Built in the late 1920s, this house was originally the residence of banker Dimitar Ivanov and his wife Nadezhda Stankovic. The interior features a striking red marble fireplace in the reception room, as well as a stage for musical performances and crystal-adorned interior doors.
The house has several bedrooms, elegant terraces, a spacious study and various utility rooms. Although the original furnishings have been lost, historical records indicate that the elite Sofia residents of the time preferred Central and Western European furniture.
The exterior of the property features a large front garden bordered by an ornate wrought iron fence. A large triple staircase leads to the main entrance, and the property is also characterized by carriage portals that flank the courtyard.
These portals are reminiscent of a bygone era where one can imagine a horse-drawn carriage driving into the courtyard, while the horses and carriage wait in a specially designated area behind the house until the end of the reception.
The Ivanov family enjoyed their residence until 1944, after which the estate was nationalized. At first it served as the Romanian embassy, later as the USSR’s trade mission in Bulgaria and as the headquarters of various communist organizations with unclear functions.
In the 1990s the house was returned to Ivanov’s heirs. In 2004 it was taken over by Valentin Zlatev, director of Lukoil. Despite this change of ownership, the property, which had fallen into disrepair for decades, remains neglected and abandoned, with no apparent connection to its cultural heritage.
Ron Howard Reveals Secret to 49-Year Marriage – You Won’t Believe His ‘Good Luck Charm’!
Ron Howard has been famous for almost all of his 70 years. He’s had a nonstop career in film and television, starting as a toddler.
Besides his impressive career, Ron has also had a long-lasting marriage. He has been married to his wife Cheryl for almost 50 years.
Keep reading to learn more about Ron Howard, his long career, and his long marriage!
Ronald Howard was born on March 1, 1954, in Duncan, Oklahoma. He would grow up to become a Hollywood legend.
Howard started acting when he was only 18 months old, appearing in his first film, Frontier Woman. By the time he was two, he was on stage in The Seven Year
After his early start in the entertainment world, Ron Howard became known for his role as Opie on The Andy Griffith Show from 1960 to 1968.
During this time, playing the son of Griffith’s character, Howard had the support of his parents, who were also in the entertainment business.
Ron remembers a conversation he had with his parents when he was younger. They said, “Remember how we always said, ‘You can do it if you want, but you don’t have to?’ Well if you start this, you can’t quit. You don’t have to do other parts on other shows if you don’t want, but you’d have to keep doing this one.”
Ron Howard understood the message his parents gave him. He says, “I think it was pretty clear at that point that I was enjoying it, and I was good at it.”
In fact, he was really good at it, and he was about to become a big star.
While he was on The Andy Griffith Show, Howard also acted in a movie called The Music Man in 1962. It was a musical and it did really well.
He was a natural talent. Then, in 1973, he starred in American Graffiti. It also had actors like Harrison Ford, Richard Dreyfuss, and Cindy Williams, who he would work with again in the future.
In 1974, Ron Howard got a big role as Richie Cunningham in a new show called Happy Days, created by Garry Marshall. The show was on TV from 1974 to 1984 and was watched by people all over the world.
Happy Days was so popular that it led to other shows, like Laverne & Shirley, which starred Cindy Williams and Garry Marshall’s sister Penny, and Mork & Mindy, with Robin Williams as the funny character Mork from Ork.
Before he won a Golden Globe for his role as the innocent teenager on Happy Days, Ron Howard met his high school sweetheart, Cheryl Alley, in 1970. They got married in 1975.
“I met her, and there was never anybody else,” Speaking with People, the director of the Da Vinci Code continued, “She’s unbelievably supportive and always has been. Our compatibility has endured through all kinds of experiences.”
After 50 years of shared experiences, Howard, who earned an Oscar for directing A Beautiful Mind, commemorated the 50th anniversary of his first date with Cheryl on
On November 1, 1970, Ron Howard and Cheryl went on their first date. Ron shared a photo of himself wearing socks with Cheryl’s face on them. He wrote, “We went to see a movie called It’s a Mad Mad Mad World and then got pizza at a place called Barnone’s in Toluca Lake. Quite a start, right?”
He also said they planned to drive the same 1970 VW Bug they drove on their first date. It still runs great, just like their relationship.
Cheryl appeared in some of Ron’s projects and even played herself on a TV show called Arrested Development, which Ron produced and narrated.
Ron calls Cheryl his “good luck charm.” That’s why she appears in every movie he makes. He told the Television Academy this in an interview.
“I got really superstitious about making sure she appears, at least a little bit, in every movie,” Ron said. “It doesn’t have to be a big part, but she’s gotta be in there.”
Besides bringing him luck, Cheryl is also a writer. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in screenwriting.
The couple has four children: daughter Bryce, twins Paige and Jocelyn, and son Reed. They’re also grandparents to six children.
Bryce, a well-known actor, has been in movies like Jurassic World and The Help. Paige started her movie career in Adventureland in 2009. She’s also been in movies like The Employer and Collection.
Reed is a professional golfer. Jocelyn, Paige’s twin sister, keeps her life private.
Ron and Cheryl are about to celebrate their 49th anniversary on June 7th. Ron, who has won an Emmy Award, says that “communication” is the secret to their lasting love.
What’s your favorite movie or TV show featuring Ron Howard, the talented actor, director, and producer?
Share your thoughts with us, and then pass this story along so we can hear from others too!
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