With Malibu sale, Olivia Newton-John can get mellow
It took singer Olivia Newton-John almost a year to find a buyer for her Malibu home, but she finally did -- and didn’t even have to get physical about it.
Newton-John, who withdrew her house from the market last month, just closed escrow at more than $10 million, according to area real estate sources and public records. The house had been most recently listed at $11,495,000.
The buyer is a trust representing Patrick Kevin Morris and his wife, Gaby Morgerman -- both entertainment industry heavyweights. Morris is an entertainment lawyer and Morgerman a senior vice president at William Morris Agency. They own another Malibu house that is on the market.
The Newton-John listing, after 354 days, was about to expire when it disappeared in December from the Multiple Listing Service. It is not unusual for celebrities to withdraw their homes from the market once they are in escrow, hoping the sale will escape public notice.
The Mediterranean-style house has four bedrooms and seven bathrooms in 6,482 square feet. The 1.28-acre compound includes a pool, spa and two-bedroom guesthouse.
The gated neighborhood is no stranger to celebrity owners. Newton-John bought the property in 2004 for $5,995,000 from the widow of actor Charles Bronson, and Britney Spears used to live next door.
The 60-year-old Newton-John starred opposite John Travolta in “Grease” and appeared in “Xanadu.” She’s won four Grammys and has had more than 25 Top 10 singles. Her best known songs include “Physical,” “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” “Let Me Be There,” “Have You Never Been Mellow” and “You’re the One That I Want.”
Buyer Morris negotiated a landmark deal that gave Trey Parker and Matt Stone, creators of “South Park,” an unprecedented 50% stake in the cartoon’s Web endeavors.
Morgerman has been included in the Hollywood Reporter’s list of Hollywood’s most powerful women for several years.
Cheech lowers stake in Malibu
Can you say “Cheech” without saying “Chong”? Even long after the comedic duo went their separate ways, there’s something that lingers -- at least linguistically -- about the pairing.
The first half of the partnership, Cheech Marin, just lowered the price to $2.95 million on his Malibu house. It had been originally listed at $3.9 million.
It’s a 3,400-square-foot home with four bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms and wide ocean views. The second-floor master bedroom suite has a fireplace, spa, steam shower and balcony overlooking the Pacific. There are three fireplaces, custom woodwork throughout and a spacious country kitchen. The property has beach access.
Cheech, as he is popularly known, is a native son of Los Angeles and a Cal State Northridge graduate. He appears regularly on TV -- “Lost,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Judging Amy” -- and voiced the movie roles of Manuel in “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” (2008) and Ramone in “Cars” (2006).
Cheech, 62, also played inspector Joe Dominguez on 85 episodes of “Nash Bridges” from 1996 to 2001. His professional partnership with Tommy Chong ended in the mid-1980s, although they are currently touring together once again.
Jack Pritchett of Pritchett-Rapf & Associates, Malibu, is the listing agent.
Have an offer? She’s listening
Although the practice of giving advice probably dates back to the caveman, Toni Grant surely must be credited with refining the art.
Psychologist Grant rode the radio airwaves in the 1970s and ‘80s, issuing her pearls of wisdom to a nationally syndicated audience. She also wrote several books.
Now she is trying to sell her West Hollywood pied-à-terre, having just listed it for $3,495,000. The one-bedroom, two-bathroom penthouse unit has 3,455 square feet with spectacular city views from every window. There are private balconies, and the grand entry has limestone and marble inlays, high ceilings and elaborate moldings.
The unit has an open floor plan and includes a wet bar and an antique carved fireplace. The kitchen defines “to die for”: Viking range top, four ovens, four dishwashers, a Sub-Zero refrigerator and limestone countertops. The building comes with a rooftop pool and sun deck, a conference/party room, 24-hour security and concierge service and extra storage.
Grant’s show made KABC the top-rated radio station in her time slot among Los Angeles’ stations.
Joyce Rey of Coldwell Banker Beverly Hills East office has the listing.
NHL star sells for a cool $3.4 million
Luc Robitaille has performed the real estate equivalent of a hat trick -- scoring a buyer for his Westwood house in just one day. The retired hockey star and his record-producer and singer wife, Stacia, fetched $3.4 million for their traditional home, not far off their $3.5-million asking price.
The five-bedroom, 4 1/2 -bathroom, two-story house has 4,518 square feet. Features include hardwood floors, crown moldings and built-ins throughout.
There is a formal dining room with a bay window. The master-bedroom suite has a fireplace, two walk-in closets and a spa tub. Wood-beamed ceilings frame the family room, which also has a fireplace. A third fireplace is in the living room. There is a pool and a sports court: a hardscape hockey rink in the backyard.
The 42-year-old hockey player set the NHL record for most goals and total points scored by a left wing. He had 63 goals and 125 points in the 1992-93 season.
He retired in 2006 after playing for the Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings. Stacia Robitaille is a founding artist of Raystone Records.
John Hathorn and Charles Pence of Pence Hathorn Silver Realty, Coldwell Banker-Montana, Santa Monica, had the listing. Janice Reihani of Nelson Shelton & Associates of Beverly Hills represented the buyer.
He’s wrestling for a home buyer
Before there was Mickey Rourke looking for love in “The Wrestler,” there was Walter Doniger’s “Mad Bull” in 1977 about -- you got it -- a wrestler looking for love. Nothing wrong with a good idea, even the second time around.
Director Doniger, who is 91, has listed his 8,751-square-foot house in Hancock Park at $3,999,000.
The Italian Renaissance home has a two-story, octagon entryway, a grand main hall and a stone fireplace in the living room.
There is a breakfast room with hand-painted walls and ceiling, a paneled library with a coffered ceiling and stenciling, a tiled kitchen and a two-bedroom maids’ suite with a separate kitchen. The house has an additional four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a sun room and a den.
Doniger also directed “Kentucky Woman” in 1983, plus episodes of popular TV shows including “Bat Masterson,” “Tombstone Territory,” “Ellery Queen,” “Marcus Welby, M.D.,” “Barnaby Jones” and “Peyton Place.”
Molly McGinty of Coldwell Banker, Hancock Park North office, is the listing agent.