Ashley Judd, the renowned American actress, who has starred in films such as Double Jeopardy and Kiss the Girls, is the daughter of Michael Charles Ciminella. He hails from Kentucky, United States and has previously worked as a sports news producer and marketing consultant.
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While Ashley Judd and her late mother, Naomi, are well-known figures in the entertainment industry, Michael Charles Ciminella has largely remained out of the public eye. However, if you are curious to know more about him, you can explore his career as well as his past and current relationships.
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Michael Charles Ciminella Profile summary
| Full name | Michael Charles Ciminella |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 1944 |
| Age | 79 years old (as of 2023) |
| Zodiac sign | Unknown |
| Place of birth | Ashland, Kentucky, United States |
| Current residence | Louisville, Kentucky, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Height in feet | 5’9″ |
| Height in centimetres | 175 |
| Weight in pounds | 143 |
| Weight in kilograms | 65 |
| Hair colour | Blonde |
| Eye colour | Green |
| Mother | Bernadine Mary Dalton |
| Father | Michael Lawrence Ciminella |
| Marital status | Married |
| Partner | Mollie Whitelaw |
| Children | 1 |
| School | Fork Union Military Academy PG Football |
| College | Transylvania University, University of California Los Angeles |
| Profession | Former sports news producer, marketing consultant |
Michael Charles Ciminella’s biography
Michael Charles Ciminella, Ashley Judd’s father, was born on March 22, 1945, which makes him 78 years old as of 2023.
Michael Ciminella started his education at Fork Union Military Academy PG Football for high school and later pursued his undergraduate studies at Transylvania University. He then went on to earn a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.
He began his career as a sports news producer before transitioning to marketing consulting. He has worked for several companies throughout his career, including AT&T and Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation.
Michael Ciminella gained public attention when he married Naomi Judd, the popular American country music singer and songwriter, in 1964. They had two daughters together, including Ashley Judd, before their divorce in 1972. He has since remained largely out of the public eye, focusing on his career and personal life.
What is Michael Ciminella known for?
Michael Ciminella is a former sports news producer and marketing consultant who has worked for various companies, including ESPN, CBS, ABC, and NBC Sports. He has also marketed an aerospace sub-contractor and owns an advertising agency in the thoroughbred industry based in Kentucky, USA.
However, Michael Ciminella is perhaps best known for being the father of Ashley Judd, a highly acclaimed Hollywood actress and political activist. Despite remaining out of the public eye for much of his career, he has remained close to his daughter, as evidenced by his support during her hospitalization in South Africa after a hiking accident in the Democratic Republic of Congo in February 2022.
Naomi Became Michael Ciminella’s Wife in 1964 But Married Another Man in 1989
Naomi Judd, the popular American country music singer and songwriter, married her first husband, Michael Ciminella, in 1964. Together, they had two daughters: Wynonna Ellen Ciminella (later changed to Wynonna Ellen Judd) and Ashley Tyler Ciminella (later changed to Ashley Judd).
Naomi and Michael divorced in 1972, and she went on to marry her second husband, Larry Strickland, in 1989. In later years, Naomi struggled with mental illness, which tragically led to her taking her own life in April 2022.
Despite the loss, Naomi’s legacy continues to live on through her music, as evidenced by The Judds, the American country music duo she founded with her daughter Wynonna. In fact, just one day after Naomi’s passing, The Judds were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Naomi’s daughters, including Ashley Judd, are still mourning her loss and working to cope with the tragedy.
Naomi Judd and Michael Ciminella’s Children
Naomi Judd and Michael Ciminella had one daughter together named Ashley Ciminella. While there were rumors that they had another daughter named Wynonna Judd, it was later revealed that Wynonna was actually Naomi’s daughter from a previous relationship with Charles Jordan.
Michael adopted Wynonna as his own daughter after marrying Naomi and loved her as his own. Wynonna was unaware for many years that Michael was not her biological father.
Ashley Judd is an Actress and Political Activist
Ashley Judd started her acting career in 1991 and has appeared in movies like Heat, The Passion of Darkly Noon, Eye of the Beholder, and Kiss the Girls. Although she has received critical acclaim for her roles, it appears that she is not interested in pursuing acting full-time.
In addition to her acting career, Ashley is also heavily involved in humanitarian work. She serves as the global ambassador for YouthAids and is a member of the Leadership Council of the International Center for Research on Women. She is also a political activist and has campaigned for Barack Obama.
In 2001, Ashley married her now ex-husband, Dario Franchitti. They divorced in 2013, and she has remained unmarried since then.
Michael Ciminella Maintains a Strong Relationship with His Daughters Despite Divorce
Michael Ciminella has maintained a strong and loving relationship with his two daughters, Ashley Judd and Wynonna Judd. Despite his divorce from their mother Naomi Judd, Michael remained present and devoted to his daughters. Ashley has expressed that her father was always there for her, regardless of the circumstances.
Both Ashley and Wynonna hold their father in high regard and cherish their close bond with him. Ashley frequently shares pictures of herself and her father on her Instagram page and expressed gratitude for his unwavering support during a terrifying experience in the Congo in 2021.
Where is Michael Ciminella Now?
Michael Ciminella is currently alive and well. Despite rumors that he passed away in 1992, he remains active on Facebook under the username @MichaelCiminella. In fact, he has been featured in some of his daughter’s recent Instagram posts.
Following his divorce from Naomi Judd, Michael has remained unmarried and currently leads a quiet life in Kentucky. He has retired from his active career.
