Star-studded, Lloyd Wright-designed Hollywood Hills landmark for sale

A Los Angeles landmark that has long captured the imagination of celebrities has come on the market in Hollywood Hills at $3.995 million.

The Lloyd Wright-designed Samuel-Novarro House is named for “Ben Hur” star Ramon Novarro, who had it built in 1928 for his personal secretary, Louis Samuel, and later moved in himself. The film star then hired Wright again to renovate and enlarge the house, adding a pergola, a music room and a bedroom suite. An archway leads to a wrap-around staircase at the front of the house.

The Art Deco house was rented in the 1940s by Leonard Bernstein and Jerome Robbins, among others, while they worked on the Broadway musical “On the Town.”

In recent decades owners have included actresses Diane Keaton and Christina Ricci.

Set on a third of an acre knoll and built into the hillside, the restored four-level house retains period details that evoke the Mayan theme favored by the architect, who was the son of Frank Lloyd Wright. There are concrete floors, large windows and a living room fireplace.

Oxidized copper accents give the home’s exterior its distinctive appearance. An estimated 2,700 square feet of living space includes four bedrooms and four bathrooms.

A swimming pool, terraces and gardens complete the grounds.

The property last sold in 2006 for $2,827,500, public records show.

Aaron Kirman of John Aaroe Group and Bryan So of Kyung Seob Realty are the listing agents.