Background: 257 West 86th Street. Inset: Robert Duvall by John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com via Wikimedia Commons
A spacious eight-room apartment at 257 W. 86th Street once owned by legendary actor Robert Duvall is on the market for $6.5 million.
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The two-floor co-op is on the fifth and sixth floors of the 1909 classic Italian renaissance-style building between Broadway and West End Avenue. It boasts three bedrooms, two and a half baths, a huge chef’s kitchen and breakfast room, large living and dining areas with 20-foot coffered ceilings, a home office and a working fireplace. Among the architectural features are restored dark walnut moldings, a Juliet balcony and several original leaded stained-glass windows, according to the listing description, which also says the “property exudes a rich cultural heritage and architectural significance.”
The expansive kitchen sounds particularly enticing as it’s described as a “dream for culinary enthusiasts.” (Or surely anyone who’s done with tiny NYC kitchens.)
On the second floor, the home sounds as roomy and elegant as the living areas. “Upstairs, the duplex offers three bedrooms and a home office, ensuring ample space for both relaxation and productivity. The primary suite is a sanctuary of comfort, featuring a glass-tiled en suite bath and west-facing windows that overlook a picturesque view reminiscent of old-world Europe,” states the listing.
READ MORE: Liam Neeson’s Upper West Side Pad Can Be Yours for $12.8 Million
In addition to the multi-million dollar price tag for this home, the monthly maintenance is $6,884.
The handsome 14-story building has “approximately” 36 apartments, a gym and a rooftop deck. Its classic architectural details include a limestone base, decorative balconies, columns and large windows. Homes have recently sold for as little as about $450,000 and up to several million. This home’s price is the most expensive so far, at least in recent history, according to the building’s sales history on Streeteasy.
The building “is distinguished for its stately and grand façade and includes such period details as a 3-story limestone base, decorative balconies, large windows and a grand step-up entrance graced by imposing columns,” states the building’s Streeteasy description (written by Jeffrey Levitas and Madeline McKenna).
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The apartment was also once owned by an unnamed “renown art dealer,” according to the listing. It is currently owned by Gayle Klinger-Gradess and Samuel Gradess, who bought it in 2006 for $3.4 million from Margo and Leonard Gordon. Ms. Klinger-Gradess is the founder and executive director of the non-profit “Anything Is Possible,” which helps inspire and motivate struggling teens and young adults to reach their goals. Mr. Gradess is a principal with New York Livery Leasing, a major credit provider to the city’s livery car industry.
Mr. Duvall, perhaps known best for his Oscar-nominated performance in the 1972 movie The Godfather, owned the home during the 1980s and early 1990s, according to the New York Post. He later won an Academy Award for best actor for his role in 1983’s Tender Mercies and earned numerous other awards and accolades over his illustrious career. He is now 93 and still acting, currently working on a movie called The Ploughmen, which is in production and being directed by Ed Harris. His most recent movie role was in The Pale Blue Eye in 2022.
ILTUWS couldn’t confirm where Duvall lives now, but he owns a large estate in rural Virginia where he has long been active in the community.
Last movie was “The Judge (2014 film)” Not 2022.