Valerie Velardi is an American actress, dancer and voice artist born in Connecticut. She is best known for her roles in the 1980 film Popeye and the 2018 documentary Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind. She is best known as the first wife of the late actor Robin Williams, from whom she divorced in 1988.
Fast facts
| Full name | Valerie Ann Velardi. |
| Nickname | Valerie. |
| Age | 71 years. |
| Height | 5 feet 5 inches |
| Weight | 51 KG |
| Profession | Actress. Dancer. Yoga instructor. |
| Birthday | July 21, 1951 |
| Birth place | Connecticut, USA. |
| Current residence | San Francisco, California, USA. |
| Education | Graduate. Master of Dance Education. |
| Alma Mater | Secondary school: Secondary school St. Faculty: Goddard College. University: Mills College. |
| Net worth (approx.) | 5 million dollars. |
| Nationality | American. |
| Religion | Christianity. |
| Zodiac sign | Cancer. |
Biography of Valerie Ann Velardi
Valerie Ann Velardi was born on July 21, 1951 in Connecticut, USA to father Leonard Velardi and mother Dee Velardi. Valerie will be 72 years old in 2023 and will be born under the sign of Cancer. He has five siblings, which will be discussed in the article below.
Valerie is of Caucasian descent and a firm believer in Christianity. Even though she was once a part of Hollywood and went through so much trauma, she managed to keep her spirit and never lost her faith in her God.
Valerie Velardi’s parents, Leonard and Dee Velardi, divorced, leaving Valerie and her siblings with their father. Although information about her father’s occupation is unavailable, it can be assumed that it was difficult for Leonardo Velardi to raise five children on his own.
After the divorce, the whereabouts of her mother Dee Velardi are unknown. The names of Valerie’s siblings are Leslie Velardi, her daughter, Leonard Velardi, Peter Velardi and Theron Velardi, her brothers. All the brothers and sisters lived together and helped each other. Valerie had to work to support the family to take care of her father and siblings.
Valerie Ann Velardi (Source: Pinterest)
Valerie Ann Velardi Education
Despite all the obstacles, Valerie graduated from St. Mary’s High School in New Haven, Connecticut, USA, and graduated from Goddard College in Vermont. She later earned a master’s degree in dance education from Mills College in California.
Valerie Velardi married Robin Williams, a famous actor. She was Robin’s first wife and witnessed his meteoric rise to fame. The couple met when they both made their film debuts in the 1980 adaptation of Popeye.
Robin Williams became famous as an actor and comedian. Even after his death, he remains one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood. Robin Williams is one of the most famous actors, with roles in films such as Goodwill Hunting, Dead Poets Society, Good Morning Vietnam and Aladdin garnering him a huge fan base. But the famous actor had a dark side, which we will explore in more detail in this article.
Valerie Ann Velardi Husband, Marriage
Robin continued his acting career and gained huge fame and fans as we all know and love the actor. On the other hand, Valerie left her acting career to become a wife and later a mother, while continuing her dancing career.
Valerie Velardi described their first meeting as follows: Robin Williams was a bartender at a bar where Valerie was a cocktail waitress; Robin offered her a drink and the two struck up a conversation. When Robin asked for a “ride home,” the pair clicked and had an intimate moment. She stated that he spoke in French and that they later kissed.
Valerie Velardi gave birth to Robin Williams’ first child, Zachary aka Zak Pym Williams, on April 11, 1983. Zak became an actor and investor, appearing in films such as Slow Your Roll and The Graduates. Zak was married twice, once to Olivia June whom he married in 2020 and once to Alex Mallick Williams whom he divorced in 2018.
Robin Williams and Valerie Velardi, as close as they were in the beginning, began to grow apart, mostly because of Robin’s nature towards the ladies. Valerie recently admitted that she let Robin have affairs with other women as long as the notorious actor came home every night.
Valerie filed for divorce after 10 years of marriage, when Zak Williams was 5, due to a series of events in Robin’s life. Before he met Valerie, Robin Williams was sued by a girlfriend he dated, but he won the case. Marsha Garces getting pregnant with Zak Williams’ nanny Robin was the final straw.
Career
Valerie began her career in the entertainment industry with high hopes and expectations. When she was 15, she got her first role in the 1966 film Rappaccini. Then in 1980 she starred in her second and final film, Popeye, with Robin Williams.
Valerie admitted that she worked as a cocktail waitress at the same bar as Robin while studying for her degree. She later graduated and became a certified dancer. Valerie stated that she was too old to pursue a career as a dancer when she began.
Valerie changed careers and began teaching yoga in 1983. She is currently a yoga instructor in San Francisco, California. She now leads a quiet and professional life and is very vocal about the importance of maintaining her body and spirituality. Valerie Velardi is also a dance instructor who has a large number of students.
Trivia
- In an interview, she revealed that Robin Williams and Valerie once owned two lizards, a parrot and an iguana.
- Valerie Velardi, who is about 70 years old, manages to keep up with technology and maintains her own Instagram profile.
- Valerie goes to the Burning Man festival in Black Rock City, Nevada, USA.
- Valerie loves spending time with her grandson.
- He likes to go on vacation and spend time on the beach.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education