Funnyman Bob Newhart exits Bel-Air with $14.5-million deal, and other top sales

Veterans of television comedy, a petroleum executive and a producer were among those cast in the latest roundup of L.A. County’s high-dollar home sales. Here’s an extended look at the priciest transactions that closed in the first two weeks of May.

$14.5 million — Bel-Air

Call it a closing act for one of America’s favorite funnymen, Bob Newhart. The comedian and actor sold his longtime home in the 400 block of Amapola Lane for $1 million less than the asking price. The buyer was Canadian developer Robert Quigg.

Set on 1.37 acres of grounds, the property centers on a French country-style home designed by noted architect Wallace Neff and built in 1941. The 9,169-square-foot house includes five bedrooms, seven bathrooms and five fireplaces. A great room has doors leading to the backyard.

A lagoon-style swimming pool, mature trees, lawns and formal landscaping fill the hedged and gated setting. An outdoor pavilion with a kitchen and two bathrooms sits off the swimming pool; a guest apartment rests atop the pavilion.

Newhart and his wife, Virginia, bought the compound in 1990 for $4.2 million. They had asked as much as $22 million for the property a decade ago, property records show.

Michael Sahakian and Johnny Schell of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage were the listing agents. Sahakian also repped the buyer in the sale.

$12.995 million — Malibu

Steve Freedman, president of RV America Insurance Marketing and Let’s Talk Insurance Inc., sold an oceanfront home in the 25000 block of Malibu Road to a limited-liability company with ties to Isaac Shepher, chief executive of Life Alert.

Completed in 2014, the multilevel contemporary features light hardwood floors, custom floating doors and multiple ocean-facing balconies. Rear-facing walls of glass slide to reveal panoramic views of the coastline.

Formal living and dining rooms, a gourmet kitchen, a game room, four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms lie within more than 4,100 square feet of space.

Mark Tyoran of Keller Williams Westlake Village and Christopher Cortazzo of Coldwell Banker shared the listing. Cortazzo also represented the buyer.

$12.5 million — Pacific Palisades

The estate of the late co-creator of “The Simpsons,” Sam Simon, changed hands in the 14000 block of Corona del Mar sold for less “doh” — $5.5 million less — than the November list price of $18 million. The buyer was an entity based out of Santa Monica.

A copy of the grant deed obtained by The Times shows that the taxes will be mailed to the postal address of Lorna Jane, an activewear company founded by Australian entrepreneur Lorna Jane Clarkson.

Sited on 1.3 acres, the two-part compound includes a contemporary main house and the Bailey Case Study House designed by modernist architect Richard Neutra. The 1950s and ‘60s Case Study Program encouraged experimentation with new materials and designs.

The Bailey House was renovated and restored by design firm Marmol Radziner during Simon’s ownership; he used the residence, now a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument, as a guesthouse.

The main residence was completed in 2014 and incorporates a number of recycled and toxin-free materials into its 8,959-square-foot design. There are four bedrooms, seven full bathrooms and two powder rooms in all.

A stone deck, an infinity-edge pool, a lawn and mature trees fill the park-like setting.

Billy Rose and Stephen Sigoloff of the Agency were the listing agents. Loraine Silver of Partners Trust represented the buyer.

$9.5 million — Beverly Hills

In the 1400 block of Carla Ridge, the onetime home of celebrity hairstylist Sally Hershberger sold for $1 million less than the most recent asking price: $10.5 million.

The seller was a limited-liability company with ties to Michael D. Horvitz, co-founder of Twin-Star International; the buyer was Hornbeam Investments, a Delaware limited-liability company.

Designed by architect William Stephenson, the midcentury residence is distinguished by a curving wall of windows that takes in city-to-ocean views. White-washed interiors of 3,645 square feet feature terrazzo floors, tactile block walls, and a great room with a wall fireplace on a single level.

Outdoors, the swimming pool mirrors the curved design of the home. A motor court sits off the entrance.

Gregory Dean of the Dean Co. had the listing. Stan Volynsky of the Real Co. repped the buyer.

$9.24 million — Manhattan Beach

John Andrews, president of Andrews Petroleum, sold a modern-style home in the Sand Section area to TV/film producer Steve Michaels. Michaels, son of sportscaster Al Michaels, is the co-founder and chief executive of Encino-based Asylum Entertainment.

Fronting a walkway on 2nd Street, the recently built home was designed for indoor-outdoor living and features sliding pocket doors, a rooftop deck and a great room that opens to a covered lanai. Top-floor living spaces take in ocean views.

Other details of note include terrazzo floors, Macassar ebony wall panels and a chef’s kitchen with Bulthaup cabinetry. A total of four bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms are within nearly 4,300 square feet of living space.

The house came to market in February for $10.3 million, records show.

Dennis Moloney of Shorewood Realtors was the listing agent. Jennifer Caras of Vista Sotheby’s International Realty repped Michaels.

These are among the top residential real estate sales reported on the combined L.A./Westside Listing Service for the period from May 1 through May 14.

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