Dee Jay Mathis, a former dancer and actress (born 1941; age 82), is best known as the ex-wife of the late, venerable American actor James Caan.
They started dating in the late 1950s when they were both attempting to make it big in the entertainment business. They dated for some time before getting married in 1961. Daughter Tara was the only child Dee and James had together. They were married for five years until divorcing in 1966.
Mathis was the first wife of James Ca who went on to become an incredibly successful actor. He also subsequently got married to three women. The same can’t be said of Dee who disappeared from the limelight after the divorce. She has been living a quiet life since then and has stayed off the radar. The death of Caan in July 2022 resurrected her name and has left many curious about her whereabouts and what she has been up to.
Summary of Dee Jay Mathis’ Bio
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Birth Name Dee Jay Mathis Popular Name Dee Jay Nick Name Dee Date of Birth In b/w 1940-1942 Age 80-82 years Popular for Being the first wife of American Legendary actor James Caan Language English School Local School in her hometown Education Graduate College/University State University Profession Actress, Public Figure Nationality American Ethnicity White Place of Birth New York Current Residence USA Height (approx.) In Feet Inches: 5’5″ Weight (approx.) In Kilograms: 64 kg James Caan’s Ex-wife is From Union, New Jersey
According to records, Dee Jay Mathis was born in the year 1941. This means she is 82 years old at the moment and a year younger than her late ex-husband. It is no secret that James Caan was born on the 26th of March 1940. He died at the age of 82 on the 6th of July 2022. While he was born in New York City, Dee’s place of birth was in Union, a town you would find in New Jersey.
Of course, Dee is a citizen of the United States of America and she belongs to the Caucasian ethnic group. Although she became known as Dee Jay Mathis, her name at birth was Dorothy Jeanne Mathis. Outside of these facts, there is hardly anything else to tell about her early life, upbringing, and family background. Some reports suggest she is the only child of her parents but others indicate that she has at least one sister. If she indeed has a sister, her name is not known. This is also the case for her parents who must have passed on.
It is believed that James Caan’s first wife spent most of her early life in New Jersey. Though her educational attainments are not known to the public, she must have at least completed her high school education. What is certain is that she decided to pursue a career as an entertainer at some point during her teenage years. She was particularly drawn to dancing and other forms of performing arts. To actualize her dream, she relocated to Los Angeles in the 50s seeking opportunities in the industry.
She Became James Caan’s Wife in 1961
Dee Jay Mathis and James Caan got married in 1961 after dating for just over a year. They reportedly began dating sometime in 1959 after they met in Los Angeles. At the time, neither of the two was famous. While Dee had recently moved to Los Angeles to kick start her career, Caan was a struggling actor attending acting school. Possibly buoyed by their Hollywood dreams, they became friends and it soon turned into a romantic relationship.
They became life partners and got engaged year before their wedding in 1961, which took place in Los Angeles and was attended by close friends and family. Fate had other plans, and their union ended after only five years. However, during their marriage, they welcomed their only child, a daughter named Tara, on November 5th, 1964. This occurred just three years after their wedding. Tragically, their relationship ended just two years after Tara’s birth.
Barely two years after the birth of their daughter, Mathis and Caan decided to end their marriage. Their divorce was quite a shock to many as it was believed that they were happily married. Because of this, people were curious about what might have led to the end of their marriage.
Why Did James Caan and Dee Jay Mathis Get Divorced?
It is unclear what led to their divorce but reports have it that they amicably ended their marriage. Neither of the two commented on why they parted ways but there have been speculations regarding the issue. According to some reports, their relationship deteriorated as James Caan’s career picked up. After his breakthrough, Caan began receiving more roles and his busy schedule got in the way of what he had with Dee and they drifted apart.
There are claims of infidelity as well. It is said that James became involved with other women after he gained mainstream popularity, neglecting his wife. It is imperative to specify that these are just speculations. Dee, to the best of our knowledge, never accused James of cheating. Whatever happened between them was never shared with the public and has remained a secret.
What Does James Caan’s Former Wife Do for a Living?
Dee Jay Mathis has stayed off the radar for so long that it is hard to tell what she currently does for a living. Be that as it may, she was once active in the entertainment industry as a dancer and an actress. She made appearances in a few television and stage shows. One of her notable works was the Mitch Miller Show; she performed in the show as a dancer around 1959.
That same year, she performed as a member of the original dancing ensemble of a stage production titled First Impressions. In addition to that, she reportedly held an understudy position for Kitty Bennett, one of the characters of the play. In all, she was able to make a mark in her little way in the entertainment industry. But compared to her late ex-husband, her career leaves much to be desired.
James Caan was active in the industry for over 60 years and portrayed numerous characters across multiple movies and television show genres. He had a highly decorated career and was active until the year he passed. His roles in productions like The Godfather, The Gambler, Funny Lady, Rollerball, Misery, Brian’s Song, and The Glory Guys earned him nominations for coveted awards like the Golden Globe, Academy Award, Primetime Emmy Award, and Saturn Award.
Where is Dee Jay Mathis Now?
Dee Jay Mathis’ whereabouts have remained unknown to the public but it is believed that she lives somewhere in the United States of America. She disappeared from the limelight after her divorce from James Caan and has stayed off the radar since then.
However, given that she divorced James Caan when she was just 25 years old, it’s plausible that she later remarried and had more children. After divorcing her first husband, she totally embraced leading a quiet life, but James Caan gained popularity.
He later wed three more women: Linda Stokes from 1995 to 2017; Ingrid Hajek from 1990 to 1995; and Sheila Marie Ryan from 1976 to 1977.
