'Million Dollar Listing LA': John Barrymore's $15.9M Beverly Hills mansion with opium den is up for sale
Since the pandemic hit the world, bringing down real estate prices, homes-for-sale shows such as Bravo’s ‘Million Dollar Listing’ and Netflix’s ‘Selling Sunset’ and ‘Million Dollar Beach House’ have become highly popular. Viewers want to see how the realtors crack the best deals on such reality TV shows where they sell million-dollar mansions located in opulent localities such as Beverly Hills, Malibu and the Hamptons. While the agents are at the center of the shows, it is the eloquent houses that are the real stars. One such breathtaking home is that of acting legend John Barrymore. His historic mansion featured in the finale of Season 12 of 'Million Dollar Listing LA', which aired on Bravo TV on September 1. This mansion is now up for sale for $15.9M.
Stars of the hit Bravo series and rival real estate agents Josh Altman and Tracy Tutor have come together to sell this Los Angeles estate that was once owned by Drew Barrymore's late grandfather John Barrymore.
John Barrymore started his career in 1903 as a stage actor and was a part of all mediums — stage, screen and radio. He later worked on some acclaimed silent films such as ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ (1920), ‘Sherlock Holmes’ (1922) and ‘The Sea Beast' (1926). He lent his voice when sound films were introduced and three of his works — ‘Grand Hotel’ (1932), ‘Twentieth Century’ (1934) and 'Midnight' (1939) — were inducted in the National Film Registry.
After his death in 1942, Barrymore's biographer, Martin Norden, regarded him to be "perhaps the most influential and idolized actor of his day", as quoted in Kids Kiddle. Barrymore’s fame and fortune are evident in his Spanish-style Beverly Hills mansion. With its red-tiled roof and gardens having winding paths through the cultivated jungle, the home still has its dreamy charm even after almost 100 years since it was built in 1926.
With almost 7,000 sqft of expansive living area, seven bedrooms and 11 bathrooms distributed between the main house, two guest houses and two apartments, the mansion’s beauty is still intact in its dramatic fireplaces and redwood log floor in the cigar lounge.
The house exudes majesty with its master suite and one bedroom having a wraparound veranda that opens up to a view of the city and the ocean. Paneled walls, a wine cellar, decks, terraces, original tile, wrought iron and a fantastically painted ceiling in the main living area are some of the many exquisite elements that add to the magnificent essence of the home. A new owner will never be too far away from the sound of water falling from fountains or the pool waterfall.
However, to one’s surprise, the most striking feature of the Beverly Hills mansion is Barrymore's opium den. The opium den is located above Barrymore’s bedroom with two doorways to access it. One is by a ladder from the bedroom and the other from the wraparound veranda. The opium den was where the actor would relax with his guests on carpets amid piles of soft pillows while enjoying a pipe.
Originally listed at $42.5M in 2015 when the estate included seven acres and extra buildings, the mansion was later downsized to one acre and is currently listed at $15.9M. For more luxurious pictures of the estate, click here!
