Breaking News: F. Murray Abraham Completes Long-Awaited Renovation of Manhattan Apartment after Family Push
In a personal milestone unfolding in real time, teh 86-year-old actor F.Murray Abraham has brought new life to the Manhattan residence he has called home as 1987. After the passing of his wife, Kate Hannan Abraham, three years ago, a family-driven renovation began in earnest, driven by daughter Victoria Imperioli, an interior designer, and completed enough to move back in last September.The project, still not fully finished, marks a careful return to a home that the actor describes as “the cast of his life.”
Abraham’s career spans stage, screen, and television—from an Oscar-winning turn in Amadeus to memorable roles in Scarface, Mighty Aphrodite, and The Grand Budapest Hotel, with a notable stint on Homeland. He is also known for his recent work in The White Lotus, where extended filming in Sicily connected him with longtime friends and collaborators who helped shape his home’s transformation.
during filming in Sicily for a contemporary project, Abraham struck up a close friendship with actor Michael Imperioli and his wife Victoria, an interior designer who urged renovating the family home. The plan, which unfolded over almost a year, aimed to honor the home’s past while updating it for current life—the changes where planned to return the space to its former spirit of comfort and health.
Work began while Abraham was away in Latvia for several months of filming, and his return to the city coincided with the renovation’s completion in stages. the result includes retooled parquet floors,fresh paint,marble accents,and refined Art Deco touches that harmonize with a long,storied life in the building.
Photo: Winnie Au, The New York Times
F. Murray Abraham in his Manhattan residence
Space by Space: A Home Reimagined
The apartment, a two-bedroom, two-story unit, has been home since the late 1980s and now features renovated parquet floors, freshly painted walls, marble countertops, and updated Art Deco flourishes that reflect both a life in theater and the actor’s personal collection.
Key rooms carry stories that mirror Abraham’s career and family life. The bedroom, once a gold-velvet oasis, was redesigned but preserved its dramatic character thanks to the daughter’s design choices.An ivory darning egg, once belonging to his wife’s grandmother, remains a familial emblem attached to the stair banister—a quiet tribute to lineage and craft.
The living areas tell a similar tale of memory and influence: pieces acquired over the years,including items from travels and performances,are carefully positioned to harmonize with the couple’s long history. A centerpiece of the space is the way everyday life—reading, rehearsing lines, and enjoying meals—meets the artist’s approach to curation and sentiment.
Family Involvement and Timing
The renovation was driven by Victoria Imperioli, who described convincing Abraham to restore the home as a return to a time when everyone was well. “It took me almost a year to persuade him,” she recalled. Abraham agreed while away on a Latvian shoot, and he returned to a transformed home this past September, tho some shelving and artwork remain to be finalized.
Abraham’s Oscar, a symbol of a storied career, spends part of its time at a cottage but frequently travels to a local bistro where the actor is a longtime patron. he has long joked about sharing the award, a playful nod to the warm ties he has with his community and friends.
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Photo: Winnie Au,The New York Times
The golden statuette lives part-time in the actor’s apartment.
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Photo: Winnie Au, The New York Times
It was the actor’s wife who created this cross-stitch embroidery work.
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Rooms with Character
The lounge area doubles as a gym and a second living room, housing a trove of personal treasures, including a Moroccan prayer rug picked up during travels. After relocating from Los Angeles to New York in 1965, the couple settled in a then-new home on a traditional building block as they built a life around theater and film.
Photo: Winnie Au, The New york Times
The bedroom and its golden velvet walls
Stairwell and Specimens of a Life in craft
A memorable feature remains: an ivory darning egg attached to the stair banister, a relic from Abraham’s wife’s grandmother. The item stands as a tangible link to family and meticulous handiwork that defined a shared life.
Photo: Winnie au, The New York Times
This lamp belonged to Marlon Brando.
living Room Echoes of a Storied Career
Abraham’s admiration for Marlon Brando led him to an estate sale where he acquired several pieces, including side tables, a bookcase, and a pair of lamps—one of which bore the marks of time. he often jokes about whether Brando himself may have knocked something off the shelf.
This feature originated in a major newspaper’s real estate section, reflecting a life divided between stage, screen, and home.
For readers seeking the original English account, a link is provided to the original version with subscription access.
View the original version (subscription required)
Key Facts
| Subject | F. Murray Abraham |
|---|---|
| Location | Manhattan apartment, two-bedroom, two-story |
| Renovation Trigger | Proposal from daughter Victoria Imperioli |
| Timeline | Renovation pursued during absence for filming; moved back in september |
| Notable Changes | renovated parquet, painted walls, marble countertops, Art Deco accents |
| Family Tie | Wife Kate Hannan Abraham passed away three years prior |
| Oscar | Part-time in cottage; shared affection with local bistro |
Evergreen Perspectives
This story illustrates how personal history and career intersect in living spaces. It underscores the importance of a home as a dynamic archive—where memories,art,and craft converge to shape daily life. The collaboration with Victoria Imperioli embodies how family and professional networks influence intimate spaces, a trend seen in urban homes across major cities.
Engagement Questions
Which feature would you prioritize in a lifelong home renovation: preserving artifacts or updating spaces for daily comfort? How would you balance memory with modern needs in a high-demand urban setting?
What room in your home best reflects your personal history, and why?
Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation on social media.
External references for further context: Oscars.org — 1985 Amadeus win,HBO — The White Lotus, The New York Times.
