Marla Maples

Marla Maples
Zakirmithu · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Marla Maples
Birth date	June 27, 1963
Birth place	Cohutta, Georgia, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, television personality, socialite
Years active	1984–present
Spouses	Donald Trump (m. 1993; div. 1999)
Children	Tiffany Trump

Marla Maples is an American actress, television personality, and socialite known for her work in film, television, and stage, as well as for a high-profile marriage to businessman and politician Donald Trump. She gained public attention in the late 1980s and 1990s through appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, and in films and Broadway productions, and has continued to participate in philanthropic and media endeavors connected to figures such as Ivanka Trump, Melania Trump, and media outlets like Fox News. Maples's career intersects with entertainment institutions including Broadway theatre, Hollywood, and reality television formats exemplified by The Apprentice.

Early life and education

Maples was born in Cohutta, Georgia, and raised in Brookhaven, Georgia (U.S. state), into a family linked to regional business and social circles in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Her parents' social milieu connected to southern institutions such as local chapters of Rotary International and community organizations; she attended local schools before moving to Los Angeles to pursue modeling and acting, a trajectory mirrored by contemporaries who transitioned from regional upbringing to Hollywood careers. During her formative years she encountered cultural influences from southern entertainment circuits and beauty pageant networks that historically fed talent into platforms like Miss America and Sears-sponsored modeling competitions.

Career

Maples began her career in the 1980s with modeling and commercial work, appearing in projects associated with production companies operating in Los Angeles, collaborations that brought her into contact with casting directors linked to studios such as Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. She expanded into television with guest roles and talk-show appearances on programs including The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and daytime platforms like Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, later performing in films connected to producers working within the American independent circuit and mainstream studio system. On stage, she has performed in musical theatre linked to the Broadway theatre community and regional companies that stage works alongside organizations like the American Theatre Wing; her television visibility also included competitions and celebrity specials affiliated with networks such as ABC (American Broadcasting Company) and NBC.

Personal life

Maples's personal life became a focus of tabloid and mainstream coverage during her marriage to Donald Trump, with their relationship discussed across outlets including People (magazine), The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. Her daughter, Tiffany, has been associated with educational institutions such as the University of Pennsylvania-affiliated communities and later legal and professional circles in New York City and Los Angeles County, California. Maples has maintained residences and social ties in metropolitan hubs like New York City and Los Angeles, engaging with philanthropic boards and social organizations that overlap with figures from fashion and entertainment such as Vogue (magazine) editors and producers from Saturday Night Live.

Public image and media appearances

Maples cultivated a public persona through appearances on high-profile talk shows including The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Jay Leno Show, and entertainment news programs on networks like E!, earning coverage in lifestyle publications such as People (magazine), Vanity Fair, and Us Weekly. She participated in televised specials and charity events associated with celebrities from Hollywood and political circles, appearing in contexts alongside personalities like Donald Trump Jr. and entertainers who frequent awards ceremonies such as the Academy Awards and the Golden Globe Awards. Her image has been the subject of profiles in national newspapers like The Washington Post and magazines chronicling celebrity culture.

Philanthropy and activism

Maples has been involved with charitable initiatives and nonprofit events supporting causes connected with health, education, and arts organizations often featured at galas alongside institutions such as the American Red Cross, United Way, and performing-arts venues in New York City and Los Angeles. She has appeared at benefit concerts and fundraisers that included collaborations with philanthropic foundations linked to high-profile figures in entertainment and business, sharing billing with participants from organizations like the Clinton Foundation and arts benefactors associated with the Carnegie Hall programming circuit.

Filmography and stage work

Her screen credits include roles in feature films produced within the American studio system and independent film festivals, with appearances on television series and specials broadcast by networks such as CBS, NBC, and ABC (American Broadcasting Company). On stage, Maples has performed in musical and dramatic productions staged in venues connected to the Broadway theatre ecosystem and regional theatres that participate in touring seasons alongside companies like the Goodman Theatre and festivals such as the New York Musical Festival.

Category:1963 births Category:Living people Category:American film actresses Category:American television personalities Category:People from Georgia (U.S. state)