Deborah Mays, currently known as Tatiana Mays, is best known as the former wife of Joe Namath.
However, she’s much more than just Joe Namath’s former flame.
Here is the life of Deborah Mays, an American actress, and beauty pageant winner; her marriage to NFL legend Joe Namath and why it ended.
Deborah Mays Quick Facts
Birthday: March 1, 1962
Birthplace: Indiana, United States
Age: 62 years old
Zodiac Sign: Virgo
Height: unknown
Relationship Status: Unknown
Husband: Joe Namath
Children: Jessica and Olivia
Weight: Unknown
Net Worth: $18 million
Deborah Mays & Joe Namath: Relationship
Deborah was married to the accomplished former player, actor, and author, Joe Namath.
Her marriage to Joe made her famous as the celebrity wife.
The duo first met in 1983 during a vocal class.
While Deborah was already taking lessons, coincidentally, Joe also enrolled at the same institute.
Both began taking classes under famed vocal teacher Arthur Joseph.
Joe and Deborah formed a close bond that eventually turned into a serious relationship.
After a year of dating, the duo got married on November 7, 1984, in Florida.
Like every other marriage, theirs had its bittersweet moments. Their relationship was strained, however, when Joe increased his alcohol consumption.
Needless to say, their marriage was put at stake by his addiction.
Moreover, the situation worsened to the point where Deborah offered him an ultimatum. In 1987, Deborah said it was either the alcohol or his family.
Joe was head over heels for Deborah, and his family stood at the top of his priority list.
He slowly returned to sobriety, which saved his falling-apart marriage.
However, it wasn’t long-lasting, and the couple ended up getting divorced in 2000.
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Children
They share two children, Jessica Grace Namath and Olivia Namath.
The couple’s eldest daughter was born in 1986, and their younger daughter Olivia was born in 1991.
Olivia got pregnant with her first child at the age of 16 with her now-husband, Edwin Baker.
Surprisingly, Deborah was very supportive throughout her pregnancy.
She even took care of her granddaughter so Olivia could finish high school. Now, Olivia is happily married to Edwin Baker III.
Jessica, who is an American actress, was married to Brian Kennedy, and they had one son together, John.
Jessica also has a daughter named Jemma, born in 2010, from her previous relationship.
Sadly, they divorced in 2019, creating a messy controversy that included her father, Joe.
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Reason For Joe and Deborah’s Divorce
Like mentioned, Joe was an alcoholic who took a toll on their marriage.
After being given an ultimatum, he returned to sobriety, only to return to it after the divorce.
Even though the reason for their divorce was never revealed to the public, there were rumors that Deborah had an affair with plastic surgeon Brian Novack.
Dr. Novak, an American plastic surgeon, currently works at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
In 1999, the actor filed for divorce and requested the custody of both his daughters.
After the divorce, Deborah married Brian, but their marriage was short-lived.
She has kept her life away from the media since her divorce, not revealing anything about her recent activities.
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Who Is Joe Namath?
Joe is a multitalented personality with expertise in numerous professions.
He is a former player, actor, and author.
Joe played as a football quarterback in the NFL and AFL for the New York Jets from 1965 to 1977.
After his retirement, he transitioned into acting. He has appeared in numerous films and television shows over the years.
Lastly, the former football quarterback took an interest in writing as well. Fast-forward to now. He is the author of eight books.
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Career
Reportedly, Deborah finished high school at Northeastern High School faster than other kids. She was brainy.
Later, she joined Sweet Briar College but later dropped out to pursue acting.
Deborah, who is best known as the former wife of the actor, has had her fair share of struggles with fame.
She appeared in the series “The Great American Hero” from 1981–1983.
Similarly, the 62-year-old is also credited for her work in the documentary Namath (2012).
However, her acting career didn’t go so well.
Back She mentioned her desire to be a playwright earlier in the day, so we can assume she is busy preparing for her big step.
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Deborah Mays Age, Background
Deborah Mays, known as Tatiana as of today, was born on March 1, 1962, in Remington, Indiana.
At present, she is 62 years old.
Bud and Shirley Mays raised her as the middle child.
She spent half her childhood in Pennsylvania along with two of her siblings.
Similarly, Deborah’s family had a wealthy background. This made growing up easier for both her and her siblings.
Her father, Bud Mays, was one of the partners in a manufacturing plant that produced local toners for copy machines.
After completing high school, Deborah enrolled at Sweet Briar College, only to drop out a year later and pursue a career as an actress.
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Death of Brother Jeffrey Mays
As mentioned earlier, Deborah was one of three children born to Bud and Shirley Mays.
Unfortunately, one of her siblings, Jeffrey Mays, passed away in a tragic accident.
Jeffrey Mays went out fishing with his friend Ted Wall on November 13, 1980. As described by Shirley Mays, it was a nice, sunny day.
Jeffrey and Ted never came back home from their fishing trip. And the weird thing about all this is that no one has found any wreckage from the ship.
“There was no gas slick, no oil slick that we could see — no coolers, no life jackets.”
More than four decades later, the mystery still remains. Shirley always believed that it was a cover-up for something big.
Shirley suspects that the two friends were caught in the middle of a large number of international drug deals. But there’s no evidence to support these claims.
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Deborah Mays Net Worth
Deborah has gathered a net worth of $18 million.
She amassed her fortune through acting.
Deborah allegedly also received huge sums of money as a part of the divorce settlement.
In 2008, Mays put her Pacific Palisades home up for sale for a massive $6.9 million.
As of now, she lives a luxurious and comfortable life away from prying media eyes.
Deborah Mays is 62 years old today. She was born on March 1, 1962, in Remington, Indiana, USA.
Deborah Mays married former NFL player Joe Namath on November 7, 1984, in Florida. The couple divorced in 2000. Deborah married Dr. Brian Novak after her divorce. However, the couple’s marriage failed some time after.
Today, Deborah lives a quiet life away from media. She frequently visits her daughters and grandchildren.
As of 2024, Deborah has a net worth of $18 million.
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