Changing His Scene
Oscar-winning actor Sidney Poitier and his wife, interior designer Joanna Shimkus Poitier, have purchased a Beverly Hills-area home for about $2.7 million, according to real estate sources not involved in the deal.
The couple bought a Mediterranean-style home behind gates, with four bedrooms and three baths in nearly 5,000 square feet.
The house was built in the ‘20s but was completely remodeled and has been described as being in “perfect move-in condition.”
The house has a living room with beamed ceilings and a family room with French doors opening to a backyard with a pool and a spa. Among its bedrooms is a master suite, two family bedrooms and a maid’s quarters.
The Poitiers owned a duplex on Fifth Avenue in New York, which they sold during the past year.
The actor, who won a best actor Oscar in 1963 for his work in “Lilies of the Field,” recently starred in the CBS telefilm “The Last Brickmaker in America.” He had the lead role in the CBS movie “The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn” (1999) and co-starred with Michael Caine in the Showtime miniseries “Mandela and De Klerk” (1997).
Earlier this month, he won the annual Freedom Award of the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tenn. He also won a lifetime achievement award in 1998 from the Anti-Defamation League for his “humanitarianism and his commitment to civil rights causes.”
His memoir, “The Measure of a Man,” came out in paperback in July.
The Poitiers were represented in their home purchase by Barbara Duskin of Coldwell Banker Previews, Beverly Hills North, sources said.
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Singer Al Jarreau has sold his Encino home of 10 years for about $1.1 million.
Jarreau, the first vocalist to win Grammy awards in jazz, pop and R&B;, listed his home in January at just under $1.3 million, because of his busy touring schedule and because he needs less room now that his family is grown.
The house has five bedrooms and five baths in 6,000 square feet. The contemporary-style home, built in 1954 but recently remodeled, also has a master suite with a full kitchen and a sitting area with a fireplace. The property has a tennis court, pool and cabana with a steam room.
Jarreau, named best vocalist of the year in March at the Smooth Jazz Awards Show in Chicago, plans to tour South Africa, starting Nov. 27 in Johannesburg. He is due to appear in Cape Town on Dec. 1. His latest album, “Tomorrow Today,” is a collection of tunes that showcases his work as a balladeer, pop singer, jazz vocalist and lyricist.
Michael Rodgers and John Barker of Pinnacle Estates Properties, Northridge, had the listing; Patricia Phillips of Coldwell Banker, Encino, was the selling agent.
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Computer software magnate Peter Norton, known for his Norton Utilities and Norton Anti-Virus programs, and his wife, Eileen, have sold their Santa Monica home in the $11-million to $12-million range, say Westside Realtors not participating in the sale.
The couple first listed the home two years after they purchased it in 1992, saying it was too big for them although it was great for parties and showcasing their celebrated collection of contemporary art. The house was built in 1989.
After listing it in ‘94, however, the Nortons changed their minds and took it off the market. Since then, they have donated much of their art to various museums, and recently decided again to sell the home.
They sold it to businesspeople with offices in Santa Monica, sources said.
The 15,000-square-foot home, behind gates, has a two-bedroom guest house, a tennis court and a pool. The home is on 1.2 acres overlooking Riviera Country Club. The house has mountain as well as golf-course views.
Barry Sloane of Sotheby’s International Realty, Beverly Hills, represented the Nortons in selling, and Valerie Fitzgerald of Coldwell Banker, Beverly Hills North, represented the buyers, sources said.
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Actor David Carradine and his wife, actress Coco d’Este, have put their Tarzana home of the past couple of years on the market at $727,000.
They want to sell because d’Este filed for divorce in June.
Built in the early ‘60s but recently remodeled, the house has four bedrooms and 3.5 baths in slightly more than 2,700 square feet. The house, behind gates, also has a fireplace, park-like yard, lagoon pool, spa and waterfall.
The actor, 64, starred in the ‘70s TV series “Kung Fu” and the ‘90s series “Kung Fu: The Legend Continues” as well as such movies as “Bound for Glory” (1976). He is the son of the late actor John Carradine and brother of actors Robert and Keith Carradine.
Patricia Phillips of Coldwell Banker, Encino, has the listing.
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Ken Norton Jr., a linebacker with the San Francisco 49ers from 1994 until he was released in March because of salary-cap requirements, has purchased a newly built home in the Marina del Rey area for about $1.6 million.
The three-story house has five bedrooms in about 6,100 square feet. The home also has an elevator; a living room with a fireplace; a master suite with his and hers walk-in closets; a spa tub; a private deck and sitting room on the third floor, and a 1,200-square-foot basement.
Norton, 35, was born in Florida but earned his bachelor’s degree at UCLA in 1999. When released by the 49ers, he said he had no regrets and would “work out and see what the future holds.”
The 49ers had to trim their payroll by about $6 million to fit under the $67.4 million salary cap for the 2001 season. Releasing Norton would save the team a reported $900,000.
Norton suffered lower-back problems last season, but during his 13-year career, he played on three consecutive winning Super Bowl teams, including two with the Dallas Cowboys before he joined the 49ers. He is the son of former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Ken Norton.
Debra Berman an Patricia Kandel of Coldwell Banker-Marina del Rey, handled both sides of the deal.
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George Furla, co-producer of the recently released movie “Speedway Junky” with Daryl Hannah, has sold nearly an acre-sized lot on Mt. Olympus for $550,000. Furla was going to build on the lot but changed his mind.
He has been so busy as a producer that he decided to stay in his current house, nearby, and remodel. He sold the lot with plans for building a 7,500-square-foot Mediterranean.
Furla, who is co-chairman of Family Room Entertainment and co-CEO of Emmett/Furla Films, is co-producing a number of upcoming movies, including “In God We Trust” with Val Kilmer and “Good Advice” with Charlie Sheen.
Deborah Moore of Coldwell Banker, Beverly Hills South, had the listing.
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