Although this Los Angeles property has been frequently dubbed “the W.C. Fields estate” over the years, the famously cantankerous comedian never actually owned the house—he merely leased it for a handful of years. Built in the early 1920s for an oil baron and secreted within the prestigious Laughlin Park gated community in Los Feliz, the 8,000-square-foot mansion was later owned for a full 20 years by Lily Tomlin, who painted the whole house bright pink, inside and out, before finally selling it in 1999. Another owner was prolific TV director Mimi Leder (“ER,” “The Leftovers“).
Today, the home’s 100-year showbiz legacy has just been extended again. Businessman Cole Frates bought the lavish estate in 2021, paying $10.5 million, but he recently dumped the place at a notable loss to Hollywood producer/director Lee Eisenberg, best known for his extensive work on seasons two through six of “The Office.”
Eisenberg paid $9.4 million for his new house, and even Michael Scott himself would be hard-pressed to find fault with this place. While large, the structure’s public rooms are proportionate and not overbearing, and there are a perfectly adequate four bedrooms and five bathrooms tucked away within its Italianate walls, which also have more than a subtle hint of Beaux-Arts style architectural pizazz to them.
Truckloads of original features remain in the residence, including original mahogany paneling, delicately scalloped ceilings, and woodwork imported from an ancient Spanish monastery. Of course, a nod to modernity likewise pops up here and there—the kitchen offers a Viking range and decidedly unoriginal tile floors, and the fireplace-equipped primary bedroom and its attached bath have clearly been renovated at some point.
The home also sports a library and a wine cellar. But its most interesting amenity has to be the copper solarium, which gives occupants the illusion of floating high above city lights, like a glassy magic carpet.
Sited on a knoll that spans about two-thirds of an acre, the property offers unobstructed views of Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood Hills, plus peek-a-boo vistas of the Downtown L.A. skyline.
The lush, terraced grounds also impress: terracotta terraces and romantic balconies overlook a canopy of trees, rolling lawns, a swimming pool, and a poolside cabana that includes an outdoor kitchenette alongside a pool bathroom. Also on tap are garaging for three cars and a driveway that will accommodate several more.
Established a full century ago, and famously once home to Cecil B. DeMille, Laughlin Park is one of L.A.’s oldest and most famous gated communities. Some of the enclave’s estates, many of which have historical pedigrees, are currently owned by the likes of Natalie Portman, Will.i.am, Angelina Jolie, Kristen Stewart, Brie Larson, Ellen Pompeo, and Lauren Graham.
Eisenberg and his journalist wife Emily Jane Fox previously rented another house elsewhere in Los Feliz. The couple is giving their new Laughlin Park mansion a little freshening up in the form of an extensive renovation; we hope the updates will help the residence’s modern alterations blend seamlessly with its original details.
Although Eisenberg remains most famous as a prolific writer and executive producer on “The Office”—and he also made a couple cameo appearances as Vance Refrigeration employee Gino on the show—the Massachusetts native has had a long and successful career in both TV and film. The 48-year-old recently won a Peabody Award for creating the 2023 hit Amazon miniseries “Jury Duty,” and he co-wrote and produced “Bad Teacher,” starring Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake, which grossed over $200 million.
