Matt Cimber has been called an unsung hero of 70s exploitation cinema, yet his impact on Hollywood extends far beyond a single genre or decade. Across seven decades, he crafted a legacy rooted in artistic risk-taking and unfiltered creativity, directing 108 episodes of the original GLOW from 1986 to 1989. His filmography ranges from cult classics like The Witch Who Came from the Sea to mainstream productions, earning him critical recognition and an estimated net worth between $10 million and $12 million. Matt Cimber’s journey from theater stages to directing provocative films reveals a career defined by boundary-pushing choices. This article explores his early career, bold film portfolio, personal relationships including his marriage to Jayne Mansfield, and his life today.
From Theater Stages to Film Sets: Matt Cimber’s Early Career Journey
Born Thomas Vitale Ottaviano in New York’s Little Italy in 1936, Matt Cimber launched his directing career at the Londonderry Theater Workshop in Vermont during the early 1960s. Working professionally as Matteo Ottaviano, he studied with Michael Chekhov before moving to Off-Broadway productions. His theatrical portfolio included adaptations of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short stories in Young and Beautiful and works by Tennessee Williams. Cimber brought Jean Cocteau’s plays to American audiences, staging the US premieres of Antigone, Orphee, The Holy Terrors, and Intimate Relations.
His collaboration with John Steinbeck on Burning Bright introduced Sandy Dennis, who subsequently won an Academy Award for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. The production demonstrated Cimber’s skill in extracting emotional depth from performers.
Matt Cimber met Jayne Mansfield while directing a 1964 revival of William Inge’s Bus Stop in Yonkers. Their professional relationship evolved into romance, and they married on September 24, 1964. Cimber became Mansfield’s manager and directed her in The Rabbit Habit and Champagne Complex.
Mansfield arranged for Cimber to learn filmmaking at Fox, where veteran technicians taught him editing, cinematography, and sound. His directorial debut, Single Room Furnished (1966), featured cinematographer László Kovács and starred Mansfield in her final principal film role. Variety praised her “surprisingly moving moments” in the performance.
Breaking Boundaries: Matt Cimber’s Bold Film Portfolio
Matt Cimber entered exploitation filmmaking after his theatrical success, directing sexploitation films under pseudonyms Gary Harper and Rinehart Segway. His works included Man & Wife: An Educational Film for Married Adults (1969) and The Sensually Liberated Female (1970), based on the bestselling book The Sensuous Woman. These films reflected cultural shifts during a period when American society underwent radical transformation.
During the mid-1970s, Cimber helmed three blaxploitation films: The Black Six (1973), Lady Cocoa (1975) starring Lola Falana, and The Candy Tangerine Man (1975). Samuel L. Jackson and Quentin Tarantino cited The Candy Tangerine Man among their favorite films. The film followed a Los Angeles pimp maintaining a double life as a suburban father, blending action with social commentary.
Matt Cimber ventured into psychological horror with The Witch Who Came from the Sea (1976), starring Millie Perkins and featuring cinematography by Oscar nominee Dean Cundey. The film examined childhood sexual abuse and trauma through Molly, a disturbed woman who seduces and castrates men. Classified as a video nasty in the UK, Vice cited it as one of the top 10 greatest banned films. Rotten Tomatoes voted it among the 90 best ’70s horror films.
In 1986, Cimber co-created GLOW: Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, directing 108 episodes across four seasons. The syndicated show combined wrestling with comedy sketches, later inspiring Netflix’s fictional adaptation where Marc Maron’s character drew inspiration from Cimber.
The Personal Side: Family, Relationships, and Life Today
Matt Cimber married Jane Baldera in 1954, and together they had two children: Katie, born in 1956, and Venico, born in 1959. The couple divorced in 1963, ending a nine-year marriage that remained largely private.
His marriage to Jayne Mansfield began on September 24, 1964, but quickly deteriorated. The relationship collapsed due to alleged physical abuse by Cimber, Mansfield’s alcohol problems, and her open infidelities. She disclosed to Cimber that she had been happy only with a previous lover, Nelson Sardelli. They separated on July 11, 1965, and filed for divorce on July 20, 1966.
Their son, Antonio Raphael Ottaviano (Tony Cimber), was born on October 18, 1965. Following Mansfield’s death in a car crash in 1967, Cimber married dress designer Christy Hilliard Hanak on December 2, 1967. Hanak helped raise Tony during their marriage, which lasted until February 2, 1978. They had two additional children whose names remain private.
Matt Cimber married actress and producer Lynn Fero in 1987. At 90 years old, he lives at 3620 Beverly Glen Boulevard in Sherman Oaks, California, where he has resided since August 2001. His net worth is estimated between $10 million and $12 million.
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Conclusion
Matt Cimber’s seven-decade career demonstrates how artistic courage can reshape multiple entertainment mediums. His journey from Off-Broadway stages to exploitation cinema and television proved that boundary-pushing content could find both commercial success and cultural relevance. At 90 years old, his influence persists through cult classics like The Witch Who Came from the Sea and GLOW’s lasting legacy. Above all, Cimber’s willingness to challenge conventions established him as Hollywood’s true maverick director.
FAQs
Q1. What is Matt Cimber’s background and where did he grow up?
Matt Cimber was born Thomas Vitale Ottaviano in New York’s Little Italy in 1936. He began his career in theater during the early 1960s at the Londonderry Theater Workshop in Vermont before transitioning to Off-Broadway productions and eventually film directing.
Q2. How did Matt Cimber meet Jayne Mansfield and how long were they married?
Matt Cimber met Jayne Mansfield while directing a 1964 revival of William Inge’s “Bus Stop” in Yonkers. They married on September 24, 1964, but their relationship quickly deteriorated. The couple separated on July 11, 1965, and filed for divorce on July 20, 1966, making their marriage last less than two years.
Q3. Who is Tony Cimber and what does he do?
Tony Cimber, born Antonio Raphael Ottaviano on October 18, 1965, is the son of Matt Cimber and Jayne Mansfield. He works as a director and actor, known for projects including documentaries and wrestling-related productions. He was raised by his father and stepmother Christy Hilliard Hanak following his mother’s death in 1967.
Q4. What is Matt Cimber’s connection to GLOW: Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling?
Matt Cimber co-created GLOW: Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling in 1986 and directed 108 episodes across four seasons from 1986 to 1989. The syndicated show combined wrestling with comedy sketches and later inspired Netflix’s fictional adaptation, where a character was based on Cimber.
Q5. Is Matt Cimber still alive and what is his current situation?
Yes, Matt Cimber is still alive at 90 years old. He resides in Sherman Oaks, California, where he has lived since August 2001. His net worth is estimated between $10 million and $12 million, accumulated through his extensive career in theater, film, and television.