Who Is Dee Jay Mathis, James Caan’s Ex-wife?

Dee Jay Mathis (born 1941) is an American former actress and dancer best known as the ex-wife of James Caan, the legendary Hollywood superstar who is regarded as one of the most successful American actors ever and is revered for his role in The Godfather films.

Mathis and her famous ex-husband enjoyed their time together as husband and wife while their marriage lasted. However, things came crashing down after five years but not before they had welcomed a daughter together.

Dee Jay Mathis was Born in New Jersey in 1941

Dee Jay Mathis was born in Union Township, a township in Union County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. This was where she also grew up with her family. According to our findings, Mathis was born in the year 1941. However, details about the exact day and month she was born remain unknown.

Dee Jay Mathis is of Caucasian ethnicity. Some reports say she is of mixed ethnicity, but this is not certain. Not much is known about her days as a child or her background. It is quite interesting that despite her popularity in the entertainment industry, very little information is available about her family background. However, it is believed that she has at least one sister.

There are no records to show that Mathis attended any college. According to some reports, she only attended high school before going off to pursue a career in entertainment. After completing her high school education, Mathis reportedly decided to pursue her passion for dancing and other performing arts. Soon after, she moved to Los Angeles in the late 1950s, when she was still a teenager to look for better opportunities.

This was not surprising because Los Angeles was the ideal destination for young talents like Mathis as it was the center of the entertainment industry, offering numerous opportunities for aspiring actors, dancers, and performers. While in Los Angeles, she is reported to have attended an acting school in a bid to enhance her chances in the make-believe world. Unconfirmed reports say she attended the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre.

In Los Angeles, Mathis pursued her dream and immersed herself in the world of dance and the performing arts. She made her professional debut in the 1960s as a go-go dancer, a popular form of dancing during that era. She later transitioned to acting and appeared in a few films and TV shows during the 1960s, including Frankie And Johnny.

Mathis had a relatively short-lived acting career but it was through the industry that she met and married her famous ex-husband.

How Dee Jay Mathis and James Caan Met

Dee Jay Mathis and James Caan first met in 1959 while she was pursuing her career as a dancer in Los Angeles. At the time they met, James Caan had not become the popular actor he is now known as. Both Mathis and Caan were teenagers at the time; Caan was 19 years old and Mathis was 18 years old.

According to some reports, the young Caan and Mathis were attending the same acting school in Los Angeles when they met. Both of them were still struggling to make a name for themselves in the industry as they worked hard for any slots they could get. After their first meeting, Dee Jay Mathis and James Caan quickly bonded over their shared love for acting and became friends.

As their friendship grew, Mathis and Caan started dating, and their relationship blossomed over the next two years. They shared a deep connection as they pursued their dreams in the competitive and challenging world of entertainment. Eventually, after two years of dating, Caan proposed to Mathis, and the couple became engaged.

By this time, it was clear to everyone who knew them that the couple was head over heels in love and that it was only a matter of time before they tied the knot as man and wife. Even though they were very young, they knew exactly what they wanted for themselves and went for it.

Mathis was James Caan’s Wife For FiveYears

Dee Jay Mathis and James Caan tied the knot in 1961. Caan was about 21 years old at the time, and Mathis was 20 years old. Their wedding was held in Los Angeles in a simple but beautiful ceremony. According to reports, the couple’s family members and closest friends were in attendance to witness their exchange of vows.

During their short marriage, Mathis and Caan were regarded as a striking Hollywood couple, especially because they were both young and both very good-looking. They went to different high-profile Hollywood events together and occasionally made headlines with their public displays of affection.

While all these were going on in their marriage, Mathis and Caan were also actively pursuing their careers in Hollywood. Mathis was getting more bookings as her dancing career took more steam, and Caan was getting cast in prominent roles like the 1964 American psychological thriller film Lady in a Cage. So, they were both going full steam in their careers.

As their careers continued to flourish, the couple’s fortunes improved, and they enjoyed a comfortable life together. It is, however, noteworthy that James Caan had quite an upper hand as he was getting more popular, mainly because he was onscreen more while Mathis played more roles in the background as a dancer. So, as time went on, she became more known as “James Caan’s wife”.

Dee Jay Mathis and James Caan remained married for five years before things fell apart for them, and they got divorced in 1996. However, although their marriage eventually ended in divorce, Dee Jay Mathis remained a significant part of James Caan’s life.

Her Ex-Husband was One of America’s Most Revered Actors

Dee Jay Mathis’s ex-husband, James Caan, was widely regarded as one of the great actors of his generation, known for his ability to bring authenticity and nuance to his performances. Born in 1940 in the Bronx, Caan began his acting career in the 1960s, quickly establishing himself as a versatile and talented actor.

One of Caan’s most iconic roles was as Sonny Corleone in The Godfather, Francis Ford Coppola’s classic mafia film. Caan’s portrayal of the hot-headed and impulsive Sonny earned him critical acclaim, and his performance is widely regarded as one of the highlights of the film. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in the film.

Caan’s range as an actor was evident in his other notable roles, including his act as the villainous Frank in Misery, his performance as the professional thief Frank in Thief, and his portrayal of Jonathan E. in the dystopian science fiction film Rollerball. He also appeared in a variety of television shows, including his starring role in the series Las Vegas, which earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series.

Throughout his career, Caan earned a lot of praise for his ability to inhabit a wide range of characters and bring depth and complexity to each one. He was nominated for and won numerous awards for his work, and his contributions to the entertainment industry have solidified his status as a great actor.

Why The Couple Parted Ways

As we have already mentioned, despite their initial happy marriage, Dee Jay Mathis and James Caan eventually faced issues that they were unable to overcome. Efforts to get things working again failed, leading to their divorce in 1966. While the divorce was relatively amicable, the reasons for the split were never explicitly stated by either party, leading to speculation on what went wrong.

One theory is that James Caan’s busy schedule may have contributed to the breakdown of their marriage. Recalls that after getting married to Mathis, Caan’s career began to take off immensely, leading to a hectic schedule. Even though Mathis had her career, she was not as busy as Caan was, as he was becoming much more popular than her. This may have made it challenging for the couple to spend quality time together. While this theory remains in the realm of speculation, it is a plausible explanation for their divorce.

The details of her life after the divorce from James Caan are not widely known, but it is believed that she made the most of her circumstances and remained a strong, independent woman. James Caan, on the other hand, is reported to have gone on to marry three other women. However, he also divorced them all.

They Had One Child Together

James Caan and Dee Jay Mathis’ union was blessed with a daughter called Tara Caan. She was born on November 5, 1964, and is now 59 years old. The arrival of their daughter, Tara, marked a significant milestone in the couple’s lives, and they both doted on her as she grew up.

Despite the challenges that came with their respective careers, the couple prioritized their roles as parents, and Caan often spoke of the joy that Tara brought into their lives. They were dedicated to providing her with a loving and supportive home, and she quickly became the center of their world.

At the time of James Caan and Dee Jay Mathis’ divorce, their daughter Tara was only about two years old. The couple agreed on joint physical and legal custody, with the arrangement being that Tara would spend weekdays with her mother and weekends with her father. The hope was that this arrangement would ensure that Tara maintained a good relationship with both parents as she grew up.

However, things did not go as planned. This was because, despite James Caan’s efforts to remain an active presence in Tara’s life, he was not always able to do so, mainly because of his hectic schedule as an actor. Reports say that at some point, Caan and Tara did not see each other for years. As a result, Tara largely grew up with her mother and did not have much of a relationship with her famous father.

Despite this, James Caan remained consistent with his child support payments, ensuring that Tara lived a comfortable life. As she grew up, Tara developed resentment toward her father, who was not very present in her life when she was a child. But, some reports say finally mended things with her father before he sadly passed away.

A Look At Dee Jay Mathis’ Career as a Dancer and Actress

In her heyday, Dee Jay Mathis worked as a professional dancer and actress. As we have already mentioned, Mathis started her career as a professional dancer and later moved into acting. Mathis’ professional career in the entertainment industry seemed to have been brief and limited.

As a professional dancer, she reportedly performed on the popular TV show the Mitch Miller Show in 1959. The Mitch Miller Show was a music and variety show that aired on NBC and was popular during the late 1950s. In addition, Dee Jay Mathis is credited as a cast member for the theatrical production called First Impressions. This play opened on March 19, 1959, and Mathis was part of the original dancing ensemble.

She also held an understudy position for a character known as Kitty Bennett. First Impressions was an adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice. In 1964, she appeared in the Comedy movie, The Pasty. Two years later, in 1966, Mathis appeared in the musical and comedy Frankie and Johnny. Mathis did more work as a dancer than she did as an actress. Some reports say she was one of the most glamorous dancers back in the day.

While Dee Jay Mathis may have had a promising career in the performing arts, she never achieved the same level of fame and success as her ex-husband, James Caan. Her career appears to have been cut short following her divorce from Caan in 1966. It is unclear what she has been doing professionally since then, as there is limited information available about her current endeavors.

Where is Dee Jay Mathis Now?

After her divorce from James Caan, Dee Jay Mathis chose to live a more private life away from the public eye. She seemingly stepped away from the entertainment industry and did not pursue an active career afterward. It is not clear whether she remarried or had more children after her divorce. Her current marital status and family life remain unknown.

It is possible that Dee Jay Mathis, who prefers to keep her personal life very private, has made a conscious effort to stay out of the public eye. Given her daughter Tara’s similar approach to privacy, the family may value their personal lives over public recognition.

It is unclear what Dee Jay Mathis does for a living presently, but due to her age, it is believed she has long retired from active work. Also, due to the lack of information, it is difficult to say where Dee Jay Mathis currently resides or if she has grandchildren. However, it is likely that she still resides in the United States, possibly in a quieter city or town that affords her the privacy she desires.

Her ex-husband, on the other hand, went on to become one of the most famous people in the United States, starring in some of the most legendary movies of all time, including The Godfather series. He also married three more women at different points in his life, namely: Sheila Marie Ryan, Ingrid Hajek, and Linda Stokes. But he got divorced from all of them.