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    John Huston’s Former L.A. Ranch Has a Miniature Disney Railroad, and It Just Listed for $20 Million

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    All aboard: A one-of-a-kind ranch in Tarzana, California, with its own fully operational miniature train, has just popped up for sale.

    The charming abode, which is on the market for $20 million with David Kramer of Compass and Paul Czako of Gussman Czako Estates, was originally built for Academy Award-winning actor-director John Huston in 1941. The late Hollywood legend, famous for The Maltese Falcon, The African Queen, and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, lived at the private estate back when the San Fernando Valley still had a Wild West vibe. He welcomed many big-name “cowboys” into his digs, including famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. 

    RELATED: Late TV Legend Bob Newhart’s Longtime L.A. Home Is Up for Grabs at $10.5 Million

    John Huston’s former Los Angeles home is up for sale.

    Ryan Lahiff

    The 4.44-acre estate offers more than just an A-list pedigree, though. In 1959, the gated compound was snapped up by Gordon and Holly MacLean, friends of Disney and die-hard train collectors, who added one truly unique feature. With Disney’s input, the MacLeans built the Tunnel, Cut & Trestle Railroad: a 7.5-inch gauge track that allows a tiny train to wind through the grounds. The circuit includes bridges, turntables, road signs, and a 240-foot tunnel that is long enough to make you briefly forget you’re in Los Angeles. The dual-track system is no toy—it’s engineered to run steam, electric, and propane-powered engines, giving the new owner plenty of options for trains.

    Over the years, the railroad has become a neighborhood legend, hosting community rides and drawing in fellow rail buffs from the L.A. Live Steamers Museum in Griffith Park. Each owner has kept the tradition alive—and yes, a mini-train is included in the sale.

    The train runs past a red barn-turned-entertaining lodge.

    Ryan Lahiff

    RELATED: Former Celtics Co-Owner Jim Pallotta Lists His Sprawling Massachusetts Estate for $38 Million

    The rest of the estate is just as over-the-top. There’s a 12,170-square-foot, three-story main house with six bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, and nine fireplaces. A stone-lined pool flows partially under the house. A reimagined red barn—once a utilitarian structure, now an entertaining lodge—adds another 2,775 square feet, plus a kitchen, bar, bedroom, and loft. Toss in an 807-square-foot guest cottage, a nearly 2,000-square-foot train depot, and a storage wing, because why not? All up, eight bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, and 11 fireplaces are spread across more than 17,000 square feet of living space. 

    The main home features vaulted wood ceilings and nine fireplaces.

    Ryan Lahiff

    Outside, the grounds feel like a private park, with koi ponds, stone paths, rolling lawns, a tennis court, a dog run, and a children’s play area. You could hike up the hills, host a wedding, or fire up the steam engine for a spin around the trestle—whatever takes your fancy. The Tarzana compound is equal parts film set, fantasy camp, and legacy property, making it a great addition to any portfolio.

    Click here to see more photos of Huston’s Tarzana estate. 

    Ryan Lahiff

    Authors

    Abby Montanez

    Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, entertainment, dining, travel to…

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      Apple TV’s ‘The Studio’ Filmed at These 3 Scene-Stealing John Lautner Houses in L.A.

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      In The Studio, Apple TV+’s sharp, stylish send-up of Hollywood’s inner sanctums from Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the Continental Studios offices rise from the screen like an architectural fever dream: a grand “temple of cinema” supposedly designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1927, complete with soaring concrete blocks and Mayan Revival flair. It’s stunning. It’s cinematic. It’s also completely fake. 

      That’s right—Wright never built this shrine to celluloid. Rather, the show’s production team conjured it on the Warner Bros. lot, a loving homage to the architect’s Ennis House. But while Continental’s headquarters might be a masterclass in architectural fiction, the homes featured in the series are the real deal. And they are not just any homes; they’re designed by visionary architect John Lautner. Innovative, iconic, and gloriously unusual.

      From the spaceship-like curves of Silvertop (a.k.a. the Reiner-Burchill Residence) to the sleek lines of Harvey House and the modular magic of the Foster Carling House, The Studio goes beyond parody to pay homage to bold design that withstands the tests of time. Because while the show pokes fun at Hollywood’s obsession with legacy, it also quietly celebrates the kinds of L.A. structures that have become legendary in their own right. Just like the characters, these homes want to be remembered. And honestly, who wouldn’t want Catherine O’Hara living her best life in a Lautner?

      Harvey House  

      Episode one of Apple TV+’s The Studio filmed at John Lautner’s Harvey House.

      Apple TV+

      One standout location is the Harvey House, a swoon-worthy confection tucked into the Hollywood Hills, where sharp-tongued producer Patty Keigh (O’Hara) welcomes newly appointed studio chief Matt Remnick (Rogen) into a sun-drenched entryway in episode one, ‘The Promotion.’ Built in 1950 for industrialist Leo Harvey, the midcentury marvel is one of Lautner’s early masterpieces—featuring a circular wooden courtyard, sweeping stone floors, and floor-to-ceiling glass that blurs the lines between indoors and out. 

      The home had its own second act in 1998, when actress Kelly Lynch and her husband, writer-producer Mitch Glazer, famously outbid Leonardo DiCaprio to purchase it, Vie Magazine reported. The couple subsequently poured another $1.5 million—an amount about equal to the purchase price—into a meticulous restoration guided by Helena Arahuete of Lautner Associates. Today, the couple still calls Harvey House home, and thanks to The Studio, it’s now playing a scene-stealing role of its own.

      Reiner-Burchill Residence (a.k.a. Silvertop)

      In episode two, the crew used Lautner’s Silvertop as a filming location.

      Apple TV+

      Another standout is the legendary Reiner-Burchill Residence—better known as Silvertop—Lautner’s swooping, hilltop wonder overlooking Silver Lake. Built between 1956 and 1963, this gravity-defying feat of engineering serves as the dramatic backdrop for episode two, ‘The Oner,’ when Remnick stumbles through a chaotic sunset film shoot. The irony? As cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra put it, the house was an architectural dream—and a logistical nightmare. 

      “It’s an incredible house and I was so excited to shoot it, but the second I got there, I realized we had completely penned ourselves into a corner,” he told IndieWire. “Because the house is all glass walls, it’s impossible to cheat the time of day. And there’s no flat spots on the property—it’s literally perched on a ridge, with the east and west sides both sloping steeply down. You have nowhere to stage gear, nowhere to put people, nowhere to set cranes for lights. It’s really just not a great filming location for what we were trying to do. But I think that’s what made it perfect for us—it forced us to be creative and come up with fun solutions.” 

      The hilltop residence is nestled within the prestigious Moreno Highlands area above Silver Lake.

      Apple TV+

      Rogen, who serves as co-creator, director, and actor on the project, echoed the sentiment. “The hardest part about that episode is that it’s all set at magic hour and that house is all glass,” he explained. “And when we first got there—we didn’t really have access to the house before [Goldberg interjected that they visited for just three hours the week before shooting]. We picked a location that was incredibly beautiful and very inspiring and very Los Angeles, but also completely not conducive to filmmaking.” 

      Still, what made Silvertop tricky behind the camera is exactly what makes it unforgettable onscreen. The home’s enormous arched concrete roof seems to hover above glass walls that dissolve the boundary between indoors and out, while a cantilevered driveway spirals around the structure like a concrete ribbon. 

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      Lautner originally designed Silvertop for industrialist Kenneth Reiner, whose bankruptcy left the home unfinished until Dr. Philip and Jacklyn Burchill revived it in the 1970s—with Lautner’s direct involvement. In 2014, Beats president Luke Wood and his wife Sophia Nardin purchased the residence for $8.5 million and embarked on a meticulous restoration with architect Barbara Bestor. Over two and a half years, they recreated original terrazzo recipes, replaced cork ceiling panels sourced from Portugal, and carefully restored Lautner’s open-plan kitchen—all while honoring the house’s original spirit. Bestor has called Silvertop “the Fallingwater of the West Coast,” and it’s easy to see why.  

      Foster Carling House 

      Lautner’s Foster Carling House doubles as Matt Remnick’s (Seth Rogen) personal address.

      Apple TV+

      While Remick may be fumbling his Hollywood comeback, his home is pure architectural triumph. Enter the Foster Carling House—a 1949 creation that feels part spacecraft, part luxury yacht, and entirely ahead of its time. With its hexagonal layout, boat-like contours, and a redwood-clad exterior, the abode is perched high in the Hollywood Hills, offering 360-degree views of L.A. and some serious midcentury swagger. 

      Originally designed for film composer Foster Carling, who requested an open plan to accommodate both his grand piano and lively gatherings, the residence marked Lautner’s first collaboration with boat builder John de la Vaux, a partnership that would go on to produce some of the architect’s most daring structures, including The Harpel Residence II in Alaska and the previously mentioned Harvey House. There are no interior columns; instead, steel cantilevered beams do the heavy lifting, supporting a soaring, uninterrupted living space. 

      [embedded content]

      The home’s standout features include a glass-walled indoor-outdoor pool and a living room wall that swings open—yes, literally swings—to reveal a terrace and extend the built-in sofa into the open air. It’s here, in episode one, that Remick and his coworker Sal Saperstein (Ike Barinholtz) lounge back to watch Goodfellas, not long after unintentionally slighting Martin Scorsese himself. It’s also where, in episode six, ‘The Pediatric Oncologist,’ Remick entertains his new doctor girlfriend, played by Rebecca Hall.

      Last sold in 2014 for $2.95 million, the Foster Carling House is owned by fashion designer and former Moschino creative director Jeremy Scott (also the owner of Lautner’s Elrod House in Palm Springs), and it remains one of the most innovative and significant early works in Lautner’s storied portfolio. 

      Authors

      Abby Montanez

      Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, entertainment, dining, travel to…

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      A ‘Twilight’ Producer Is Selling His Florida Beach House for $9 Million

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      You won’t find the mysterious Cullen clan hanging around this sunny Florida retreat that has a Hollywood pedigree. It’s owned by veteran producer Bill Bannerman, whose credits include The Twilight Saga: New Moon, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, and Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters.

      Nestled along one of the most exclusive stretches of the Panhandle’s Gulf Coast (also sometimes referred to as the Redneck Riviera), this nearly 6,000-square-foot custom-built estate offers the perfect balance of luxury, privacy, and coastal serenity. Located on a uniquely positioned lot in the coveted Watersound Beach community off Scenic Highway 30A, the five-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bath home is on the market for a speck under $9 million with Jonathan Spears, founder of Spears Group and Compass 30A. 

      The living room has a marble-framed fireplace and a wine cellar behind a sheet of floor-to-ceiling glass.

      Array

      Tucked away on a private lot surrounded by lush greenery and a peaceful pond, the home offers total privacy and stunning Gulf views from the upper floors. The outdoor space is perfect for relaxing or entertaining, featuring a large swimming pool, a summer kitchen with a grill and pizza oven, and plenty of room to enjoy the outdoors. Plus, it’s just steps from the community boardwalk, so getting to the beach is a breeze.

      RELATED: Dave & Buster’s Former CEO Has His Beachfront Florida Getaway on the Market for $10 Million

      The three-story home has been thoughtfully designed with modern comforts like a private elevator, top-of-the-line kitchen appliances, and a garage with EV charging stations. There are also radiant heated floors, custom fixtures, and high-quality hardware throughout. The rooms are spacious, with extra-large closets and a separate game room and media room, making it easy to relax or have fun depending on mood and weather.

      The spacious dining area and adjoining kitchen both overlook the pool.

      Array

      The median sales price for homes along Florida’s coveted 30A corridor is $1.7 million, attracting affluent buyers who are drawn to its pristine beaches and luxurious lifestyle. Notably, all-cash transactions account for 50 percent of sales. The area’s ultra-luxury sector is also seeing substantial growth, with properties priced at $5 million and above now comprising 11 percent of the market, up from 7 percent the previous year, according to Corcoran Reverie’s Q4 2024 Market Report. This surge highlights the increasing demand for exclusive, high-end residences, solidifying 30A’s status as a premier destination for luxury real estate. 

      Click here to see more photos of the Florida home.

      Array

      Authors

      Abby Montanez

      Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, entertainment, dining, travel to…

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      Sylvester Stallone Halts Plans for a Sea Barrier Around His Palm Beach Home After Neighbors Pitch a Fit

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      Sylvester Stallone is the talk of the town after pissing off his Palm Beach neighbors. The 78-year-old actor decamped from Hollywood to South Florida almost five years ago, snapping up a $35 million mansion with a private dock on the Intracoastal Waterway. The on-screen tough-guy recently ruffled more than a few feathers after it was revealed he wanted to install a sea barrier around his palatial estate to prevent seaweed and other debris from washing up on the private beach in his backyard, Bloomberg reported.  

      “It’s unbelievable to me that you can have your house, your things, your boat—the place that’s your sanctuary—and you can have some guy sit there for 10 months and do his laundry in front of me and there’s nothing you can do about it,” he pleaded to the Palm Beach Town council. In addition, Stallone mentioned in the application that he wanted to protect his residence from garbage that often gets dropped into the water. According to the news site, Stallone even raised the issue with incoming president Donald Trump, whose Mar-a-Lago property is about eight miles down the road.  

      Stallone ponied up $35 million for the waterfront estate that includes a private stretch of sugary sand.

      Apple Maps

      The plan would require him to lease a chunk of underwater land from the state where the barrier would be built, rising 18 inches out of the water. However, Stallone’s lawyer stepped in during the proceedings and declared that the proposal has been officially withdrawn after council members and local residents voiced their concerns about the actor’s infringement on public waterways. “It’s tough being so famous, and we have lots of celebrities and important people who live here, but you’re the only Rocky and Rambo, so it’s tough. I think we simply must object to this particular one,” said council president Bobbie Lindsay.  

      Stallone acquired the 13,000-square-foot lakefront compound back in December of 2020. Altogether, the sprawling estate has seven bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, plus a gym, a library, a swimming pool, and a family room with a wet bar, Realtor.com reported.

      In February, the Italian Stallion declared that he would be leaving California permanently to live full-time in the Sunshine State. Indeed, he’d already sold his Golden State home in the celeb-packed Los Angeles suburb of Hidden Hills to musician John Fogerty in October 2023 for $17 million. Celebrity pedigree aside, what made headlines is the fact that the former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman flipped the residence six months later with a $4.3 million bump in the asking price. The year before, Stallone sold his longtime home in the ritzy Beverly Park enclave for $58 million to Adele, who has since ripped most of the house down to make way for an all-new custom home. And, earlier this month, the Tulsa King star splashed out $25 million—in cash!—for a recently rebuilt and glamorously apointed home in East Hampton for his three daughters, Sophia, Sistine, and Scarlet. 

      Authors

      Abby Montanez

      Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, entertainment, dining, travel to…

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      This 1920s Los Angeles Estate Was Once Home to Ava Gardner and Laurence Olivier

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      Nothing says old Hollywood glamour like a celebrity-connected estate in Los Angeles. Originally built in 1927, this Spanish-style pad in the Hollywood Hills has housed a slew of stars in its nearly century-long history including Oscar-nominated actress Ava Gardner and cinema legend Laurence Olivier. Fun fact: It’s also the former residence of English comedian Stan Laurel. On the market with Hilton & Hyland and Forbes Global Properties, 3351 N Knoll Drive is currently listed as a rental asking a cool $18,500 a month. 

      Designed by Franz Herding, the hillside oasis has five bedrooms and six bathrooms across a spacious 5,839 square feet. The Swiss-born architect moved to Los Angeles in 1923 where he became the city planning engineer before he died in 1968. According to the Pacific Coast Architecture Database (PCAD), Herding and his family actually lived next door at 3355 N Knoll Drive. 

      The living room features a fireplace, arched display niches, and a leafy view into the surrounding treetops.

      Alexandre Anu and Dag Eliason

      Given its location in the Hollywood Knolls neighborhood near Lake Hollywood, the boundaries between indoors and outdoors are intentionally blurred, so you never feel too far from the natural surroundings . A broad, curvilinear terrace along the back of the house offers 180-degree views over the neighborhood and below, the terraced gardens include hedge-lined walking paths and steps that lead down to a small stretch of grass.

      RELATED: Mae West’s Former L.A. Hideaway Can Be Yours for $6 Million

      The multi-story abode is loaded with swoon-worthy period details including a speakeasy butler’s bar with a wine cellar. Elsewhere, you’ll find traditional Spanish elements such as wood-beamed ceilings, polished hardwood floors, casement picture windows, and terracotta tile accents. The fireside living room is bright and airy with a leafy view, while the formal dining room opens onto the expansive elevated terrace and provides even more incentive to hang outdoors. Upstairs, the primary suite is kitted out with a massive walk-in closet, more beamed ceilings, a sitting area, and a private terrace.  

      The spacious primary suite includes indoor-outdoor sitting areas.

      Alexandre Anu and Dag Eliason

      The Hollywood Hills has long been a sought-after locale for celebrities. Beloved for its hill-hugging homes, epic vistas, and rolling landscape, it continues to draw hordes of A-listers to its narrow, winding street. English comedian and Get Him To the Greek actor Russell Brand is currently selling his home in the Outpost Estates area—interestingly, he once owned a castle-like home that previously belonged to Olivier—and, in the same area, the home where Lord of the Rings star Orlando Bloom once resided recently hit the market for $5 million. 

      Click here to see more photos of 3351 N Knoll Drive. 

      Alexandre Anu and Dag Eliason

      Authors

      Abby Montanez

      Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, entertainment, dining, travel to…

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      A ‘Seinfeld’ Producer Listed a Los Angeles Mansion for $17.8 Million

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      Hollywood producer Andrew Scheinman—whose credits include Seinfeld, A Few Good Men (1992), and When Harry Met Sally (1989)—has put his newly transformed Los Angeles mansion on the market.  

      The boxy contemporary home on rustic Old Orchard Road is listed for a cool $17.8 million with David Kramer of Hilton & Hyland/Forbes Global Properties and Paul Czako of Gussman Czako Estates. According to property records, the writer-director originally purchased the pad back in 2018 for just shy of $4.5 million. Following the sale, the home was redesigned by the award-winning firm Rockefeller Kempel Architects. The comprehensive overhaul was completed just this year. 

      TV and film producer Andrew Scheinman has put a revamped Los Angeles home up for sale.

      Simon Berlyn

      The filmmaker’s Brentwood abode sits on under an acre of land above Lower Mandeville Canyon and comprises six bedrooms and a whopping nine bathrooms. Set behind gates, the hillside is dotted with 150 newly planted trees, while lush greenery surrounds the driveway, which has room for more than 15 cars. Among the spread’s standout features are a 28-foot limestone-walled entry, custom wide plank European oak flooring, red cedar paneling (both indoors and outside), and tons of glass.

      On the main floor, the living room is decked out with a giant floor-to-ceiling stone-clad fireplace. Nearby, a transparent 72-bottle wine closet separates the living area from the dining room. In the kitchen, you’ll find an eat-in island for up to six people, a hidden walk-in pantry, and top-of-the-line appliances from Miele, Wolf, and Sub-Zero. The digs also sport an elevator, a rooftop deck that faces the ocean, a private gym with an infrared sauna, and a movie theater that’s equipped with a 165-inch screen and Dolby Atmos surround sound system. 

      The residence was redesigned by Rockefeller Kempel Architects.

      Simon Berlyn

      The second floor holds an atrium that leads directly to the primary suite. The bedroom is like a private oasis that’s replete with two fireplaces for maximum coziness, a spacious wraparound terrace, and dual bathrooms, both of which include a custom center island and walk-in closets.  

      The resort-style grounds are predictably spacious, with an alfresco dining area and kitchen. The latter includes a grill, a pizza oven, and a beverage center. Steps away, there’s a large swimming pool with lights, so you can swim at night. Throw in a pool house with a bathroom, a washer-dryer, a rain shower, and a wet bar, and you may never want to come inside. 

      Click here to see all the photos of Andrew Scheinman’s L.A. mansion. 

      Simon Berlyn

      Authors

      Abby Montanez

      Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, dining, travel and topics…

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      Danny McBride’s Duplex Penthouse in the Heart of Hollywood Can Be Yours for $1.8 Million

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      The year before Danny McBride’s HBO series Eastbound and Down premiered in 2009, the showbiz multihyphenate plunked down a tad more than $1.4 million for a duplex penthouse in the heart of Hollywood that he’s now got on the market for a sliver under $1.8 million. The condo, with HOA fees of almost $2,500 a month, is available with Deedee Howard of The Agency.

      McBride, who also co-created and starred in Vice Principals and the skewering comedy series The Righteous Gemstones, has had the one-bedroom, two-bath aerie on and off the sales and rental market several times in previous years, according to online records, including in 2013 when it was available to lease at $8,500 per month as well as in 2020 when it popped up for sale for $1.85 million.

      The double-height penthouse has unobstructed views of The Hollywood Sign and the Capital Records building.

      Jason Shaltz

      Perched ten floors above the corner of Hollywood and Vine within the landmark Broadway Hollywood building, the not-quite 2,200-square-foot loft-style condo has soaring, double-height ceilings and broad ribbons of windows with panoramic views of the iconic Capital Records building as well as The Hollywood Sign.

      Dark brown hardwood floors reflect the copious sunlight that pours in while also grounding the voluminous spaces that offer vast expanses of cotton-white walls ideal for artwork. Exposed ductwork nods to the classic industrial loft style. Below the lofted bedroom, the kitchen has stainless-steel cabinetry and premium-grade appliances. And beyond the kitchen, near the entrance, there’s a cozy media lounge.

      Off the kitchen and near the front door is a cozy media lounge.

      Jason Shaltz

      At the foot of the staircase, a small area is well suited as a home office, and at the top, the bedroom hovers above the living space below and looks out over the city through the massive windows. A spacious walk-in closet and an Art Deco-inspired marble bathroom complete the suite, while a second bathroom on the main floor is also decadently dressed in marble tiles. The penthouse transfers with two parking spaces with 24-hour valet service, a nice feature in a car-centric city where people have been known to drive half a block to the corner supermarket.

      The building, with a lively Katsuya sushi restaurant as its primary ground-floor retail tenant, has long been a favorite with showbiz movers and shakers. Previous owners and past tenants include Jason Statham, Charlize Theron, and Erika Jayne of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, who once maintained her “Pretty Mess” clubhouse in the building.

      The marble bathrooms evoke the glossy glamour of Old Hollywood.

      Jason Shaltz

      The building offers residents secured access via an attended lobby dripping in Old Hollywood glamour. A recently refurbished rooftop includes a swimming pool and a spa with wraparound views, along with a fitness center. The Broadway Hollywood, built in the late 1920s as the B.H. Dyas Company Department Store and converted to condos in 2005, currently falls under the Mills Act, which reduces property taxes in exchange for maintaining the historic integrity of the building. 

      McBride and his family have lived primarily in South Carolina since 2017, when they sold their Hollywood Hills home for $3.5 million and picked up a waterfront spread near Charleston for $4 million.

      Click here for more photos of Danny McBride’s Hollywood penthouse.

      Jason Shaltz More

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      Richard Burton’s Former London Mansion Hits the Market for $9.8 Million

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      Richard Burton went from being a humble, stage-trained Welsh actor to an international movie star, and it was while he lived in a handsome house in London’s leafy Hampstead Village that he cemented his status as an Old Hollywood legend. 

      The late performer lived on Lyndhurst Road with his first wife, Sybil Christopher, between 1949 and 1956. The couple originally bought a one-bedroom, ground-floor apartment in the building and eventually purchased the remaining floors following Burton’s success. It was while in residence on Lyndhurst Road that he took on some of his most famous roles, including those in The Desert Rats, The Robe, and Alexander the Great.

      It’s also where he lived when he first met Elizabeth Taylor in 1953. Burton and Taylor would not, however, get to know each other romantically until after they were reacquainted in the early 1960s on the set of the epic period drama Cleopatra. They would later and famously go on to marry—twice.

      The London residence where Welsh actor Richard Burton once lived has hit the market

      Grant Frazer

      Fast-forward to today, and the Victorian residence is now on the market for £7.95 million (or roughly $9.8 million). A blue plaque near the front door commemorates Burton’s time in residency; the historic destination was unveiled in 2011 by fellow Welsh actor Michael Sheen. 

      “This Blue Plaque house is not only notable due to the provenance of its former famous resident, but it also represents a rare opportunity to purchase a magnificent family home situated in the heart of Hampstead and within easy walking distance of Hampstead Heath,” says Mark Pollack, co-founding director of Aston Chase, in a press release. 

      The primary suite has views of St Paul’s Cathedral

      Grant Frazer

      The abode, built by architect Henry Davidson, dates back to the 1860s. Altogether, the spread comprises a semi-detached dwelling with six bedrooms plus a separate self-contained two-bedroom garden apartment. 

      There are heaps of original period details throughout, like high ceilings, tall windows, marble fireplaces, and French doors. Other highlights include a top-floor penthouse studio, a 60-foot-long rear garden, and views of St. Paul’s Cathedral from the primary suite.

      “It’s a rare find on one of Hampstead’s most sought-after tree-lined streets,” adds Knight Frank’s Katy Brookes, who’s co-listing the home. 

      Click here to see all the photos of Richard Burton’s house.

      Grant Frazer More

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      The Former Home of a Late Hollywood Heiress Is Newly Listed at $2.8 Million

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      Barbara Warner Howard grew up in one of the most famous homes in all of Beverly Hills. Built in the 1930s by her father, entertainment industry pioneer and film executive Jack Warner, the founder of Warner Bros., the palatial Georgian-style mansion (and its ten acres of landscaped grounds) was later owned by David Geffen, who, after three decades in residence, sold up in 2020 for $165 million to Jeff Bezos.

      As the daughter of one of Hollywood’s most influential moguls, Howard lived a life sprinkled with showbiz fairy dust. So the stories go: Judy Garland sang at her Sweet 16 party, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor attended her debutante ball, and she once climbed through a window at the legendary Brown Derby restaurant to escape the wandering hands of Robert Evans.

      She later lived in Paris, where she married and divorced twice before returning to Los Angeles and marrying screenwriter and producer Cy Howard. They were married until his 1993 death. Howard eventually settled in New York City, where she became a dedicated patron of the arts and a founding member of the New York Theatre Workshop. She lived for a time in a double-height apartment at the Gainsborough Studios building on Central Park South before moving downtown to a penthouse apartment atop an old, converted hotel on lower Fifth Avenue.

      The living room offers cinematic views thanks to massive picture windows.

      Jason Harlem

      In 2004, tax records show Howard dropped $1.45 million for a house back in Los Angeles, one much more modest in scale than her childhood home. The 2,600-square-foot home, set just above Hollywood Boulevard on a prime parcel in the historic Whitley Heights neighborhood and mostly obscured behind high hedging and security gates, is elevated atop a street-level two-car garage amid lush semi-tropical landscaping. The main living spaces are on the upper level to maximize light and views.

      Howard, who died late last year at 88, sold the house in late 2013 for $1.6 million to TV producer Nick Rabb Weidenfeld and his wife Amantha. Tax records show the property last changed hands in 2021, when the Weidenfelds sold it for $2.5 million, and now the circa 1950, late Moderne-style residence is newly on the market with Tim Swan at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties for a tetch under $2.8 million.

      Dubbed “Graciebird” and listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, the property offers sweeping views that, on a clear day, extend all the way from the downtown skyline to the Pacific Ocean. Updated with in-ceiling speakers and other creature comforts, the home retains many period details. Coved ceilings in the step-down fireside library/den and in the formal dining room add sensual curves matched in the decorative wrought iron railings featured both within the house and outside along a second-floor balcony.

      The backyard is a private, courtyard-style oasis.

      Jason Harlem

      Gigantic, mullioned picture windows converge in a corner of the nearly 400-square-foot living room, making for a cinematic view of the city lights through the surrounding trees, while the eat-in kitchen is up to date and the bathrooms showcase well-preserved vintage tile work. 

      All together, there are three bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms dispersed over two floors. On the lower level, along with a couple of bedrooms and baths, a family room opens to a herringbone-pattern brick patio amid lush tropical plantings.

      The narrow, winding streets of the Whitley Heights neighborhood have long been popular with entertainment industry movers and shakers. Golden Age icons like Carole Lombard, Carmen Miranda, Rudolph Valentino, Ronald Reagan, and Charlie Chaplin all resided in the hilly enclave, as have modern-day film and TV stars Ellen Pompeo, Busy Philipps, Rachel Bilson, and Ginnifer Goodwin.

      Click here for all the images of 2019 Grace Avenue.

      Jason Harlem More