Deborah Mays' bio: What is known about Joe Namath's ex-wife?
Deborah Mays is a talented actress and the ex-wife of football legend Joe Namath. She once staged a Chekhov play in Manhattan with her then-husband funding the theater. She has kept much of her life private while raising her daughters and pursuing her passion for acting. Here is a look at Deborah Mays' bio.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Deborah Mays is Joe Namath’s ex-wife.
- She acted in The Greatest American Hero.
- Mays produced a Chekhov play in Manhattan.
- She is a devoted mother and grandmother.
- She currently lives a private, low-profile life away from the limelight.
Profile summary
| Full name | Deborah Lynn Mays |
| Alias | Tatiana |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | 6 March 1962 |
| Age | 63 years (as of 2025) |
| Zodiac sign | Pisces |
| Place of birth | Elizabeth City, North Carolina |
| Eye colour | Blue |
| Hair colour | Blonde |
| Ethnicity | White (Caucasian) |
| Nationality | American |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Marital status | Divorced |
| Children | 2 |
| Famous as | Joe Namath's ex-wife |
Deborah Mays' biography
Deborah Lynn Mays was born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. She lived a private life before entering the spotlight through her marriage to Joe Namath. She later pursued work as an actress, but details about her early background remain limited. Here is a closer look at Deborah Mays' bio.
What is Deborah Mays' age?
The actress was born on 6 March 1962, in the United States. As of 2025, she is 63 years old.
Source: Original
Career
Deborah Mays earned recognition for her role as Tammy in the sci fi comedy drama The Greatest American Hero (1981 to 1983). She appeared in five episodes of the cult favorite series.
After her marriage to Joe Namath, she remained passionate about acting. In the 1990s she produced and performed in a Chekhov play in Manhattan. Joe Namath supported her artistic vision and paid to rent the theater for a four day run.
She also contributed to the 2012 HBO and NFL Films documentary Namath, which chronicled Joe Namath’s life and career. There nothing more about Deborah Mays' movies on her IMDb page besides the single credit for The Greatest American Hero.
Deborah Mays' name change
The actress has changed her name twice. Born Deborah Lynn Mays, she first changed her name from Deborah to May, then to Tatiana. PEOPLE indicates that she changed her name to Tatiana after her namesake cousin was killed.
Source: Getty Images
How did Deborah Mays meet Joe Namath?
Deborah Mays was working as an actress when she met Joe Namath in 1983. At the time she was 22 years old, and Namath was 39. Their 17 year age gap did not stop them from falling in love. Deborah and the star football player started dating and married in 1984 in Florida.
The couple welcomed two daughters. Jessica Grace Namath was born in 1986. Olivia Rose Namath was born in 1991.
They later became grandparents. Olivia gave birth to her daughter Natalia in 2007 when she was 16. Jessica also has two children, John and Jenna.
The marriage faced struggles. Namath battled alcoholism, which strained their relationship. At one point, Mays threatened to leave if he did not stop drinking. Namath was committed to saving the marriage and chose to quit drinking. Her firm stand helped him take sobriety seriously.
Joe and Deborah remained together for about sixteen years. They divorced in 2000. As indicated in the South Florida Sun Sentinel in April 1999, Namath filed for divorce in Broward County. He also requested to be given custody for their two daughters.
Deborah Mays told the National Enquirer at the time,
We have two beautiful daughters, but finally I had to tell Joe the marriage wasn’t working for me. I was bored. I’m in love with Brian. He’s different from Joe. He’s very sensitive.
According to a property listing in 2008, Mays married again and divorced. The listing was for a house that Mays received as part of her second divorce settlement from Novack.
Who is Deborah Mays married to now?
Deborah Mays is not married as of now. After divorcing Joe Namath in 1999, she reportedly entered a relationship with plastic surgeon Brian Novack. However, that relationship also ended, and no further marriages or partnerships have been confirmed publicly
Source: Getty Images
Deborah Mays' net worth
Deborah net worth is unknown. Her ex-husband Joe has a net worth of $18 million. His wealth comes from football, endorsements, and post-retirement ventures.
Is Deborah Mays still alive?
Yes, Deborah Mays is still alive. There is no record of Namath's ex-wife, Deborah Mays' obituary, and no credible reports suggest otherwise.
A person with a similar name, Deborah Anne May, passed away on February 2, 2025, in Centreville, Virginia, at the age of 67. This individual is not the same as Deborah Lynn Mays, Joe Namath’s ex-wife.
Where is Deborah Mays Namath now?
Deborah Mays has mostly kept her life private. She has shown an interest in building a career as a playwright and may still be focusing on that. The former actress is believed to be doing well and remains in touch with her daughters.
When her daughter Olivia gave birth to her granddaughter Natalia, Mays helped care for the baby so Olivia could continue her schooling.
Is Joe Namath married?
As of now, Joe Namath is not married. He was married to Deborah Mays from 1984 to 2000. After his divorce from Deborah, he got full custody of his two daughters and has remained unmarried ever since.
Who was the best Jets quarterback ever?
Many consider Joe Namath the best quarterback in New York Jets history. He led the team to its only Super Bowl victory in 1969 and became a cultural icon for his talent and charisma.
Deborah Mays' bio shows a woman who balanced acting, family, and personal challenges. She supported her daughters, pursued her passion for theater, and remained private in the public eye. Her life story reflects resilience, creativity, and dedication beyond her marriage to Joe Namath.
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Peris Wamangu (Lifestyle writer) Peris Wamangu is a reporter who also has experience working as a content writer for three years. She joined Legit 's team in 2021. Peris graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Nairobi in 2019. She enjoys writing about various topics such as fashion, currency, biographies, entertainment and business. In 2023, Peris finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. Email: wamanguperis@gmail.com
Sharon Boit (Lifestyle writer) Sharon J. Boit is a creative writer and researcher with over 10 years of experience. She began her career as a project manager and researcher at the Center for Urban Research and Innovations, University of Nairobi. Sharon has written articles and blog posts for MSN News, Ihamba Adventures, and Industry Biz. She joined Legit.ng as a Lifestyle Writer in October 2024, covering entertainment, sports, education, and finance. You can reach Sharon J. Boit by email at boit@gmail.com.
