Moby gives up his water view perch above Lake Hollywood
Moby has sold his storied Wolf’s Lair compound in Hollywood Hills for $12.4 million.
The DJ and singer-songwriter, whose name is Richard Melville Hall, had bought the walled and gated Norman-style castle four years ago for $3,925,000 from Lionsgate Entertainment’s Jay Faires and Debbie Matenopoulos, a former cohost of “The View.”
Wolf’s Lair, built in 1927 by Hollywoodland developer L. Milton Wolf, sits on 3.3 acres above Lake Hollywood with views of the Hollywood sign, downtown Los Angeles and the ocean.
During his ownership, Moby spent about $2 million restoring the house, which retains such period details as coffered ceilings, carved and stenciled beams, turrets and gable windows. He replaced the roof and put in new plumbing and windows.
The main house, a 1950s guesthouse designed by John Lautner and a pool house apartment include eight bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms and about 6,500 square feet of living space.
The Beachwood Canyon area estate also has a swimming pool with a pool terrace.
Moby, 49, gained fame in the 1990s for his electronic dance music, including the 1999 electronica album “Play.” The Grammy-nominated musician released the album “Innocents” last year. He is re-releasing the limited-edition 2005 album “Hotel: Ambient,” including some previously unreleased tracks.
The transaction took place outside the Multiple Listing Service.
Model expands her holdings
TV personality Tyra Banks has added another notch to her real estate belt by buying a turnkey house in Pacific Palisades through her trust for $3.295 million.
The newly built contemporary features 5,200 square feet of living space on two stories with a den/office, two fireplaces, four bedrooms and five bathrooms. The open-concept main floor has high ceilings, wide-plank oak floors and custom moldings.
Sliding pocket doors at the back of the house open to a lawn and an outdoor living space with a fireplace.
Banks, 40, gained fame as a model, gracing the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue and working for Victoria’s Secret. She has been a producer on “America’s Next Top Model” (2003-13), “The Tyra Banks Show” (2008-10) and “Stylista” (2008-09). Her acting credits include appearances on “Glee” (2013), “Gossip Girl” (2009) and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” (1993).
The supermodel owns a runway full of other houses in the Los Angeles area and New York City, according to Celebrity Address Aerial.
Craig Natvig and John Wild of Coldwell Banker were the listing agents.
Fast action results in sale
Stan Lee of Marvel Comics fame has sold his home in Hollywood Hills West for $2.8 million. Seems he wanted to see some action quickly — the home sold in a month for 22% off what he paid for it in 2006.
Set on a corner lot on a cul-de-sac, the walled and gated home in the celebrity-popular Bird Streets area was marketed as a build/develop opportunity.
The house was built in 1945 and, according to tax records, has about 2,500 square feet of living space, a living room fireplace, four bedrooms and six bathrooms.
Amenities include a motor court, a swimming pool and spa with a red-brick surround and mature landscaping. There are cityscape and greenbelt views.
Lee, who turns 92 on Dec. 22, co-created such comic book superheroes as Spider-Man, the Hulk and the X-Men. He is the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics, which he helped expand from publishing to multimedia.
Lee has served as executive producer on numerous Marvel films and the TV series “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”
He bought the house for $3.599 million, public records show.
Linda May of Coldwell Banker was the listing agent.
Finding a foothold in canyon area
Actor Jason Clarke has bought a home in a canyon area of Hollywood Hills West for $2.445 million.
The seller of the redone midcentury home was animation writer Wellesley Wild.
Set behind hedges, the two-story house features a formal entry, open-plan living space, an island kitchen with built-in seating, a media room and a living room fireplace. There are five bedrooms and four bathrooms in close to 3,000 square feet of living space.
A swimming pool with a spa, patio and mature trees fill in the backyard.
Australia-born Clarke was in “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” and “The Better Angels” this year, as well as “Zero Dark Thirty” in 2012. He is working on several movies for next year, including “Everest” and “Terminator: Genisys.”
Wild is known for his work on the series “Family Guy.”
Scott Segall of Douglas Elliman was the listing agent. Annie Constantinesco of Westside Estate Agency represented the buyer, the Multiple Listing Service shows.
A place to crash in Venice
Actor Don Cheadle, who stars in and produces “House of Lies,” has invested in a bungalow in Venice for $894,000.
The pied-a-terre of slightly more than 800 square feet sits on a tree-lined street near shopping, restaurants and the water. The midcentury single-story features a breakfast nook, a dining area, two bedrooms and one bathroom. There are front and rear yards, a front stoop and a detached one-car garage.
Cheadle, 50, is directing and will star in the upcoming film about jazz great Miles Davis called “Miles Ahead.” His other big-screen work includes the recent “Iron Man” films, and starring roles in the 2004 movies “Crash” and “Hotel Rwanda,” for which he received an Oscar nomination.
Among earlier roles for which he gained recognition were his portrayal of Mouse Alexander in “Devil in a Blue Dress” (1995) and a two-year stint on “Picket Fences.”
He owns other property in the Los Angeles area.
Denise Fast of Re/Max Estate Properties was the listing agent. Rhonda Payne of Rodeo Realty represented Cheadle.
Twitter: @LATHotProperty
