MALIBU—Actor and activist Edward Norton purchased a Malibu Colony home for $11.8 million, according to reports. Known as the Stevens House, the legendary beachfront property was designed by architect John Lautner in 1968.

The Stevens House, which was on and off the market since 2013, was once listed for as much as $22 million, reports show. The seller was film producer and architecture collector Michael LaFetra, who purchased the house in 2007 for $13.8 million. Known for his work on the documentary “Kevorkian” and the film “Night Train,” LaFetra carried out an extensive update on the property, which included restoration of original tiles and concrete, installation of cork floors, and conversion to solar power.

The 3,366-square-foot, wood-and-concrete home is situated on 37 feet of beach in the exclusive and gated Malibu Colony. The structure, inspired by the curved shape of ocean waves, features five bedrooms, five bathrooms, a step-down living room, and a galley-style kitchen. Large glass sliding doors allow breezes to flow through the house. Herringbone-patterned floors, wood slats, and arcing walls are prominent throughout the residence.

Outside, a covered area features a swimming pool and opens to a grassy yard and large beachside deck. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009 and is considered a California State Cultural Landmark.

Tracy Maltas of Douglas Elliman was the listing agent. Christopher Cortazzo of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage represented the buyer.

Located south of Malibu Road and west of Malibu Lagoon State Beach, Malibu Colony is one of the city’s most well-known communities. Celebrities such as Bing Crosby and Merle Oberon once resided in the Colony. According to Variety, current inhabitants include singer Sting, actors Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, tennis player John McEnroe and singer Patty Smyth, and comedian Paul Reiser, among others.

In addition to the Stevens House, Norton owns a duplex on Malibu’s Las Flores Beach, which he purchased in 2008 for $2.72 million. He and his wife, producer Shauna Robertson, also own a home in the Fairfax area of Los Angeles, which was purchased from actress Drew Barrymore in 2001 for $611,000, and a penthouse apartment in Manhattan.

Norton, 47, has earned Oscar nominations for his work in “Primal Fear” (1996), “American History X” (1998), and “Birdman” (2014). He is known for his roles in films including “Fight Club” (1999), “Kingdom of Heaven” (2005), “The Illusionist” (2006), “The Incredible Hulk” (2008), and “Moonrise Kingdom” (2012). He is set to feature in the upcoming stop-motion animated film “Isle of Dogs,” which is scheduled to be released in March 2018.

In addition to his acting career, Norton is an environmental and social activist. He serves as a member of the board of trustees of Enterprise Community Partners, a nonprofit organization for developing affordable housing, and the president of the American branch of the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust. In 2010, he was appointed as the United Nations Goodwill Ambassador.