Two Decades After His Death, Actor Douglas Fairbanks Jr.’s Park Avenue Apartment Finally Surfaces on the Market

More than two decades after he passed away at age 90. the onetime Upper East Side outpost of actor, producer and decorated WWII naval officer Douglas Fairbanks Jr. has popped up for sale. Found in Park Avenue’s 1920s Beekman building, just minutes from Central Park, it’s now available with a $1.75 million price tag.

Resting on the sixth floor of the George F. Pelham-designed complex—and described as an “iconic residence reflecting a bygone era of glamor and sophistication” in the listing held by Pamela Marcus and Amy Goldberger of Compass—the apartment is currently owned by Fairbanks Jr.’s widow Vera Shelton, and features three bedrooms and an equal number of baths in 2,100 square feet of colorfully hued living space spread across two combined units.

More from Robb Report

• Inside Major Food Group's New N.Y.C. Members Club

• Inside a Sky-High $17.5 Million N.Y.C. Duplex With a Giant Wraparound Terrace

• Would You Pay $44 for a Salad? Entree-Priced Greens Are Becoming the Norm at Restaurants.

Renovated during Fairbanks Jr.’s tenure by architect Benjamin Huntington and English designer Jane Churchill, the premises are accessed via a high-ceilinged entry foyer adorned with herringbone wood floors. From there, a living room bathed in yellow hearkens to year’s past when the film legend was said to have entertained the likes of Sir Laurence Olivier, Rex Harrison, Bobby Short and the Duke of Wellington.

Other highlights include a green bookshelf-clad library that has pocket doors leading to an adjacent room sporting a marble fireplace imported from England, Sisal carpet, built-in cabinetry, “tilt-and-turn” windows and an adjoining bath, as well as a kitchen with newer appliances and plenty of storage. Sequestered in its own wing is the primary bedroom suite, which offers plenty of room for a desk and cozy sitting area, plus dual walk-in closets and a windowed bath.

The new owner will pay a hefty $9,369 monthly maintenance fee for building amenities, which include a 24-hour doorman, concierge, new fitness center, housekeeping services and two storage cages. Subletting also is permitted, with an assessment fee of $1,103 ending in January 2024.

The only son of silent-screen swashbuckling hero Douglas Fairbanks and Anna Beth Sully, the daughter of wealthy industrialist Daniel J. Sully, the New York native was probably best known for starring in films such as The Prisoner of Zenda, Gunga Din and The Corsican Brothers. He made his final 1981 movie appearance alongside Fred Astaire in Ghost Story.

Best of Robb Report

• The 10 Priciest Neighborhoods in America (And How They Got to Be That Way)

• In Pictures: Most Expensive Properties

Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.