9 Facts That You Didn’t Know About Deborah Mays
Deborah Mays rose to prominence as the wife (now ex-wife) of Joseph William Namath, a former American Football League player, novelist, and actor. She is well-known for being affiliated with a celebrity, but she is also well-known for being an actress who starred in the television series The Greatest American Hero, which aired from 1981 to 1983.
Author:Paolo ReynaReviewer:Iram MartinsAug 03, 2021114.8K Shares1.9M Views
Deborah Mays Biography
Deborah Mays rose to prominence as the wife (now ex-wife) of Joseph William Namath, a former American Football League player, novelist, and actor. She is well-known for being affiliated with a celebrity, but she is also well-known for being an actress who starred in the television series The Greatest American Hero, which aired from 1981 to 1983. From her marriage to Namath, the actress has two children, Jessica and Olivia. Learn everything there is to know about her childhood, work, marriage, and more.
Tatiana Mays, as she is now known, has been able to establish herself in the entertainment industry as both an ex-celebrity wife and an actor. She played Tammy in the 1983 television series "The Greatest American Hero." Joe Namath rose to prominence as an award-winning Hall of Famer American former professional football player, actor, and author who was prominent in the entertainment industry. From 1965 until 1977, he was a member of the New York Jets then, in 1977, the Los Angeles Rams. His acting career took off quickly after his debut in ABC Stage 67 in 1966. He also appeared in shows such as The Joe Namath Show (1969), Here's Lucy (1972), The Love Boat (1980), The A-Team (1986), Married... with Children (1993), and The Simpsons (1997, 2013).
Deborah Mays Profile Summary
Full name:Deborah Lynn Mays
Alias: Tatiana
Date of birth: September 1, 1964
Age: 56 (as of 2021)
Nationality: American
Famous as:Joe Namath's ex-wife
Profession:Actress
Education:N/A
Father:N/A
Mother:N/A
Siblings:N/A
Marital Status:Divorced
Spouse/Partner:Joe Namath (m. 1984–2000)
Boyfriend:N/A
Kids:Olivia Namath, Jessica Namath
Religion:N/A
Estimated Net Worth:$18 million
Source of net worth:Acting and Assets
Height:NA
Weight:NA
Eye color:Brown
Hair color:Blonde
Social media:Twitter
Deborah Mays Marriage And Family
Mays and Namath met in 1983 while both working as actors. They fell in love practically right away and began dating soon after. They married in Florida in 1984. Jessica Grace Namath, the couple's first child, was born in 1986. Olivia Rose Namath, their second child, was born in 1991.
When they met in 1983, Mays was a successful actress, and Namath was just starting his second career as an actor. Their age gap did not prevent them from falling in love, and they began dating soon after. Joe Namath married Deborah in Florida in 1984. Joe Namath's family extended as their daughter, Jessica Grace Namath, was born in 1986 and their last child, Olivia Rose Namath, was born in 1991. Joe and Deborah became grandparents in 2007 when their daughter Olivia, then 16 years old, gave birth to her daughter Natalia. Their daughter Jessica gave them two more grandchildren, John and Jenna. Namath struggled with alcoholism throughout their marriage, and it became such a problem for them that Mays threatened to leave if he didn't stop drinking. Joe had made the decision to stop drinking because he was devoted to his wife. Joe and his marriage benefited from his wife's stand because he treated the situation with the seriousness it deserved and did what he needed to do to get sober.
The couple was married for almost sixteen years before divorcing in 2000. The reason for the divorce isn't known to the general public. There are rumors, however, that Mays was having an affair with plastic surgeon Brian Novack, which led to her husband's divorce. Namath filed for divorce in Broward County in April 1999, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel. In addition, he demanded custody of their two daughters. Mays remarried and divorced in 2008, according to a property listing. Mays obtained the house as part of her second divorce settlement, according to the listing.
Deborah Mays Childhood And Family
Deborah’s Brother Died In A Fishing Mishap
Aside from Deborah, her parents welcomed two other children. Jeffrey Mays, one of her siblings, passed away in 1980. Deborah and her parents were devastated when Deborah's brother Jeffrey Mays died.
He died as a result of a fishing tragedy. He'd gone out with one of his friends, and their ship had been sunk owing to the bad weather. Authorities were unable to locate their bodies despite searching for several days.
Deborah Was A Prodigy Since Childhood: Dropped Out Of College To Become An Actress
Debbie was a genius as a child, which many of you may not be aware of. She developed an early interest in being an equestrian while in middle school. Her childhood home was surrounded by horses, and she had access to a stable on a nearby estate as a result of this.
Then, in 1977, her father sold all of his holdings in the manufacturing firm and relocated the entire family to North Carolina. She enrolled in Elizabeth City's Northeastern High School, where she earned the moniker "Debbie." Debbie was a prodigy, as we discussed earlier, and because of her excellent skill set, she finished high school faster than most pupils. She later enrolled at Sweet Briar College in Virginia, but dropped out after only a year. She dropped school to pursue a career as an actor in Los Angeles.
She Was An Aspiring Actress
Deborah aspired to make it big on her own before becoming renowned as Joe's wife. She had aspired to be an actress since she was a child. This is why she decided to drop out of college in order to achieve her goals.
She even made an appearance in the 1981 film The Greatest American Hero. She also appeared in a few plays, but her acting career did not take off as quickly as her celebrity wife's.
Deborah Met Future Husband Joe Namath In A Voice Class
Mays began receiving voice lessons from Arthur Joseph, a renowned vocal teacher, in the early 1980s. When Joe enrolled at the same institute, she was nearing the end of her classes. Deborah had previously expressed her desire to marry a football player to Arthur. When Joe began his classes, Arthur introduced them to each other without hesitation. At first, Joseph's wife argued that he shouldn't bring Joe, who was around 40 at the time, to a young lady like Debbie, who was 21 at the time. Joseph, on the other hand, was adamant, and the next day, Joe called Debbie and the two began dating.
Deborah Mays Career
Mays is best known for playing Tammy in the science fiction drama series The Greatest American Hero (1981-1983). Acting was a lifelong interest for the 56-year-old, and she continued to pursue it after her marriage to Namath. In the 1990s, she performed a Chekhov play in Manhattan, and her then-husband Namath paid to hire a theatre for four days. Mays was also credited for her involvement in the Namath documentary (2012).
Deborah Mays Net Worth
Mays' net worth is believed to be $18 million, according to Net Worth Post. Her earnings have come from both her acting profession and her divorce settlements. During his active career, her ex-husband amassed a great deal of riches. Joe Namath's net worth is believed to be $25 million. He made a lot of money from his salary and brand endorsement deals.
9 Facts About Deborah Mays
- How old is Deborah Mays? – Her life before fame
Deborah Lynn Mays was born on September 1, 1964, in Remington, Indiana, and spent her childhood there. Mays' life prior to his celebrity has been kept largely secret from the prying eyes of the media. She is 56 years old right now.
- She changed her name twice
Mays gave birth to Deborah as previously stated, but she changed her name to May Namath and then Tatiana. What is the reason for this? Various sources have concocted various legends about her name change. After a namesake relative was assassinated, she changed her name from Deborah to Tatiana, according to a People Magazine article dated April 1999. According to other stories, she changed her name because she disliked being called Debbie.
- Deborah Mays helped Namath with alcoholism
At some point in his life, Namath struggled with drinking. Mays threatened to divorce him if he continued to drink while they were still married. He went sober because he desired a life with his family, only to return to it following their divorce before quitting again.
- Her ex-husband paid for her to stage a Chekhov play in Manhattan in the 1990s
According to a passage in Namath: A Biography, Namath once paid to rent a theatre for four days so that Mays could perform a Chekhov play. Namath also made an appearance in the play and performed admirably – perhaps even better than his ex-wife.
- Her daughter gave birth to her first child as a teenager
Deborah Mays gave birth to two daughters, Jessica and Olivia, as a result of her marriage to Namath. Olivia Rose Namath, their second and youngest daughter, became a mother at the age of 16 in 2007. Natalia was her daughter's name.
- Namath is almost 20 years older than her
Their age difference was not much of a hindrance to their relationship. Mays was 22 when she married Namath, who was 41 at the time.
- Rumors about their divorce
The pair married in 1984 and shared the next 16 years of their lives together until their divorce in 2000. The facts about the divorce have been a bit hazy, with several publications providing conflicting information. While some allege Mays left the marriage because she had a relationship with plastic surgeon Brian Novack, others claim Namath filed for divorce and demanded custody of their children because she was cheating on him with the aforementioned surgeon.
- Her first daughter Jessica went through a bad divorce
In 2015, Jessica Kennedy, who was born in 1986, married Brian Kennedy. However, the pair split up a year later, just weeks before her son was born. Her then-husband was accused of not being a good father and doing drugs, according to her. The divorce process grabbed headlines, particularly because of the turmoil surrounding it. It also involved Namath, who was forced to turn over his financial records by Kennedy.
- Deborah Mays allegedly divorced twice
After her divorce from Namath, Mays said she was in love with her plastic surgeon lover. Rumors circulated that she later married Novack, but the relationship never saw the light of day. The truth regarding this likely reality has been kept hidden behind closed doors.
Paolo Reyna
Author
Paolo Reyna is a writer and storyteller with a wide range of interests. He graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies.
Paolo enjoys writing about celebrity culture, gaming, visual arts, and events. He has a keen eye for trends in popular culture and an enthusiasm for exploring new ideas. Paolo's writing aims to inform and entertain while providing fresh perspectives on the topics that interest him most.
In his free time, he loves to travel, watch films, read books, and socialize with friends.
Iram Martins
Reviewer
Iram Martins is a seasoned travel writer and explorer with over a decade of experience in uncovering the world's hidden gems. Holding a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Management from the University of Lisbon, Iram's credentials highlight his authority in the realm of travel.
As an author of numerous travel guides and articles for top travel publications, his writing is celebrated for its vivid descriptions and practical insights.
Iram’s passion for cultural immersion and off-the-beaten-path adventures shines through in his work, captivating readers and inspiring wanderlust.
Outside of his writing pursuits, Iram enjoys learning new languages, reviewing films and TV shows, writing about celebrity lifestyles, and attending cultural festivals.
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