Acting ‘mayor’ sells home in Beverly Hills
James Woods, due to play former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani in a cable TV movie, has sold his Beverly Hills-area home for slightly more than $5 million.
The house has been on and off the market since 1999, when it was first listed at just under $9 million.
The two-bedroom, nearly 5,000-square-foot house has hardwood and stone floors and wood paneling. On nearly an acre, the grounds have meandering lawns, gardens, pools and city views.
There is also a media room, a study and a second-story master suite with a sitting area, walk-in closets and a terrace.
Woods, 53, sold to spend more time on the East Coast, real estate sources said.
The property was once owned by violinist Jascha Heifetz. Woods had the home redesigned and rebuilt in 1996.
The Emmy-winning actor (‘“My Name Is Bill W,” 1988-89 and “Promise,” 1986-87) had a full scholarship to MIT, where he majored in political science. He first drew widespread attention when he played a cop killer in “The Onion Field” (1979).
He starred in the HBO films “Citizen Cohn” (1992) and “Indictment: The McMartin Trial” (1995) and played H.R. Haldeman in the movie “Nixon” (1995). He also co-starred in “Ghosts of Mississippi” (1996) and “The General’s Daughter” (1999). He replaced Marlon Brando in a cameo role as a priest performing an exorcism in “Scary Movie 2” (2001).
The Giuliani movie is due to appear on the USA Network later this year or in early 2003.
New direction will take actor closer to studios
Peter Berg, who played Dr. William “Billy” Kronk in the TV series “Chicago Hope” (1995-99) and had a guest-starring role in two episodes of the ABC espionage drama “Alias,” has listed his Venice home at $895,000.
He plans to move closer to the studios where he is directing the untitled action-adventure film previously known as “Helldorado,” featuring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
Berg’s one-bedroom loft is in a four-unit, three-story building a few steps from the beach.
The loft, built in 2001 and designed by architect Steven Ehrlich, has a mezzanine den overlooking a living area, a glass wall opening to a terrace, a steel-clad fireplace and a roof deck with an ocean view. There is a garage with direct access to the unit, which also has a laundry and a storage room.
Besides acting and directing, Berg, 40, writes and produces. He was the creator of the TV series “Wonderland” (1999-2000), set in a mental hospital modeled after Bellevue in New York, and he wrote and directed the movie “Very Bad Things” (1998), starring Christian Slater.
Jack V. Hoffmann of Venice Properties has the listing.
Pitcher is relieved to be with family
Paul Shuey, relief pitcher for the L.A. Dodgers, and his wife, Julie, have purchased a home in Manhattan Beach for $695,000.
The three-bedroom, 1,900-square-foot home is behind gates.
The relief pitcher, 31, was traded by the Cleveland Indians in July. He received $500,000 from the Indians to waive his no-trade clause.
Known as a reliable setup man, Shuey had a disappointing 9.35 earned-run average in his first 11 appearances with the Dodgers, but after that, the right-hander did not allow a run in five games.
He has attributed his improved performance to his family now living with him in the L.A. area.
Phyllis Cohen-Edwards of Shorewood Realtors, Manhattan Beach, had the listing.
‘Smallville’ creator gets a bigger space
Al Gough, co-creator and executive producer of the Warner Bros. TV series “Smallville” and a co-producer of the Jackie Chan movies “Shanghai Noon” (1998) and “Shanghai Noon II” (2000), and his wife, entertainment attorney Beth Corets, have purchased a Hancock Park home for close to its asking price of slightly more than $1 million.
The four-bedroom, 2,600-square-foot house, built in 1923, had been owned by the same family since 1940. The buyers plan to refurbish the Country English-style house.
In the meantime, they will continue to live in their nearby home, which they purchased in 1999 from actress Fran Drescher, who starred in the CBS sitcom “The Nanny” (1993-99).
That house has a garden with a wraparound deck. Gough and Corets updated the kitchen, adding a skylight. Also built in 1923, the Spanish-style house has period tile in the kitchen and two bathrooms. The three-bedroom, 1,500-square-foot house is expected to go on the market in the spring.
Gough and Miles Millar have been co-producers and writers for a number of movies and TV shows.
Lisa Hutchins of Coldwell Banker, Hancock Park, had the listing on the home that the couple just purchased.
Retiring from the ranch life
Robert Daley, producer of such Clint Eastwood movies as “Play Misty for Me” (1971) and “Dirty Harry” (1971) as well as such TV shows as “My Favorite Martian” and “The Untouchables,” and his wife, Valerie, have put their five-acre ranch, behind gates, on the market at $849,000.
The ranch is in Agua Dulce, which is between Santa Clarita and Palmdale. The producer, who retired in the mid-1990s, and his wife plan to move to Ventura County and then to Kauai within the next two years.
The ranch has a five-bedroom, three-bathroom main house. The house was built in 1983, when the Daleys purchased it. It has oak entry floors and a master suite with a spa tub, steam shower and dry sauna. There is an art studio in a building behind the house.
An oak-paneled library in the house is capable of storing 4,000 volumes. Until June, it housed one of the finest collections in the country of first editions by Mark Twain, Charles Dickens and other authors. Daley, still a top collector of such Twain items as the writer’s personal thesaurus, sold his collection of first editions.
In the ‘60s, Daley was head of production at Desilu Studios, reporting to Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball. In 1970, he joined Clint Eastwood as a producer of many Eastwood films.
Daley eventually went independent and produced such movies as “Stick” (1985), with Burt Reynolds.
Michael Rodgers and John Barker of the Entertainment Division of Pinnacle Estate Properties in Northridge have the listing.
