Old Hollywood actor James Dean might be as much of a heartthrob today as he was when he was alive. The public still swoons over the on-screen bad boy’s smoldering images as they do over Marilyn Monroe’s, Cary Grant’s, and many others who also left a real estate legacy behind. However, the young movie star didn’t make it big overnight and once resided at the Hollywood Hills home of Hal B. Wallis, the head of Warner Bros. at the time and the man who produced Casablanca. Dean helped out as a handyman and house sitter for the media mogul.It was at this very property that a casting director spotted him and within a month he had the lead role in Rebel Without a Cause. The rest is history, and now a buyer will have the chance to make the home part of his or her own history for $4 million.Built in 1927, the restored 4,000-square-foot home holds three bedrooms, four bathrooms, and plenty of bright spaces. In the living room, dark wood beamed ceilings and a dramatic fireplace juxtapose crisp white walls and furnishings. A masterful chef’s kitchen is connected to the sleek dining room for a seamless flow from room to room.A stone path meanders through the picturesque backyard, which boasts terraces, grassy lawns, an al fresco dining area, and a sizable pool.Eric Lavey of The Agency has the storied Spanish-style listing.
This article appears in the September 2018 issue of DailyDeeds.