Heartthrob abandons Los Feliz
Heath Ledger, who costars with Matt Damon as the legendary siblings in “The Brothers Grimm,” has sold his Los Feliz home of five years for about double what he paid for it. It sold for close to its $2.8-million asking price. He bought it for $1,466,000.
The Australian heartthrob, 26, has been on the road so much while working that he has had little time to enjoy the nearly 5,000-square-foot Spanish-style house, designed by legendary architect Stiles O. Clements in 1925.
Ledger has had scant moments even to decorate the five-bedroom, five-bathroom estate, which is behind gates and has city views. The home also has a period courtyard with an outside fireplace, fountain and vintage tile. Other features are a media room, gardens and a detached guesthouse.
Ledger gained wide notice playing Mel Gibson’s son in the movie “The Patriot” (2000), and he played Billy Bob Thornton’s son in “Monster’s Ball” (2001). Ledger portrays the co-owner of a surf shop in “Lords of Dogtown,” released this year. Three other films he will appear in -- “Casanova,” “Brokeback Mountain” and “Candy” -- are due out soon.
While filming “Candy” this summer in Australia, he told the paparazzi that he was moving to Brooklyn, N.Y.
Barry Sloane of Sotheby’s International Realty, Beverly Hills, had the listing, according to the Multiple Listing Service.
For Chan, L.A.’s where the action is
Jackie Chan is not leaving L.A., despite his many business interests, including restaurants, stores and car manufacturers, in Hong Kong and mainland China.
Even though he just sold his Beverly Hills-area residence for $6.3 million, he plans to maintain a home in the Southland, according to his real estate agent, Carol Hurwitz.
The comedy and action-movie star, who karate-chopped his way to fame, is looking to buy an even bigger house than the five-bedroom, 7,600-square-foot home he sold to a Las Vegas-based businessman. The gated property has a circular motor court, a step-down bar, a gym, a pool and a spa.
Chan has owned the house since 1998. It was built in 1986.
The 51-year-old actor is a veteran of more than 100 films, many of which were made as martial arts movies in Hong Kong, where he was born. Chan made his American film debut in 1980 with “The Big Brawl” and starred more recently in “Shanghai Knights” (2003) and “Around the World in 80 Days” (2004). The premiere of his latest film, “The Myth,” an action/sci-fi adventure, is planned Wednesday at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Carol Hurwitz of Hurwitz James, Beverly Hills, had the listing.
Grace Lin of Security Trust Realty, Chino, represented the buyer.
The plots thicken for mystery writer
Bestselling mystery author Margaret Coel and her husband, dentist George Coel, have purchased an Ojai home for $1.9 million.
The three-bedroom, Spanish-style house, built in the early ‘30s, was once owned by actress Loretta Young. The 3,200-square-foot house, on 2 acres, will be a retreat for the couple, whose primary residence is in Boulder, Colo.
Her newest novel is “Eye of the Wolf,” published by Berkley Press. Among her earlier whodunits are “The Spirit Woman” (2000) and “The Lost Bird” (1999).
For sale in Lucy’s old neighborhood
Actresses Victoria Principal and Lucille Ball both had a connection to a Beverly Hills home on North Roxbury Drive now listed at just under $9.5 million.
Principal headed a trust that owned the home for about a year, ending in May. Ball, who died in 1989, rented the house in the ‘50s while having some work done on her own home across the street.
The house, built in 1925, was updated at the end of April. The traditional-style, 7,100-square-foot-plus home has been remodeled to include two master bedroom suites and a detached three-bedroom guesthouse.
It also has a wood-paneled library, a pool and a cabana.
Felix Pena at Hilton & Hyland, an affiliate of Christie’s Great Estates in Beverly Hills, has the listing.
Italian animator lands in Glendale
Cinzia Angelini, an animator from Milan, Italy, who was brought to Los Angeles by DreamWorks Studios, has purchased a Glendale home for about $1.6 million.
The Art Deco-style house, built in 1924, has three bedrooms and three bathrooms in nearly 3,200 square feet. The home, behind gates on a hill, has a pool.
Angelini began working for DreamWorks in 1997, on “The Prince of Egypt.” She was the animator of the title character for 2002’s “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.” Later, she joined Sony and worked on “Spider-Man 2.” Her latest project is Sony’s first animated feature, “Open Season,” due in 2006.
Gerri Cragnotti of G&C; Properties was the listing agent.
To see previous columns on celebrity realty transactions, go to latimes.com/hotproperty.
