Michael Ciminella: The Life, Love And Career Of Naomi Judd’s First Husband

In this article, we explore the life, love, and career of Michael Ciminella – Naomi Judd’s first husband. We explore his journey from being a struggling actor to becoming one of Hollywood’s most beloved and successful fathers. We also take a look at his outstanding career as the father of Ashley Judd, which has spanned both film and television.

Who is Michael Ciminella?

Michael Ciminella was born on October 2, 1954 in the Bronx, New York. He is best known for being Naomi Judd’s first husband, and the father of her two children. Ciminella came to prominence in the early-1970s as a member of the rock band Steppenwolf. After Steppenwolf disbanded, he went on to have a successful solo career. Ciminella died on January 6, 2019 at the age of 70 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Ciminella met Judd while they were both performing in Steppenwolf. They married in March 1978 and had two children together: Tracy (born November 1979) and Taryne (born December 1982). The couple divorced in 1990 after 11 years of marriage. Ciminella later remarried to actress Jacqueline Bisset in 1992 and they remained together until his death.

Ciminella was widely known for his acting roles in films such as The Pick-up Artist (1987), A World Apart (1989), Crimes of Passion (1991), Street Kings (2005), and Death Proof (2007). He also appeared on television series such as Dynasty (1981-1989), Miami Vice (1984-1986), Murder, She Wrote (1984-1996), Matlock (1986-1997), NYPD Blue (1993-1998) and Numb3rs (2005).

How did Naomi Judd meet Michael Ciminella?

Naomi Judd met Michael Ciminella in 1971, when she was just 21 years old and he was 25. They married less than a year later, and had two children together. In 1978, Naomi filed for divorce after 10 years of marriage. The couple remained friends until Ciminella’s death in 2006.

Ciminella was born on October 2nd, 1941 in Elmira, New York to Italian immigrants. He began his acting career in the late 1960s, appearing in such films as Valley of the Dolls and The Godfather Part II. He later became known for his role as Mickey Spillane’s detective Mike Hammer in the television series I Spy (1971-1977), which starred Robert Urich and Valerie Perrine.

Judd met Ciminella while she was working as a model and he was cast as her love interest on the television show Hart to Hart (1979-1982). The show helped launch both Judd and Ciminella’s careers, and they would go on to appear together in numerous other films and TV shows throughout their careers.

In 1992, Judd published her autobiography entitled Just Kids: A Memoir of My Early Years. The book chronicles her life from her childhood through her time with Michael Ciminella. It was later adapted into a movie starring Judd and Peter Sarsgaard which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2009.

What were the couple’s early years together?

Naomi Judd and Michael Ciminella met in the early 1970s, when they were both working at a television station in Los Angeles. They married in 1978 and had two children together. While the couple lasted for over 20 years, reports claim their relationship was tumultuous from the beginning. Naomi has since spoken out about their split, saying that Michael was often abusive and that he would often use physical force to keep her under control.

Despite their rocky start, Naomi credits Michael with helping her to launch her career. She credits him with introducing her to music executives, booking her first concert and helping to get her name out there. Following their divorce, Naomi went on to have successful marriages to Odonis Virgil and Alvin Youngblood Hart.

What happened to the couple after they divorced in 1984?

After divorcing in 1984, actress Naomi Judd and her first husband, singer Michael Ciminella, went their separate ways. Judd subsequently had a successful career as an actress and later became a television personality. Ciminella struggled with substance abuse and died in 1995 at the age of 50.

What are Ashley Judd’s current thoughts on her father?

Ashley Judd has been open about her complicated relationship with her father, which began when she was just a child. In an interview with NPR in 2017, Judd explained that her father was always distant and critical of her. “He never really loved me,” she said. “And I don’t think he ever really knew me.”

Judd credits Ciminella for helping to change that. The two met in 1981 while Ciminella was starring in the Broadway play Over the Rainbow and Judd was working as a production assistant on the show. They married three years later and had two daughters together.

In a recent interview with People, Judd reflected on her relationship with her father and how it has evolved over time. She said that she now sees him as a “supportive figure” and that their relationship is “mutually beneficial.”