Meet Matt Cimber’s Kids: Venico Cimber, Tony Cimber, and Katie Cimber

Matt Cimber, born Thomas Vitale Ottaviano on January 12, 1936, in New York City, is a notable American filmmaker, producer, and director of Italian-American descent.

Best known for his contributions to genre cinema and television—including cult films like The Candy Tangerine Man, The Witch Who Came from the Sea, Butterfly, and the creation of the hit series GLOW: Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling—Cimber has left a lasting mark on pop culture.

Although little is publicly known about his early education, he studied theatre under the legendary Lee Strasberg. He worked with the Actors Studio, a training that influenced his distinctive directing style.

Raised in a culturally rich household in New York, Cimber was shaped by the vibrant arts scene of the 1930s and 1940s. Despite his public career, he has kept much of his background, including details about his parents, siblings, and religious affiliation, private. However, his family life, particularly his children, offers insight into the lesser-known side of the filmmaker’s legacy.

Katie Cimber

Katie Cimber, born in 1956, is the eldest child from Matt Cimber’s first marriage to Jane Baldera (1954–1963). Unlike her famous father and his second wife, Hollywood actress Jayne Mansfield, Katie has remained out of the spotlight.

There is no public record of her pursuing a career in film, television, or entertainment, and little is known about her personal or professional life. Her absence from media coverage and public appearances suggests a deliberate effort to maintain privacy and live independently of her family’s celebrity ties.

Venico Cimber

Venico Cimber, reportedly born in 1959, is also believed to be the son of Matt Cimber and Jane Baldera, though his existence remains largely unverified. Some online genealogy sources, such as MyHeritage and Geneanet, list him as Cimber’s son. Still, he has not appeared in any known public records, media coverage, or family photographs shared by Matt or his other children.

The absence has led to speculation that Venico may be the result of a documentation error or family misidentification. If he does exist, he has made a conscious decision to live entirely outside of public life, avoiding both Hollywood and social media visibility.

Tony Cimber

Antonio Raphael Ottaviano Cimber, better known as Tony Cimber, is the most publicly recognized of Matt Cimber’s children. He was born on October 18, 1965, during Cimber’s marriage to Jayne Mansfield (1964–1966), one of the most iconic sex symbols of 1950s Hollywood.

Following Mansfield’s tragic death in a 1967 car accident, Tony was raised by his father, though Mansfield had visitation rights prior to her passing.

Tony briefly pursued a career in the entertainment industry. He appeared as Nature Boy on the original GLOW: Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling series and directed two episodes of the show, which his father created.

He also made an appearance in an episode of Married… with Children (1990) and worked as an editor on the documentary Houses of Mystery: Mysteries of the Cathedrals (2000). In recent years, Tony has stepped away from acting and directing, reportedly working as a real estate agent in Las Vegas, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Tony is the father of Jianni Cimber, born on August 12, 1998. Details about his marital status or the identity of Jianni’s mother have not been made public. His estimated net worth is around $400,000, largely earned from his past entertainment work and current real estate ventures.

Tony also shares a familial connection with Mariska Hargitay, his half-sister from Jayne Mansfield’s previous marriage. Mariska is widely known for her Emmy-winning role as Olivia Benson in Law & Order: SVU. While Tony keeps a low profile, Mariska has occasionally acknowledged him in public, including a 2014 Facebook post that featured Tony and his daughter Jianni.