'The Lost World' Star Who Walked Away From Hollywood Over 'Egos' Is Now Running a $150,000 Bookshop

Harvey Jason has traded Hollywood sets for rare books after walking away from acting and building a second career as a bookseller. The 86-year-old English actor, best known as a hunter in 1997's The Lost World: Jurassic Park, was recently spotted outside Mystery Pier Books in West Hollywood, the shop he runs with his son Louis.

The career change began while Jason was working on Steven Spielberg's blockbuster. During production, he told the director he planned to open a bookshop with Louis after the film. Spielberg reportedly laughed, but Jason followed through, opening Mystery Pier in August 1998.

Harvey Jason's Hollywood Career

Jason began acting in the 1960s and built an extensive television career before leaving the industry. His credits included The Love Boat, Wonder Woman, Seinfeld and Star Trek: The Next Generation, alongside film roles including The Gumball Rally and The Lost World: Jurassic Park.

However, his decision to leave Hollywood was not simply retirement. Jason has said he enjoyed being in the spotlight but became disillusioned with the industry's 'egos' and 'superficial people.'

While working on The Lost World, Jason had already decided he wanted to pursue books rather than continue chasing acting roles.

Why Harvey Jason Left Hollywood

Jason's conversation with Spielberg makes the timing of his decision particularly striking. He had already planned his next career while working on the Jurassic Park sequel, telling the director he intended to open a bookshop after filming.

Books were more than a convenient alternative. Jason had a longstanding passion for collecting and selling rare books, while Louis was also interested in the trade. The pair turned that shared interest into Mystery Pier Books on Sunset Boulevard.

The decision gave Jason a new career connected to Hollywood without requiring him to return to acting.

Inside Mystery Pier Books

Mystery Pier specialises in rare first editions, signed books, antiquarian literature and cinema-related collectibles. Its collection includes works by Ernest Hemingway, F Scott Fitzgerald, Charles Dickens and Agatha Christie, alongside Hollywood material.

The shop also features a 'Hollywoodiana' collection of signed shooting scripts and entertainment memorabilia. Its reputation has attracted customers including Spielberg, Johnny Depp, Diane Keaton, Seth MacFarlane and Guillermo del Toro.

The irony is that although Jason left Hollywood, the industry became part of the business he built with his son.

The $150,000 Mystery Pier Sale

Some Mystery Pier collectibles have commanded six-figure prices. The shop has featured valuable first editions, including a first printing of Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind.

The Daily Mail reported that Mystery Pier's biggest sale was an original sheet-music copy of God Bless America signed by singer Kate Smith, which sold for $150,000 (£110,400).

The $150,000 (£110,400) figure refers to that individual collectible, not the value of Mystery Pier Books itself. It highlights the level of rare material handled by the specialist shop.

Jason's New Life Away From Hollywood

Jason's second career has now lasted nearly three decades. He and Louis have continued operating Mystery Pier since its opening in August 1998, turning their shared interest in rare books into a long-running family business.

His recent appearance outside the West Hollywood shop brings attention to the career path that began while he was working on The Lost World. Jason has since built Mystery Pier into an established name in the rare-book trade.