The curse of Brentwood: Inside the bloody history of the upscale LA neighborhood where Rob Reiner was killed
The quiet, upscale Los Angeles suburb of Brentwood prides itself on being Hollywood’s safe haven — a billionaire bubble where A-listers can grab coffee, eat at low-key restaurants, and disappear behind hedges thick enough to block a spotlight.But the picturesque neighborhood has had a dark and storied history.
Bomb blasts, high-profile deaths, and crimes so notorious they froze a nation have all plagued the playground of the rich and famous.“Tragedy is not a stranger to Brentwood,” said Carolyn Jordan, a longtime resident and veteran real estate attorney who has handled everything from routine deals to major transactions.
As a former chair of the Brentwood Community Council and still active in public safety for the community, Jordan has watched the neighborhood’s carefully cultivated “sleepy town” image collide with a grisly, made-for-headlines reality.“I think it’s unfortunate that it’s something we’re known for,” Jordan said.“There are so many wonderful parts of Brentwood, but I suppose there’s a price when you’re a beautiful place that so many high-profile people want to live, who are sadly subject to more tragedy.”The pattern is hard to ignore.First came the mob.In 1950, Mickey Cohen — the loud, flashy gangster who helped define Los Angeles’ underworld — survived a bombing at his Brentwood home.
A former associate of Bugsy Siegel, Cohen had moved into the elite neighborhood at the height of his power, drawn by the same privacy and prestige that would later attract Hollywood royalty.His custom-built home at 513 Moreno Drive became infamous after a gangland bomb attack shattered windows across the area near the Brentwood Country Club and ripped through the house.Cohen escaped unharmed, and the image that stuck became pure noir — Cohen in a bathrobe, cigarette in hand, calmly surveying the wreckage.“The photo’s so memorable,” Jordan said.
“Even if no one remembers who he is, this stands out.”Then came Hollywoo...