‘Doctor’s’ next house call will be in Austria
Alexandra Kingston, who plays Elizabeth Corday, a British doctor, on the NBC series “ER,” and her husband, German journalist Florian Haertel, have listed actor Robert Blake’s former Studio City home at about $1.6 million now that they are nearing completion on its restoration.
The couple, who have owned the property for about a year, had planned to move into the home, which was built in 1937 in the Colfax Meadows area, but since refurbishing it they have decided to stay in their current L.A.-area residence and have purchased a second home in Austria, which they are already remodeling.
Paul Hinckley, who has worked on the homes of such celebrities as Bette Midler and Richard Chamberlain, designed and oversaw reconstruction of the main house of Blake’s former home. The main house has three bedrooms and 2 1/2 bathrooms in nearly 3,000 square feet. It also has a kitchen and a great-room with a fireplace and 16-foot-high ceilings.
At the rear of the property, there is a 2,100-square-foot “auxiliary living quarters,” which has an exercise room with a sauna and bathroom; another great-room with a loft-bedroom, a bathroom and a fireplace; and a second bedroom that has vaulted ceilings and a bathroom. Another guesthouse was razed.
Blake, 69, had owned the compound since 1983. It is where he was living when his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, was fatally shot in his car outside a Studio City restaurant in May 2001. Blake is accused of murdering Bakley, who had been living in the guesthouse that has since been razed.
The actor is currently free on $1.5-million bail as he awaits trial, which is scheduled to begin in October.
Kingston stars in the PBS movie “Warrior Queen,” which is due to air in the U.S. and England this fall.
On “ER,” she plays a widowed mother who is a surgeon. NBC recently renewed “ER” through the 2005-06 season.
Kingston, 40, grew up on the outskirts of London. She studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and worked in repertory theater, including a stint with the Royal Shakespeare Company, before winning critical acclaim in the title role of the PBS miniseries “Moll Flanders” (1996).
Lee Walters of Leland Properties, Studio City, has the listing.
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Clipper ships to Sunset Strip area
Marko Jaric, a point guard for the L.A. Clippers, has purchased a Sunset Strip-area home owned by David Litt, creator of the sitcom “King of Queens,” for $3.4 million.
The three-bedroom, 3,100-square-foot house, built in 1952, has walls of glass, soaring ceilings, a media room, a game room, an infinity pool and an outdoor kitchen.
Jaric, 24, was selected in the second round (30th overall) in the 2000 draft. He was born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, and played in Italy before joining the Clippers. His father, Srecko, played for the Yugoslav national team in the ‘60s.
Victor Kaminoff of Coldwell Banker, Sunset, represented Jaric in his purchase; Sharona Alperin of DBL, Sunset, and Michael Cohen of Prudential John Aaroe had the listing.
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‘Buffy’ producer pulls up stakes
Sandy Gallin, who managed such stars as Dolly Parton and Neil Diamond before becoming a producer of the TV series “Buffy, the Vampire Slayer” and most recently some Broadway plays, has sold his Beverly Hills home in the mid-$6-million range, sources said.
Gallin, who is known for redoing houses, extensively remodeled and expanded this home, which he first listed in 2001 at $12.5 million. He had purchased it a year earlier.
The house, built in 1961, has four bedrooms plus maid’s quarters and seven bathrooms in about 6,500 square feet. The master suite has a marble steam shower. The home also has an office with coffered ceilings, large living and family rooms, and an infinity pool.
Gallin recently built a compound in the Hamptons, and he has an apartment in New York City. He also has a 3-acre property in Malibu, on which he may build. His plans for the site already have been approved by the city.
June Scott of June Scott Estates, a Coldwell Banker company, and Stephen Shapiro of Westside Estate Agency represented Gallin in selling his Beverly Hills home. Raymond Bekeris of John Bruce Nelson & Associates was the selling agent.
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Rams’ man is back
in the Southland
John Shaw, president of the St. Louis Rams, has purchased a Sunset Strip-area home for $710,000.
The two-bedroom, 1,400-square-foot house is considered a second home, but since Shaw stepped back from daily involvement in club affairs after the 1999-2000 Super Bowl season he has been spending more time in L.A. than in St. Louis. Although the franchise moved from Southern California to St. Louis in 1995, the Rams maintain an office in West L.A.
Shaw bought the house with the intention of renovating or rebuilding it. He purchased the property in April, but the seller had leased the home back and only recently relocated.
The two-story house was built in 1955 and has an open floor plan, two bathrooms, a den, glass doors that open to balconies, and a separate guest quarters. It is within walking distance of shops and restaurants.
Dawn Ross of Coldwell Banker, Beverly Hills North, had the listing and, with Nia Kokkas of the same office, represented Shaw in buying the house.
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From anchorman to actor’s digs
Steve Valentine, the British actor who plays criminalist/forensics expert Nigel Townsend on the NBC series “Crossing Jordan,” and his wife, Shari, have purchased the Hollywood Hills home of Marc Brown, co-anchor of KABC-TV’s “Eyewitness News,” and his wife, freelance TV journalist and filmmaker Yvette Fernandez.
The Valentines, first-time home buyers, paid close to the $998,000 asking price. The home has mountain, canyon and city views. It has four bedrooms and 3 1/2 bathrooms in 3,800 square feet. The house was built in 1990 and has been remodeled.
Brown and Fernandez relocated to another L.A.-area home that they purchased.
Valentine, in his early 30s, has guest starred on such TV series as “Will & Grace,” “Dharma and Greg,” “The Geena Davis Show,” “The Hughleys,” “Charmed,” “JAG” and “Diagnosis Murder.” He also has appeared in a number of films, including Tim Burton’s “Mars Attacks” (1996) and “The Muse” (1999), starring Jeff Bridges and Sharon Stone.
Brian A. Joy of Prudential John Aaroe, Sherman Oaks, represented Valentine in buying; Betsey Cotter of Coldwell Banker, Beverly Hills, had the listing.
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To see previous columns on celebrity transactions visit www.latimes.com/hotproperty.
