Who Is Arlene Vrhel? Joe Mantegnas Wife Has Been His Main Supporter for More than 50 Years

Arlene Vrhel has been Joe Mantegna's wife since 1975 and has been the primary supporter of the "Criminal Minds" actor for over five decades. Here's everything to know about his longtime partner.

Chicago star Joe Mantegna was born on November 13, 1947, to Mary Anne and Joseph Anthony Mantegna, Sr. He is not only an actor but a writer, director, and producer.

He attended the Goodman School of Drama, earned an acting degree, and started acting on stage early in his career. At 22, he made his acting debut when he starred in a production of "Hair."

Joe Mantegna and Arlene Vrhel at the George Lopez Foundation's 15th annual celebrity golf tournament pre-party on May 1, 2022 | Source: Getty Images

In 1978, he made his Broadway debut when he starred in the musical "Working." However, it wasn't until 1985 that Mantegna made his feature film debut when he starred in "Compromising Positions."

The actor is best known for his roles as Joey Zasa in "The Godfather III," Richard "Ricky" Roma in "Glengarry Glen Ross," Will Girardi in "Joan of Arcadia," and most recently as David Rossi in "Criminal Minds."

While attending the Morton East High School in Cicero, Mantegna met his wife, Arlene Vrhel. However, they did not start dating until 1969, after they were cast by chance in "Hair."

Six years later, the couple exchanged their private, informal vows at the top of the Eiffel Tower before getting married after a few weeks.

For the over five decades they have been together, the couple has helped each other through hard times while encouraging each other's dreams. Here is a look at who the actor's wife is and their beautiful love story.

Joe Mantegna and Arlene Vrhel at the Cavalia Odysseo Celebrity Premiere on November 11, 2017 | Source: Getty Images

Who Is Arlene Vrhel?

Vrhel is a former actress who attended Morton West High School in Berwyn, Illinois. She is also a restaurateur who owns Taste Chicago with her husband in Burbank, California.

They opened the restaurant in 2003, offering local culinary offerings and classic Chicago dishes such as Italian beef sandwiches, deep dish pizza, Chicago-style hot dogs, pasta, and pepper and egg sandwiches.

Joe Mantegna and Arlene Vrhel at the 2nd annual Borgnine Movie Star Gala honoring Joe Mantegna on February 1, 2014 | Source: Getty Images

Vrhel met her husband while they were both in high school and used to do district-wide musicals. He was the lead actor in two of the plays where she had featured roles.

Their acting put them in each other's path, but they did not have a romantic relationship, and so went their separate ways. In 1969, they both got their first professional job when they got cast in "Hair."

By the final tryout, Vrhel and Mantegna were among the lucky 50 out of the over 4,000 hopefuls for the play. After they both got cast, their relationship evolved into something else.

How Long Have Joe Mantegna and Arlene Vrhel Been Together?

Mantegna and Vrhel have been together for over fifty years. However, they have only been married for 47 years at the time of this publication.

The couple moved to Los Angeles three years after marriage, but her husband had a slower start. They moved back to Chicago in no time as Mantegna returned to the Chicago theatre scene, and his ever-supportive wife was by his side.

Joe Mantegna and Arlene Vrhel at the 30th Annual People's Choice Awards on January 11, 2004 | Source: Getty Images

Together, Vrhel and her husband would cook pasta dinners for the cast while hosting parties for their theatre friends. She later revealed that she did not know how to cook for two but eight or ten.

She would support her husband as he aspired to be an actor. Vrhel once recalled that her husband botched his lines during one performance at the Goodman Theatre.

Joe Mantegna and Arlene Vrhel at the star ceremony honoring Joe Mantegna with his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 29, 2011 | Source: Getty Images

Despite the awkwardness, she was there during intermission to hug him and give encouragement. When he was done with the second act, a Chicago critic rated him "brilliant."

The couple constantly relied on each other even as their family grew. He would later reveal that his wife has been the only one who has taken the ride with him outside his immediate family. Vrhel has consistently contributed toward making his dreams come true.

How Many Children Do Joe Mantegna and Arlene Vrhel Have?

In 1987, Mantegna and Arlene Vrhel welcomed their first daughter Mia. However, she was born three months early because of an infection in the umbilical cord.

As a baby, Mia struggled, and at some point, she stopped breathing. When she was two, she was diagnosed with autism, and Mantegna said:

"You go through a million emotions. Your heart flies out of your chest."

Mia Mantegna, Joe Mantegna, Arlene Vrhel, and Gia Mantegna at the National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards Gala on December 6, 2015 | Source: Getty Images

As Mia grew up, the actor revealed that before she turned ten, he never knew what to expect whenever he took her out. He once accompanied her to a performance, and she snatched the binoculars of the woman in front of them.

After doing that, his daughter started asking the woman her name. On another day, she started singing in the aisles of a grocery store and was reciting all the parts of Pinocchio in different voices.

Even though people stared at her, the actor was proud of his autistic daughter. Although some people think his daughter is one of the worst spoiled brats, Mantegna is not bothered about them.

On April 17, 1990, the couple welcomed their second daughter Gina Cristine "Gia" Mantegna. The actor revealed that she was close to her sister from the beginning. He said:

"She's wise beyond her years and really understands Mia."

Gina is a trained gymnast, a singer who plays the piano, saxophone, and a ballerina who decided to follow in her father's footsteps. She made her acting debut at 13 in "Uncle Nino," where she co-starred with her father.

The 2011 Miss Golden Globe has also starred in "13 Going on 30," "Unaccompanied Minors," "Murder Book," "The Neighbor," "And Soon the Darkness," "Under the Dome," and "Getting That Girl," among others.

Although Gia has made guest appearances in recurring episodes of "Criminal Minds," the actress is best known for her role as Devin in "The Middle."

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