Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, one of Hollywood’s most enduring couples, spent many years in a 6.8-acre estate in Westport, Connecticut, but also owned a luxurious penthouse in New York City. This pied-à-terre, which Woodward recently listed for $9.95 million, has been a part of the couple’s life since the early 1980s. After Newman’s passing in 2008, Woodward, who retreated from public life after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2007, has decided to sell the property, with the transaction being handled by their children. The penthouse is also accompanied by maintenance fees exceeding $13,000 per month, as per listings from Noble Black and Jennifer Stillman of Douglas Elliman Real Estate.
The couple bought the penthouse during the 1980s and used it for extended stays and entertaining high-profile guests, including figures such as Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Tom Cruise, Cher, and Harry Belafonte. Although the apartment has been well-maintained, it has not been extensively updated in recent years. The residence still retains its original prewar features, such as nearly 11-foot ceilings, herringbone wood floors, a wood-burning fireplace, and decorative wood moldings and built-ins, which add to its historic charm.
The penthouse occupies the top floor of a J.E.R. Carpenter-designed limestone building, completed in 1925, located at the corner of East 93rd Street and Fifth Avenue. The building is across from the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir and is known for its distinguished status among Fifth Avenue cooperative apartment houses. Over the years, other notable residents have included Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan, a long-married entertainment couple, and James Gorman, former CEO of Morgan Stanley and incoming chairman of The Walt Disney Company.
Spanning approximately 3,000 square feet, the apartment is set up as a one-bedroom with two bathrooms and a powder room. The property also features two expansive terraces, totaling 2,300 square feet. The east-facing terrace provides sweeping views of Central Park, while the other offers panoramic views of the city, including north, west, and south, as well as stunning sunset vistas.
The 36-foot-long living room, which once featured a grand piano—an instrument Newman, a skilled pianist, enjoyed playing—includes a fireplace at one end and a hidden walk-in dry bar at the other. The adjacent dining room has built-in shelves along one wall, and the kitchen, while functional, is somewhat outdated, with tile work dating back to the 1980s. Other service areas around the kitchen include a butler’s pantry, a breakfast room with access to a terrace, and a spacious laundry room.
Off the foyer is a study that could serve as a second bedroom, and the primary suite combines two smaller bedrooms into a large, spacious room. The suite includes two walk-in closets, a tiled bathroom, and access to the expansive wrap-around terrace. Woodward also owns a separate two-bedroom apartment on the ground floor of the building, which she used as an office, gym, and guest space. This additional unit is available for purchase separately.
Newman and Woodward are legendary figures in the entertainment world, with careers spanning decades and an impressive list of accolades. Between them, they received a total of 15 Academy Award nominations. Woodward won the Best Actress Oscar for her role in the 1957 film The Three Faces of Eve, while Newman earned the Best Actor Academy Award for his performance in Martin Scorsese’s 1986 film The Color of Money. He was also honored with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1994, recognizing his philanthropic contributions. Their remarkable careers and deep connection have left an indelible mark on Hollywood history.
