with marble steps leading down to two houses with towering palms. The homes open to beach-front decks with a grotto-style spa area, TV, built-in lounges, fire pits and storage for water sports equipment.
The 3,200-square-foot house includes a rooftop deck with coastline views, four bedrooms and 4 1/2 bathrooms. In the second house, which has two bedrooms and two bathrooms in 2,618 square feet, the master bathroom has an indoor shower that opens to an outdoor shower with beach access.
Bonann, 58, was a creator, executive producer and director of “Baywatch” (1989-2001) and the spinoff “Baywatch Nights” (1995-1997). He has worked as a lifeguard for 40 years.
Diane Everett and Paul Randall of Coldwell Banker, Malibu Colony, and Marcus Beck of Prudential Malibu Realty have the listing.
Spot on Santa Monica’s Gold Coast is taken
Update: The former Santa Monica beach house of silent film star Douglas Fairbanks Sr. has sold for $6,862,000.
In an area that became known as the Gold Coast after Hollywood stars and industry giants built homes there in the 1920s, the neighborhood included such titans as MGM head Irving Thalberg and his actress-wife, Norma Shearer, oilman J. Paul Getty and comic actor Harold Lloyd. The street where Fairbanks’ home sits was nicknamed Rolls-Royce Row.
The ocean-view Mediterranean, built in 1922, has formal living and dining rooms, three bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms and 3,817 square feet of living space. A wide brick terrace extends the living area off the back of the house and steps down to the swimming pool and spa, which are flanked by lawns lined with mature trees. There is a paddle tennis or sports court and a fire pit.
The property previously sold in 1994 for $1,815,000, according to public records. It came on the market less than a year ago at $7.9 million.
The hit “The Mark of Zorro” (1920) established Fairbanks as a swashbuckling leading man. His natural athleticism was put to use in films such as “Robin Hood” (1922) and “The Thief of Bagdad” (1924).
Jeffrey Hyland of Hilton & Hyland, Beverly Hills, had the listing. Chad Rogers of the same office represented the buyer.
