In Manhattan's sought-after Upper East Side, the former townhouse of American actor Montgomery Clift is on the market for 7.995 million US dollars. The actor, who gained international acclaim through leading roles in classic films such as "Red River", "From Here to Eternity", "A Place in the Sun" and "The Misfits", lived in the property until his death in 1966 at the age of 45. During his lifetime, the residence regularly served as a private gathering place for prominent colleagues, including Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe.
The history of the property extends beyond the Hollywood era: in 1906, US President Theodore Roosevelt gave the residence to his daughter Alice Roosevelt Longworth as a wedding gift. Decades later, Prince Serge Obolensky, an exiled Russian nobleman, acquired the house before Clift eventually bought it from him. Just one year after the actor's death, New York City's Landmarks Preservation Commission recognised the historic significance of the neighbourhood and officially designated the district as protected in 1967.
Classical architecture and authentically preserved details
On the garden level, the townhouse benefits from two separate entrances: a main entrance leads via the foyer directly into the reception rooms, while a second entrance opens straight into the eat-in kitchen. This is fitted with blue cabinetry, black worktops and terracotta flooring. Adjoining this are a formal dining room with a fireplace and a living area whose floor-to-ceiling windows provide views of and access to the enclosed, two-tiered paved garden.
On the piano nobile, rooms open out beneath ceilings of around 3.65 metres in height, finished with herringbone parquet and cornicing. While the front drawing room features an ornamental fireplace and street-facing windows, the rear drawing room houses a historic rarity: the bar there was deliberately kept in its original condition during extensive refurbishment works, regarded as the most tangible testament to Clift's social gatherings. French windows lead directly from this room onto a veranda overlooking the garden level.
- —Five bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms across multiple living levels
- —Original entertaining bar owned by Montgomery Clift in the drawing room
- —Several fireplaces in reception and private rooms
- —Private garden with brick terraces and a separate roof terrace offering city views
Private suites and open spaces on the roof
The third and fourth floors are dedicated entirely to private retreats. Each level comprises two bedrooms with their own fireplaces and bathrooms. Crowning the building is a timber-decked roof terrace that provides additional outdoor seating space and views across the skyline. Marketing for the historic property is handled by estate agents Daniela Kunen and Priscilla Tuohy of Douglas Elliman.
