Actor Pierce Brosnan sells Malibu beach home

Actor Pierce Brosnan has sold his Malibu beach retreat for $2.6 million.

Brosnan and his wife, environmental activist and former broadcast journalist Keely Shaye Smith, put the property on the market at $3.9 million in 2010 while building another house nearby.

The gated Mediterranean they sold has separate space for use as an office or media room and sits on more than a quarter of an acre with lawn space and a courtyard fountain. The flower boxes and hydrangea-lined pathways may have been a nod to Brosnan’s Irish roots. Features include arched windows and doorways, high wood-beam ceilings in the living room, walls of glass, plank oak and paver floors, several balconies and fireplaces in the dining room, library, living room, master bathroom and office space. Picture windows bring the ocean view into the eat-in kitchen, which has a center island cooktop and a second island with a sink. There are three bedrooms, 31/2 bathrooms and 3,800 square feet of living space.

Before starring in “The Ghost Writer” (2010) and “Mamma Mia!” (2008), Brosnan, 58, played secret agent 007 in “Die Another Day” (2002), “The World Is Not Enough” (1999), “Tomorrow Never Dies” (1997) and “GoldenEye” (1995). He is the fifth James Bond in the long-running series. On television, he had the title role in “Remington Steele” (1982-87). Smith, 48, was co-host of “Unsolved Mysteries” from 1994-97.

Public records show Brosnan bought the property in 1996 for $600,000. He and Smith were married in 2001.

Ellen Francisco and Christopher Cortazzo of Coldwell Banker’s Malibu West office were the listing agents, according to the Multiple Listing Service. Diane McClure of the Studio City office represented the buyer.

lauren.beale@latimes.com