Before Steve Carell became famous for his roles in the film "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" and as a pushy boss in the NBC series "The Office," he had a house built that he just sold for $1.5 million.
The gray-green house with white trim recalls Carell's more modest days before the actor shot to stardom in the 2005 movie. Situated in Studio City, the house was built in 2003 and has four bedrooms and four bathrooms in 3,700 square feet. The two-story home has a step-out balcony above the front door and a tree-shaded frontyard.
It's quite a contrast from a house Carell and his wife, actress Nancy Walls, just bought for their family. Few details are available, but the $6.5-million home is on the water in Toluca Lake. Houses on the lake start at $2 million.
The comic actor, in his mid-40s, stars in "Evan Almighty" (2007) and "Dan in Real Life," which is also due out this year. He appeared in "Little Miss Sunshine" (2006) and will play Maxwell Smart (Agent 86) in the film version of the 1960s TV comedy "Get Smart," now in production.
He was formerly a correspondent on the news-show parody "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," on Comedy Central and has made numerous appearances on NBC's "Saturday Night Live."
A place to put her pearl earrings
Jetting in and out of L.A. is a way of life for many actors and actresses -- including Scarlett Johansson.
No more. On a recent visit, the 22-year-old New Yorker went straight to the Outpost Estates area in Hollywood and purchased director-producer Harold Becker's house for slightly more than $7 million. Becker is a family friend.
The house has seven bedrooms in 4,300 square feet. There is almost an acre of grounds with a pool. The home, built in 1931, is Spanish in style and has original tiles in the bathrooms and kitchen.
Outpost Estates was developed during the '20s and '30s by Charles Toberman, who also built several office buildings in downtown Hollywood. Through the years, the neighborhood has attracted residents from the film industry. Among them: Bela Lugosi, who starred in "Dracula" (1931), and actors Felicity Huffman and spouse William H. Macy.
Johansson starred in "Girl With a Pearl Earring" (2003) and "Lost in Translation" (2003). More recently, she was in "Match Point" (2005) and "The Prestige" (2006).
Becker directed "The Onion Field" (1979), "Domestic Disturbance" (2001) and a number of other films.
Pair has privacy and a tidy profit
