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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>UNITED
      STATES</strong></font></div>
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      AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</strong></font></div>
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      DC 20549 </strong></font></div>
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      8-K </strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>CURRENT
      REPORT </strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Pursuant
      to Section&#160;13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Date
      of
      Report (Date of earliest event reported): </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>May
      9, 2006 </strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 20pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>NorthStar
      Realty Finance Corp.</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Exact
      name of registrant as specified in its charter) <br></font></div>
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              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(State
                or other jurisdiction</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">of
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            <td valign="top" width="32%">
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                File</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Number)</font></div>
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              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Identification
                No.)</font></div>
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              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>527
                Madison Avenue, 16</strong></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><sup><strong>th</strong></sup></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>
                Floor, New York</strong></font></div>
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              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>10022</strong></font></div>
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              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Address
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              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
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              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Zip
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      319-8801</strong></font></div>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><br></div>
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      the
      appropriate box below if the Form&#160;8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
      satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
      provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below): </font></div>
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              <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Written
                communications pursuant to Rule&#160;425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
                230.425) </font></div>
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                240.14a-12) </font></div>
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                communications pursuant to Rule&#160;14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17
                CFR 240.14d-2(b)) </font></div>
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                communications pursuant to Rule&#160;13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17
                CFR 240.13e-4(c)) </font></div>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>ITEM
      8.01 </strong></font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Other
      Events.</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">On
      May 9,
      2006 NorthStar Realty Finance Corp. (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) announced that it entered
      into a definitive agreement with Chain Bridge Capital LLC (&#8220;Chain Bridge&#8221;) to
      form Wakefield Capital, LLC (&#8220;Wakefield&#8221;), a joint venture among the Company and
      Chain Bridge, that will acquire, finance and/or otherwise invest in senior
      housing and healthcare-related properties. In connection with the formation
      of
      the venture, Wakefield will acquire substantially all of Chain Bridge's assets.
      The initial portfolio to be acquired from Chain Bridge is valued at
      approximately $64 million and will consist of thirteen net leased properties,
      primarily comprised of assisted living facilities, and several loans receivable,
      most of which are secured by first mortgages on senior housing assets. Chain
      Bridge, based in Chevy Chase, Maryland, is a company founded by its chairman
      and
      chief executive officer, Edward P. Nordberg, Jr. Mr. Nordberg is the former
      CEO
      of Medical Office Properties, Inc., which sold its medical office building
      portfolio to CNL Retirement Properties, Inc. in 2004, and a co-founder and
      the
      former CFO of HealthCare Financial Partners, Inc., which was a publicly-traded
      company under the ticker &#8220;HCF&#8221; until sold in 1999 to Heller Financial. Mr.
      Nordberg will continue to oversee the asset management of the properties
      acquired by Wakefield Capital, LLC. Wakefield expects to invest significant
      capital, funded by the Company, in building a nationwide portfolio of assisted
      living, skilled nursing and other senior living and healthcare-related assets
      which will be managed and net leased to experienced, independent operators
      of
      such facilities. Wakefield will be majority owned and controlled by the Company
      and will be managed by a company owned by the principals of Chain Bridge, which
      has entered into an exclusivity arrangement with Wakefield.</font></div>
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      </div>
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        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&#160;</div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
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        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="HDR">
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>SIGNATURES</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pursuant
      to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the
      Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
      undersigned hereunto duly authorized. </font></div>
    <div>&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">

          <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
            <td width="50%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">&#160;</font></td>
            <td width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">&#160;</font></td>
            <td width="49%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
            <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">&#160;</font></td>
            <td colspan="2">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">NorthStar
                Realty Finance Corp.</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Registrant)</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
            <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">&#160;<br>&#160;</font></td>
            <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">&#160;<br>&#160;</font></td>
            <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">&#160;<br>&#160;</font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
            <td>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Date:
                May 11, 2006</font></div>
            </td>
            <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">By:&#160;&#160;</font></td>
            <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">/s/
              Albert Tylis</font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
            <td colspan="2"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: " size="1">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="left">
              <hr style="COLOR: black" align="left" noshade size="2" width="80%"><font size="2">Albert
              Tylis</font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
            <td colspan="2"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">&#160;</font></td>
            <td>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">General
                Counsel </font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
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    <div>&#160;</div>
    <div>&#160;</div>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "NORTHSTAR REALTY", "cik": "0001273801", "assigned-sic": "6798", "irs-number": "000000000", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-32330", "film-number": "06830470"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "627 MADISON AVE 15TH FL", "city": "NEW YORK", "state": "NY", "zip": "10022"}}
UNITED
      STATES
SECURITIES
      AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
      DC 20549
FORM
      8-K
CURRENT
      REPORT
Pursuant
      to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date
      of
      Report (Date of earliest event reported):
May
      9, 2006
NorthStar
      Realty Finance Corp.
(Exact
      name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Maryland
(State
                or other jurisdiction
of
                incorporation)
001-32330
(Commission
                File
Number)
11-3707493
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification
                No.)
527
                Madison Avenue, 16
th
Floor, New York
10022
(Address
                of principal executive offices)
(Zip
                Code)
(212)
      319-8801
(Registrant's
      telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(Former
      name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check
      the
      appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
      satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
      provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
o
Written
                communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
                230.425)
o
Soliciting
                material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
                240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement
                communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17
                CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement
                communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17
                CFR 240.13e-4(c))
ITEM
      8.01
Other
      Events.
On
      May 9,
      2006 NorthStar Realty Finance Corp. (the "Company") announced that it entered
      into a definitive agreement with Chain Bridge Capital LLC ("Chain Bridge") to
      form Wakefield Capital, LLC ("Wakefield"), a joint venture among the Company and
      Chain Bridge, that will acquire, finance and/or otherwise invest in senior
      housing and healthcare-related properties. In connection with the formation
      of
      the venture, Wakefield will acquire substantially all of Chain Bridge's assets.
      The initial portfolio to be acquired from Chain Bridge is valued at
      approximately $64 million and will consist of thirteen net leased properties,
      primarily comprised of assisted living facilities, and several loans receivable,
      most of which are secured by first mortgages on senior housing assets. Chain
      Bridge, based in Chevy Chase, Maryland, is a company founded by its chairman
      and
      chief executive officer, Edward P. Nordberg, Jr. Mr. Nordberg is the former
      CEO
      of Medical Office Properties, Inc., which sold its medical office building
      portfolio to CNL Retirement Properties, Inc. in 2004, and a co-founder and
      the
      former CFO of HealthCare Financial Partners, Inc., which was a publicly-traded
      company under the ticker "HCF" until sold in 1999 to Heller Financial. Mr.
      Nordberg will continue to oversee the asset management of the properties
      acquired by Wakefield Capital, LLC. Wakefield expects to invest significant
      capital, funded by the Company, in building a nationwide portfolio of assisted
      living, skilled nursing and other senior living and healthcare-related assets
      which will be managed and net leased to experienced, independent operators
      of
      such facilities. Wakefield will be majority owned and controlled by the Company
      and will be managed by a company owned by the principals of Chain Bridge, which
      has entered into an exclusivity arrangement with Wakefield.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
      to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the
      Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
      undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
NorthStar
                Realty Finance Corp.
(Registrant)
Date:
                May 11, 2006
By:
/s/
              Albert Tylis
Albert
              Tylis
General
                Counsel