James Franco’s Silver Lake duplex hits the market for $949K

Enigmatic actor, writer, director, and perennial grad student James Franco is parting ways with a charming little Silver Lake duplex that he purchased from Mad Men costume designer Janie Bryant in 2012.

As Variety reports, the property hit the market last week with a $949,000 price tag—about $175,000 more than he paid for the place five years ago.

Since then, it appears to have gotten a slight remodel, though it still boasts tile floors, built-in shelving, arched entryways, and large casement windows. Built in 1923, the Spanish-style property is rumored to have been commissioned by legendary filmmaker (and racist) D.W. Griffith as a vacation home.

Franco’s time as owner of the storied residence (it was also owned by Princess Tatiana von Fürstenberg in the early 2000s) has been a bit tumultuous. Just a year after he bought the place, neighbors emailed us to complain that the actor was using the small 1,496-square-foot property as a makeshift production studio, with disruptive film shoots occurring on a regular basis.

Both units in the duplex offer plenty of balcony and deck space, with a scenic garden area above the upper structure that provides views around the hills.

The property has a two-vehicle carport and a one-car garage currently staged as an office space.

According to Variety, this is far from the first Los Angeles property Franco has bought and sold. The actor sold a Studio City residence for $1.525 million in 2006 and a home near the Chateau Marmont for $3.3 million in 2010.

• James Franco Lists Duplex in L.A.’s Silver Lake [Variety]
• James Franco Bought Mad Men Costumer's Silver Lake House [Curbed LA]
• James Franco is Making His Silver Lake Neighbors Miserable [Curbed LA]