Darren Walker may be new to Los Angeles as he takes the helm of Anonymous Content as president and CEO, but he’s had long relationships with key players in town for years, given his distinguished career in philanthropy and nonprofits.
Sally Field is one of those people. So Walker was excited to learn when he took the role at Anonymous Content at the start of this year that Field was a client. And Field was there on Wednesday evening to cheer on her friend as Walker toasted Anonymous Content’s Emmy nominees this year and showed off his famous new digs at a historic Los Angeles address.
Walker delighted the intimate crowd of a few dozen friends and associates with the kismet story of how he came to purchase the sui generis, 4,400-square foot property designed as the personal residence of legendary Los Angeles architect Paul Revere Williams.
Much of the home is outfitted with original fixtures and an array of bespoke touches that the renowned architect handcrafted for his family residence. The home is in a historic neighborhood that reflected post-World War II Los Angeles’ embrace of mid-century modern building design and mid-century, West Coast modern attitudes about race, class and equality.
Of all the intricate and meticulously designed touches that Walker pointed out in the home, the one that generated the most oohs and ahhs was the lovingly built, extra-large vanity that Williams built into one wall for his wife, Della Mae Williams. At one point it was complete with giant, helmet-style hair dryers and salon-style chairs, but sadly those were gutted by a previous owner, Walker explained. Della Mae’s home beauty salon — big enough for her to invite a few friends — was but one example of how Williams was determined to present his wife with “every one of the beautiful luxuries that he built into the homes of the wealthiest families in Beverly Hills and Brentwood,” Walker said.
Walker’s rise to national prominence and influence in philanthropy during his run atop of the Ford Foundation mirrors Williams’ ascent in his field. Walker made the 90-degree turn to lead a talent management firm active in content development came at the behest of his longtime friend Laurene Powell Jobs, whose Emerson Collective owns Anonymous Content.
Walker’s enthusiasm for his new job was evident in his neatly arranged, oh-so-classic Mid-City Los Angeles backyard as he introduced Anonymous Content’s Emmy nominees in attendance one by one: Sally Field (for her star turn in the Netflix film “Remarkably Bright Creatures”; Kate O’Flynn (“Widow’s Bay”), Sarah Pidgeon (“Love Story: John F Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette,”) Matthew Rhys (“The Beast in Me,” “Widow’s Bay”), Sonja Warfield (“The Gilded Age”).
“I’m delighted to welcome you to this celebration at a time when we need moments for inspiration and joy, reflection, delight and awe and to recognize excellence more than ever,” Walker told the crowd.
Among those lending an ear and munching on light appetizers were Ava DuVernay, Thomas Doherty, Andy Parker, Kal Penn, Rich Appel, Keith Cox, Dee Johnson, Sophie de Bruijn, Jeremy Barber, Jiao Chen, Michael Dinner, LACMA’s Michael Govan, Jeff Sharp, Dan Lin, Kevin McCormick, Courtenay Miles, Lisa Taback, Matt Tyrnauer, Bryan Unkeless and Talitha Watkins.
(Pictured top: Darren Walker with Emmy nominee Sarah Pidgeon)