SARAH SELLS UP FOR A LIFE IN LA
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ate-night talk show host Johnny Carson was a standout among entertainers, to which his 30-year career on air is testament.
He sent Americans to bed each night with smiles on their faces and was instrumental in boosting the careers of many entertainers we still enjoy today such as Jay Leno, David Letterman, Ellen DeGeneres, Roseanne Barr and Jerry Seinfeld.
An invitation to appear on Johnny’s The Tonight Show was the number one goal of most up-and-coming artists who knew that if they made it there, they could look forward to a successful career.
Though his TV success, where his quick wit and cool sophisticated comedy appeared to define the man, off stage Johnny was a totally different person. He described himself as a loner who liked his life that way.
He attended few social functions, only those important for his career, and even then kept mostly to himself and left early. He never spoke to the guests appearing on The Tonight Show either prior to the show or afterwards, but instead prepared about 20 questions in advance and didn’t see the stars until they were introduced and sat down across from his desk on stage. Johnny loved to play golf and for a number of years owned a home in Bel Air.
However, in the mid 1980s he bought a four-acre, cliff-top home above the celebrity-studded Point Dume community in Malibu overlooking the Pacific Ocean where he lived with third wife, Alexis, until his death in 2005.
Alexis continued to live there until 2007 when she sold it to film producer Sidney Kimmel and his wife, Caroline. The Kimmels restored it to its original plan and have recently put it on the market.
Nestled within four acres of lush gardens, the two-bedroom, 7,083sqft main house designed by architect Ed Niles is a study
in wood beams, glass and indoor landscaping that blurs the line between indoors and out.
High glass ceilings of 30ft and an indoor arboretum are accented with a copper and glass fireplace and open entertaining spaces.
The dining options are formal indoors, more casual on the terrace overlooking the ocean or a separate casual dining room, all served by the chef’s kitchen.
The master suite is on the upper level with his-and-hers baths with onyx fixtures and separate wardrobes, an office and ocean terrace.
Also included are a wine and tasting room, media room, sun deck with pool and waterfall.
On the grounds are championship tennis courts with a pavilion that has two bedrooms, kitchen, gym and locker room, a waterfall and koi pond, and another separate guest house, plus the home has private keyed beach access to Point Dume Beach.
Co-listing agents are Linda May of Hilton & Hyland, Beverly Hills and Chris Cortazzo of Coldwell Banker Global Luxury, Malibu. The home is for sale priced at $81.5m.