Newly unearthed photos show that Barbra Streisand’s stepson Jess Brolin was in deep trouble at least a decade ago. He was seen living in his broken-down truck and rummaging through trash cans.
Things haven’t gotten any better for the Hollywood scion, who is now staying in a shabby motel on the outskirts of the posh, artsy town of Ojai, California, DailyMail.com reported Wednesday.
Streisand, who is married to Jess’s father James, also an actor, did not respond to multiple requests for comment and did not detail how his famous family has tried to help.
Her life of luxury in a $20 million Malibu mansion stands in stark contrast to Jess, who has been bouncing between temporary housing and life on the streets for more than a decade.
Jess is currently staying at the three-star Topa Vista Hotel, which is located on a busy highway, opposite a coffee shop and hair salon.
Unearthed photos of Barbara Streisand’s stepson Jess Brolin show him dumpster diving in a wealthy California city more than a decade ago. The footage shows him dressed in blue and looking even bigger than he is now, grabbing food from a bin.
Jess currently lives in a modest motel on the outskirts of Ojai, California
The youngest Brolin, whose older brother is Men in Black and Avengers star Josh, 56, has been living at the property for “several months” and is expected to stay for several more months.
While Jess’s new home is modest, it’s an improvement over the battered 1981 Toyota truck he lived in after the trust fund he inherited from his mother ran out in 2011.
Jane Agee, the first of his father’s three wives, tragically died in a car accident in 1995, ten years after her divorce from the veteran actor.
The newly discovered photos from DailyMail.com show Jess, 52, three years later in 2014, after his life spiralled further into disarray and he ended up on the streets.
In the photos, he is dressed all in blue and even bigger than he is now, as he grabs food from a garbage can.
A spokesman for stepmother Barbra said at the time that the family had tried to help but their offers had been rejected. In a statement, he added: ‘We have offered help and support and continue to do so.
“We love him very much and only want the best for him.”
Barbra Streisand, married to Jess’ father, James, has remained quiet despite her stepson’s troubles. Her extravagant lifestyle contrasts sharply with his ongoing problems
Jess was with his father, stepmother and older brother Josh in 1998 when James Brolin received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Despite the help offered to him, Jess is still living in temporary housing ten years later and has never tried to revive his showbiz career, which has been limited to two films and one long-term stint, in 2001 when he worked as a production assistant on the TV series Black Scorpion, a low-budget superhero series set in LA.
Jess’s modest motel accommodations are a stark contrast to the lavish homes enjoyed by his famous family.
His temporary new home, which boasts on its website that it has “eight air-conditioned rooms” each with a flat-screen TV, is owned by 64-year-old LA nightclub owner Steve Edelson.
A spokesman for the Ojai City Council told DailyMail.com that the parcel is outside city limits, in an unincorporated community called Meiners Oaks. He could not confirm whether it is being used for homeless housing.
Photos of the property show simple but comfortable-looking rooms, all furnished with wood panelling and soft leather armchairs.
Ten years ago, Jess, then 42, was even heavier than he is now
He is regularly seen in Ojai, where he has lived for over ten years
While Jess lives in a cramped room at the Topa Vista Inn, his father and stepmother call a $20 million, 19-bedroom mansion on a cliff in Malibu home
In addition to Topa Vista, Edelson also owns the upscale Hummingbird and Capri hotels, and the legendary eatery The Ranch House in Ojai, where the seasonal menu currently includes delicacies such as slow-roasted herb porchetta, scallop risotto and the signature cognac pate.
Calls to Topa Vista currently go directly to voicemail. There you will receive the following message: ‘If you are calling on behalf of Topa Vista, we are currently fully booked.’
A source told DailyMail.com that the current guests, including Jess, ‘have been there for a few months and will be staying for a few more months’.
In contrast, father James and stepmother Barbra have a palatial estate in Malibu, while brother Josh currently lives in a $7.1 million, six-bedroom ranch in Montecito – also famously home to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, as well as Oprah and Katy Perry.
In addition to the Montecito home, which also has its own riding stable, Josh also owns a $3.2 million, five-bedroom home in Atlanta, Georgia, which he currently rents out for $35,000 a month.