Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward’s Manhattan Home Listed for $1.7 Million

You know how some homes feel like time capsules — not just walls and furniture, but a quiet echo of the people who lived there? That’s exactly what Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward’s Manhattan maisonette feels like. The apartment has just hit the market for a little under $1.7 million, tucked inside a limestone co-op at 1120 Fifth Avenue — the same Carnegie Hill building where their penthouse sold for $14 million this summer after a fierce bidding war.

For decades, this wasn’t just another Manhattan address. It was part of the rhythm of two of Hollywood’s most enduring stars — a quiet base when they weren’t on set, a place where handwritten scripts, framed family photos, and traces of laughter still lingered in the corners.

Newman and Woodward bought into this pre-war building back in the early 1980s, long before luxury real estate became a celebrity commodity. Their top-floor penthouse was where they hosted friends like Barack Obama, Cher, and Tom Cruise. This smaller ground-floor unit was their personal retreat — part office, part gym, part guest suite — and it still looks much the same as it did when they lived there.

What makes this listing special isn’t only its prime Fifth Avenue location or the fact that it’s priced at a fraction of their penthouse. It’s that rare feeling of intimacy — the chance to walk through rooms that belonged to two people who defined grace both on-screen and off.

As a longtime watcher of New York’s real-estate market, I can tell you: apartments with this kind of provenance don’t come up often, and when they do, they tend to disappear fast.

If you had a chance to own a home that still carries the quiet presence of legends, would you take it — or would you rather just peek inside and imagine the stories those walls could tell?

From Hollywood Glamour to Fifth Avenue Charm — Inside the Couple’s NYC Legacy

When you think of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, you think of two people who somehow balanced fame, family, and privacy better than almost anyone else. They weren’t the “look at me” kind of stars. Their Fifth Avenue life reflected that same quiet confidence — sophisticated, grounded, and deeply personal.

The couple first moved into this J.E.R. Carpenter–designed co-op in the early 1980s, long before “celebrity real estate” became a trending hashtag. According to Robb Report, they used their grand 3,000-square-foot penthouse to host friends and fundraisers, while this ground-floor maisonette was their tucked-away corner for work, workouts, and overnight guests.

There’s something charmingly old-fashioned about that. No flash, no show-off décor — just a lived-in Manhattan base that tells you what mattered most to them: simplicity, community, and privacy.

A Snapshot of the Listing — Location, Price & What’s on Offer

The maisonette sits inside 1120 Fifth Avenue, right across from the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir — a spot that’s part postcard, part history. The asking price is just under $1.7 million, which, by New York standards (and especially for this building), feels surprisingly accessible for a home tied to Hollywood royalty.

The listing, handled by Noble Black and Jennifer Kaufman Stillman of The Corcoran Group, describes a classic pre-war co-op with a $4,150 monthly maintenance fee. That covers a 24-hour doorman, on-site gym, bike room, and a resident manager. Step outside and you’re within seconds of Central Park and Museum Mile.

It’s easy to forget, but homes like these aren’t just about location — they’re about continuity. Every detail, from the limestone façade to the wrought-iron accents, feels untouched by time.

A Maisonette Frozen in Time — Where Every Room Tells a Story

The first thing that strikes you when you see the photos is how real everything feels. The foyer is still set up as a cozy study, complete with a desk and worn armchair. Double doors open into a living-dining space lined with built-in bookshelves and parquet floors. You can almost picture Newman walking through, a script in one hand and a coffee mug in the other.

The eat-in kitchen carries the kind of detail you don’t find in new builds — patterned tile floors, a glossy green backsplash, and framed portraits arranged just above a small country-style table. Down the hall, two bedrooms share a marble bath with a deep soaking tub. It’s not a designer showcase; it’s a snapshot of a couple who actually lived there.

What I love about this apartment is that it hasn’t been stripped of its soul. In a city obsessed with renovation and resale, this one stands still — a quiet testament to another time.

The Penthouse Connection — The Famous Home Upstairs

Earlier this year, the couple’s 3,000-square-foot penthouse in the same building sold for a staggering $14 million, well over its asking price. That was the glamorous one — a terraced unit where they hosted everyone from Bill Clinton to Cher. The maisonette, though, was their private refuge — smaller, quieter, and, in many ways, more personal.

To me, that contrast is fascinating. One apartment was about presence; the other, about peace. The penthouse was where they shined. The maisonette was where they exhaled.

And now, decades later, it’s the maisonette that gives us the truer picture of who they were at home — humble, warm, and comfortable in their own history.

I recently came across a short video update on a real-estate channel I follow on WhatsApp — it showed how listings with strong personal stories often sell faster than those with big renovations. This maisonette feels like proof of that.

What Makes This Listing Special — Rarity Meets Provenance

If you follow Manhattan listings, you know that co-ops like this rarely change hands, let alone ones with this kind of backstory. It’s the first time this apartment has hit the market in decades, and the interiors still carry traces of the Newmans’ life — the art, the colors, even the arrangement of furniture.

Celebrity-owned properties often get overhyped, but this one feels different. It’s not about prestige — it’s about presence. You’re not just buying square footage; you’re stepping into a preserved memory. For collectors or design lovers, that authenticity has its own kind of value.

It’s also a gentle reminder that fame doesn’t always live in marble foyers and glass towers. Sometimes it lives in a quiet maisonette with yellow walls, creaking floors, and a story worth keeping intact.

Celebrity homes often tell their stories through contrasts. Just like how Lakers coach JJ Redick’s Brooklyn penthouse reveals a more modern side of New York living, the Newmans’ maisonette captures something older and more soulful.

How the Market Frames It — Value, Timing & Appeal

From a market perspective, this listing is intriguing. At $1.7 million, it offers a rare entry point into one of Manhattan’s most elite neighborhoods. When you consider that their penthouse sold for eight times that price, it’s clear that this isn’t just a home — it’s a collectible.

Upper East Side co-op prices have held steady through 2025, with well-preserved pre-war units remaining especially desirable among long-term investors and old-New York purists. What adds another layer here is the provenance — that intangible quality of “who lived here” — which often pushes properties like this into their own category of demand.

If you ask me, this apartment won’t stay on the market long. Not because it’s flashy, but because it’s real. And in a city where every corner is being remodeled, there’s something priceless about a place that still remembers who it belonged to.

The Newman–Woodward Touch — A Design Legacy That Still Inspires

If you look closely at the photos, there’s nothing extravagant about this apartment — and that’s exactly the point. The space reflects the couple’s taste: warm, comfortable, and quietly elegant. Their furniture leans toward the kind of classic American design that doesn’t chase trends — wood pieces, soft colors, and a lived-in texture that tells you these rooms weren’t styled for show.

The kitchen’s glossy green tile backsplash, the country-style table under a wall of portraits, the butter-yellow paint — it all feels personal, not staged. I’ve seen dozens of Manhattan listings that look like hotel suites. This one looks like a home.

If you’re into interiors, there’s a lesson here: authenticity never dates itself. Newman and Woodward created a space that feels timeless because it wasn’t trying to impress anyone. It was built to be lived in.

It reminds me of the understated charm of HGTV star Genevieve Gorder’s Manhattan duplex, which balanced modernity with warmth — proof that not every New York home needs a penthouse view to feel luxurious.

A Life Beyond the Home — The Legacy They Left Behind

Whenever I write about celebrity homes, I remind myself that the address is only half the story. Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward weren’t just stars — they were a partnership that lasted over fifty years. Between them, they earned 15 Academy Award nominations. Woodward won Best Actress for The Three Faces of Eve in 1957; Newman won Best Actor for The Color of Money in 1986.

But their impact ran deeper than cinema. Newman’s Own, his food brand that donates all profits to charity, has given hundreds of millions to education and social causes. Woodward, now in her 90s, remains one of the last living connections to Hollywood’s golden age.

That’s why this maisonette resonates beyond real estate. It’s a small window into how two remarkable people lived — not as icons, but as partners who built a quiet, thoughtful life in the middle of Manhattan.

It’s rare to see celebrity homes so closely tied to their owners’ personalities. A similar sense of legacy runs through Diane Keaton’s former Beverly Hills home, where every design choice mirrored her timeless aesthetic.

Why This Maisonette Still Matters in 2025?

In a year when Manhattan’s real-estate market is defined by glass towers and record-breaking penthouses, this listing stands out for an entirely different reason: it’s real. No digital staging, no “modern luxury” jargon — just history, preserved.

Homes like this remind us that legacy isn’t measured in square footage or resale value. It’s measured in the life lived within those walls. For fans, investors, and anyone who appreciates authenticity, Newman and Woodward’s maisonette is a rare bridge between Hollywood grace and New York permanence.

Maybe that’s why I find this story so compelling. It’s not just about a property coming up for sale — it’s about what happens when a place becomes a keeper of memory.

Why This Story Stays With You?

If you’ve ever walked past an old Manhattan building and wondered what stories its windows could tell, this apartment gives you an answer. It’s proof that some homes don’t just hold people — they hold eras.

So whether you’re someone who tracks celebrity listings or someone who simply loves the idea of a life well-lived, I’d love to know: If you could step into one famous home and see it exactly as it was left, whose would it be — and why?

Love reading about celebrity homes with history and character? Explore more stories like this in our Real Estate & Homeownership section— where every listing tells a story worth remembering.

Disclaimer: All details in this article are based on publicly available listings and media reports. Property prices, features, and availability are subject to change. This piece is for informational and editorial purposes only, not real-estate or investment advice.