Arlene Vrhel Biography, Age, Husband Joe Mantegna, Kids

Arlene Vrhel is a former restaurateur best known as the celebrity wife of American actor and director Joe Mantegna.

Many do not know this but Arlene is a businesswoman herself and once ran a pretty successful restaurant as well.

Here’s everything that you need to know about her.

Arlene Vrhel Quick Facts

Who Is Arlene Vrhel & Why Is She famous?

Arlene Vrhel is an American restaurateur and entrepreneur.

However, she rose to fame as the celebrity wife of American actor, voice artist, and producer Joe Mantegna.

Joe, during his more than four decades-long career, appeared in movies and TV shows like “The Godfather Part III,” “The Terminator,” and “Criminal Minds.”

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Arlene Vrhel and Joe’s Relationship History

Joe and Arlene met in high school while they were both attending different schools in Illinois.

They worked together in musicals districtwide.

But it wasn’t until they were in a play together in Chicago called “Hair” that they started to get closer and spend more time together.

Eventually, Joe and Arlene began dating in 1969. Both were teenagers at the time and have stayed together ever since.

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Arlene Vrhel Married Life, Wedding Details

Arlene and Joe Mantegna tied the knot on October 3, 1975, and by 2025, they’ve been going strong for over 50 years.

Their story kicked off back in 1969 at J. Sterling Morton High School, and things really heated up when they worked together on a Chicago production of Hair.

They sealed the deal with a wedding on top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, pretty romantic, right?

After that, they made the move to Los Angeles to back Joe’s acting gig, and Arlene’s been his steady support ever since.

There’s more to Arlene than just being a wife and mom, though.

She’s got a serious love for cooking and hospitality, which she funneled right into her restaurant venture.

Traveling and checking out new food spots with the family is another thing she’s all about.

Plus, she’s super committed to autism awareness, a passion that grew out of her daughter Mia’s diagnosis.

She’s thrown her support behind groups like Autism Speaks and jumped into events to raise cash and spread the word about autism research.

Arlene and Joe have two daughters: Mia, born in 1987, and Gia, who came along in 1990.

Even with Joe’s hectic Hollywood career, Arlene’s kept the family tight-knit, building a home that’s all about love and sticking together.

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Mia Mantegna

Mia was born on June 5, 1987, and got an autism diagnosis at two after a premature birth.

Now 38, she’s killing it as a makeup artist and a loud-and-proud advocate for autism awareness.

She graduated from the Mudd School and works with Inclusion Films, teaching film skills to young adults with disabilities.

Mia’s path has been a major push behind Arlene’s charity efforts.

She interviewed him about his experience with coming in terms with the condition of autism and raising her to be successful.

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Gia Mantegna

Gia Mantegna was born on April 17, 1990, in New York, USA. She is 75 years old

She, just like her father, is talented in many ways.

Over the years, Gia took liking to dancing, gymnastics, singing, playing the piano, and even the saxophone.

Similarly, she is famous for appearing in a TV show called “The Middle” as Devin Levin.

She has also appeared in other movies and TV shows like “The Neighbor” and “Murder Book.”

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Arlene Vrhel Divorce Rumors, Issues

The couple has been married for 50 years, and there have been no rumors or reports about them separating.

The actor always talks positively about his wife and recognizes how much she helps him in life and in his career.

So far, there is no evidence that the couple has separated.

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Joe Mantegna Biography

Joe Mantegna was born on November 13, 1947, in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

He’s a 77-years-old American actor, producer, writer, and director.

His parents were Italian Americans.

Joe’s dad, Joseph Henry Mantegna, worked as an insurance salesman, and his mom, Mary Ann, worked as a shipping clerk in Acquaviva Delle Fonti, Italy.

Sadly, Joseph passed away from TB in 1971, and Mary passed away in 2017 at the age of 101.

Joe went to high school at J. Sterling Morton High School East in Cicero, Illinois, and then went on to study at the Art Institute of Chicago’s Goodman School of Drama.

He got his start in acting by performing in the musical Hair in Chicago in 1969 and later made his Broadway debut in 1978 in the play Working.

Joe is best known for playing Joey Zasa in “The Godfather Part III” and is now getting recognition for his role in the TV show Criminal Minds.

He not only acts but also directs and is involved in charity work. Recently, he directed some episodes of Criminal Minds and a production of I Am Lenny Bruce.

Over the years, Joe has built a solid reputation as a versatile actor and has become one of the most recognized faces in the entertainment industry as well.

All of Joe’s achievements as an actor and his investments have led to his current estimated net worth of $25 million.

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Arlene Vrhel Age, Bio, Early Life

As of 2025, she’s hit 76 years young.

Growing up as the only kid in a family that put a big emphasis on education and community, she picked up a solid work ethic and a genuine drive to help people out.

Those qualities stuck with her and shaped a lot of what she’d do down the road.

Details about her folks?

Well, she keeps them under wraps, but her early years clearly gave her a strong start.

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Education and Career

Arlene attended J. Sterling Morton High School in Cicero, Illinois, but she hasn’t disclosed her educational qualifications beyond high school.

Before becoming a celebrity wife, Arlene’s life was relatively unknown.

However, she later became an entrepreneur, along with her husband.

In 2003, Arlene and her husband opened a restaurant called “Taste Chicago” in Burbank, California.

The restaurant was known for serving classic Chicago dishes like Italian beef sandwiches, deep dish pizza, Chicago-style hot dogs, and more.

Unfortunately, Arlene and Joe closed the restaurant permanently in 2019.

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Arlene’s Net Worth Today

Arlene’s net worth sits somewhere between $500,000 and $1 million, mostly thanks to running Taste Chicago from 2003 to 2019.

Even though the restaurant’s no longer in play, her sharp business skills have kept her in good shape money-wise.

Being married to Joe Mantegna, who’s racked up about $25 million from acting, directing, and real estate, adds to the picture.

Together, they’ve carved out a comfy lifestyle built on their combined wins.

Philanthropy

Arlene’s all in on autism advocacy, sparked by Mia’s experience with autism.

She’s been a huge backer of Autism Speaks and Inclusion Films, pitching in with fundraising and getting the word out.

It’s obvious she’s dead-set on making a difference for others, a value the whole family’s on board with.

Joe put it best in a 2018 interview, “Arlene’s the backbone of our family. Her strength and love have carried us through everything.”