June 22--The longtime Beverly Hills home of late television writer and producer Sherwood Schwartz, best known as the creator of all-American sitcoms "Gilligan's Island" and "The Brady Bunch," has sold for $7.2 million -- $250,000 over the $6.95-million asking price.
Designed by Donald Park and Wallace Benton and built in 1969, the Trousdale-area home came on the market in May for the first time in 43 years and was under contract to sell in three days. The house previously sold for $275,000 in the early 1970s, records show.
Known as the Varnum Residence, the single-story home is distinguished by a free-flowing floor plan with skylights, indoor planters and original terrazzo floors -- design signatures of the Midcentury architects.
Some 5,500 square feet of living space includes a living room with a wall fireplace, a dining room, a family room, four bedrooms and five bathrooms. Walls of glass windows and sliding doors take in panoramic views.
Outdoors, a tiled patio with a long lap pool and a circular spa complete the setting.
Schwartz, who died in 2011 at 94, originally worked in radio as a writer for "The Bob Hope Show" and "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet." He got his break in television as a writer for "The Red Skelton Show," for which he won an Emmy.
The prolific writer and producer is credited as the creator of such iconic TV series as "Gilligan's Island" and "The Brady Bunch" as well as "It's About Time" and "Dusty's Trail."
Jonah Wilson of Hilton Hyland, an affiliate of Christie's International Realty, was the listing agent. Branden Williams and Rayni Williams, also of Hilton Hyland, were the buyers and represented themselves in the sale.
