Over on Westside Los Angeles, it’s officially a wrap for Joss Whedon. After nearly six years of ownership, the “Buffy and the Vampire Slayer” showrunner has sold the Santa Monica home he purchased following his split from ex-wife Kai Cole to a non-famous buyer for $8.5 million. Meanwhile, Whedon and his new spouse, artist Heather Horton, have settled in Pasadena, doling out nearly $4.5 million for a midcentury modern home.
A New York native, Whedon, 58, is best known as the creator of several cult TV shows, among them “Buffy” and its spinoff “Angel,” as well as “Firefly,” “Dollhouse,” “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” and “The Nevers.” Through the years, he has also co-written the iconic film “Toy Story,” produced “The Cabin in the Woods” and was the main writer for “Alien Resurrection.”
More recently, the screenwriter/director has been battered by allegations of abusive on-set behavior, with a number of actors accusing him of misconduct and toxic workplace behavior, as seen in a recent Vulture article. Others, however, say they haven’t experienced any unprofessional actions and would gladly work with him again.
As for Whedon’s newly acquired Pasadena house, that place features four bedrooms and four baths in a little over 4,200 square feet of two-level living space. Built in 1963, the structure was designed by late modernist architect James G. Pulliam as his personal residence. Renowned for helping shape midcentury modernism in Southern California via his “understated geometric style,” Pulliam crafted Glendale’s All-State Savings & Loan building, and Cal Poly Pomona’s student union.
Nestled at the end of a secluded cul-de-sac offering picturesque views of the San Gabriel Mountains — and described in the listing as a “floating glass box” — the house rests on a heavily wooded, hillside parcel spanning almost a half-acre, just west of the Rose Bowl. A winding driveway travels up to the home, which is fronted by an attached two-car garage and entryway marked by a wood front door that opens into a double-height foyer displaying a curving staircase and central hallway.
Highlights include a living room adorned with a terrazzo-tiled fireplace that connects at the top to a skylight running the full length of the room, plus floor-to-ceiling glass doors spilling out to the grounds. There’s also a dining area, along with a galley-style kitchen outfitted with sleek wood cabinetry, a center island with cooktop and updated stainless appliances. A spacious master suite flows to the outdoors, where the private backyard hosts a large pool surrounded by a sundeck.
