Bill Cosby’s home: A storied history
American actor Bill Cosby is putting his old Manhattan home up for sale, having listed it earlier this week for $7 million.
The comedian has owned the Lenox Hill home on East 61st Street since 1980, according to public records. The amount he paid at the time is unknown.
The reason for selling Bill Cosby’s home
Cosby, 87, and his wife, Camille, are facing foreclosure, which is the subject of a lawsuit filed late last year, according to court documents. This was the first news Crain’s reported about the home’s sale.
Records show that CitiMortgage, which provided a $4.2 million home loan to the Cosbys, filed a lawsuit alleging that the Cosbys defaulted on the loan, which was taken out in 2010.
Last February, the couple’s legal team denied the allegations in the CitiMortgage lawsuit and claimed that CitiMortgage overstated the debt in their lawsuit.
History and Features of the Home
This 20-foot-wide brownstone dates back to the 19th century and spans nearly 5,000 square feet across its four floors. It is located in the Treadwell Farm Historic District, which straddles East 61st and 62nd Streets between Second and Third Avenues.
The ground-floor entrance leads to an eat-in kitchen, a formal dining room with a wood-burning fireplace—one of five in the house—and a sunroom that leads to the landscaped backyard, according to the listing by Adam Schneider of Corcoran.
The second level serves as the main living space and features 12-foot ceilings, original crown moldings, two fireplaces, and “intricate 12-inch mosaic hardwood floors,” according to the listing.
The home has six bedrooms, four bathrooms, and two half-baths, plus an upstairs master suite featuring skylights, floor-to-ceiling windows, a fireplace, and French doors that open to a Juliet balcony. The home also has an elevator.
Bill Cosby: A Great Art Fame
Bill Cosby, born on July 12, 1937, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, began his career as an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer.
He became famous in the 1960s for his comedy routines that highlighted the everyday lives of African Americans.
He reached the peak of his fame during the run of “The Cosby Show” from 1984 to 1992, where he presented a positive portrayal of the African American family and received widespread acclaim from critics and audiences.
In addition to his artistic work, Cosby has received numerous awards, including Emmy and Grammy Awards.
However, he has been dogged by unsavory accusations, which have tarnished his reputation and led to his trial. In 2018, he was convicted of a disastrous crime and spent nearly three years in prison before his conviction was overturned in 2021 on procedural grounds.
Despite his long career, Bill Cosby’s legacy remains controversial, with praise for his artistic achievements and criticism of his reputation due to legal issues.
