Home steeped in Hollywood lore

A Beverly Hills house that was a gathering spot for Hollywood greats over the decades has come on the market for $7.495 million.

Designed by noted architect Gerard R. Colcord and built in 1939, the Pennsylvania Dutch Colonial Revivalstyle house was the home of movie producer and screenwriter Jerry Wald and his wife, Connie , starting in 1943. Actors Audrey Hepburn, Jimmy Stewart, Marilyn Monroe, Cary Grant, Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward and Harrison Ford were among visitors to the house.

Connie Wald’s homecooked meals, notably her fried chicken dinners, were often shared with guests. She gained a reputation as an exemplary hostess who never betrayed a confidence.

Named the Barnett House for its original owners, the charming house has a fieldstone facade, a steep roof and dormer windows. The two-story house is set behind a white picket fence and lawn on close to half an acre and has been maintained in near-original condition.

A screening room, a library with walls of shelves and a wood-clad living room with a fireplace are among the living areas.

The screening and projection rooms were created by Colcord in 1952 as an expansion of the house. Colcord also added a mother-in-law apartment and the swimming pool. He would later convert the garage into a guesthouse for frequent visitor Hepburn.

Five bedrooms, five full bathrooms and a powder room are included in 5,433 square feet of space. The cabana/guesthouse near the pool has a bathroom.

Loretta Young’s mother, decorator Gladys Belzer, outfitted the house in antiques and guided decor selections.

Jerry Wald, who died in 1962 at 50, produced such films as “Key Largo” (1948) and “They Drive by Night” (1940). The title credits of the 1947 film “The Unfaithful,” which he produced, feature the home’s exterior.

Connie Wald died in 2012 at 96.

Bret Parsons of Coldwell Banker is the listing agent.