Lord of the Rings Elijah Wood Lists His Santa Monica Home

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(LOS ANGELES, CA) -- "The Lord of the Rings" star Elijah Wood's latest quest is to find a buyer for the Santa Monica house he recently put up for sale at $1.85 million.

The Spanish-style home, built in 1924, is described in the listing as an "opportunity to remodel ... or to build a new home." There are no circular doors, but a Queen Anne Victorian entrance opens into a round foyer with a British brewery cast-iron tile floor. Including a guesthouse with an office attached to the two-car garage, the property has a total of three bedrooms, two bathrooms and 2,130 square feet of living space.

Wood, 30, played Frodo Baggins in "The Lord of the Rings" (2001-03) trilogy. He stars in the TV comedy "Wilfred" (2011) and will reprise his role as Baggins in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" (2012) and "The Hobbit: There and Back Again" (2013).

Public records show the actor bought the house in 1999 from actor Dylan McDermott for $1.45 million.

Roya Kianmahd of Keller Williams, Santa Monica, is the listing agent.

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Lakers Coach Picks His Home Court

Despite the NBA player lockout, new Los Angeles Lakers head coach Mike Brown is busy setting up shop at the office and at home. Brown and his wife, Carolyn, closed a $3 million deal last month for a house in a gated Anaheim Hills community.

That will be quite a drive to Staples Center or to the Lakers offices and training center in El Segundo. Perhaps Kobe Bryant can swing by to pick him up on his way from Newport Coast.

Although Brown declined to comment on the purchase, a Lakers spokesman said the coach wanted his children to attend a high school near his new house, so he was willing to make the long commute.

The Browns' newly remodeled Mediterranean-style house, built in 1990, features custom-painted murals, a paneled office and a temperature-controlled wine room in 9,500 square feet. The family room has a bar, a projection screen and a built-in aquarium. There are six bedrooms and nine bathrooms. The nearly three-quarters of an acre includes a saltwater pool with waterslide and a swim-up table, a lighted tennis court and a four-car garage.

Brown, 41, coached the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2005 to 2010 and was named NBA coach of the year in 2009.

The property had been on and off the market since 2008, when it was listed at $4.5 million.

Several other Lakers-related real estate deals took place this year in Manhattan Beach: Forward Lamar Odom sold for $2.1 million, former Lakers Assistant General Manager Ronnie Lester sold for $1.65 million and former Laker Chris Mihm sold for $2.07 million. Meanwhile, a sale is pending on former Laker Kwame Brown's house in Playa del Rey.

Carole Geronsin of Prudential California Realty, Anaheim Hills, was the listing agent for the house Mike and Carolyn Brown bought. Lorraine Reyes of Re/Max Premier Realty, Irvine, represented the Browns.

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Soap Star Has Become Restless

Michelle Stafford, a star of "The Young and the Restless," has listed her Los Feliz home for sale at $2,499,000.

The Daytime Emmy-winning actress, who has a passion for restoring older homes, is finished with the 1933 Mediterranean revival estate and ready to move on to another project.

The oversized rooms in the 4,533-square-foot house feature period details such as stained leaded-glass windows and decoratively painted ceiling beams. The entry rotunda is replicated in the lower level guest suite and leads to a terrace. The master suite, one of four bedrooms, has a round walk-in closet. The five bathrooms feature custom tile work.

Stafford, 45, joined the soap opera in 1994. Public records show she bought the property in 2007 for $2,525,000.

Andrew Manning of Prudential California Realty, Sherman Oaks, and Stephanie Vitacco, Coldwell Banker, Woodland Hills, are the listing agents.

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A New Script in Beverly Hills

The former Beverly Hills residence of actress Marion Davies has sold for $9,262,500.

Built in 1923, the 6,024-square-foot home sits on 1.5 acres with mature trees and a swimming pool. Features include a two-story entry, a step-down paneled living room with leaded windows and a large portico off the back of the house. There are five bedrooms and 51/2 bathrooms.

Davies' professional life was overshadowed by her longtime relationship with married newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. She starred in "Peg o' My Heart" (1933) and "Cain and Mabel" (1936) and died in 1961 at 64.

Peter Wendel and Nora L. Wendel of Coldwell Banker, Brentwood, were the listing agents. Joe Babajian of Rodeo Realty, Beverly Hills, represented the buyer.

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His Latest Recording?

Update: Singer and record producer John Feldmann has sold his Bel-Air-area house for $2.45 million, according to the MLS. The 4,700-square-foot 2002 Mediterranean has five bedrooms, six bathrooms.

Feldmann, 44, is the lead singer and guitarist for Goldfinger. He is also an A&R executive at Warner Bros. Records.

David Kramer of Hilton & Hyland, Beverly Hills, was the listing agent. Darius Majlessi of Ewing & Associates, Sotheby's, Sherman Oaks, represented the buyer.

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