Sondra Theodore Has 2 Children & Couldn't Be More Proud of Them
Sondra Theodore and her children. | Source: Getty Images | Facebook.com/katie.manzella.5
Playboy centerfold Sondra Theodore is the proud mother of two children with Playboy manager Ray Manzella, but she was first in a relationship with Hugh Hefner.
In 1977 Sondra Theodore was one of the most desired women in America and Playboy's July Playmate of the Month and was living in the Playboy mansion. She gave it all up to get married and become a mother.
Taylor and Katie are Sondra Theodore's children with ex-husband Ray Manzella are all grown up and her pride and joy. She confessed that he children have been her strength through out her more difficult years.
Hugh Hefner and Sondra Theodore in 1979 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
Sondra Theodore was born on December 12, 1956, in San Bernardino, California, and from an early age, she wanted to become an actress and starred in several high school productions.
She moved to Los Angeles, and her sultry beauty landed her on the pages of Playboy magazine and in the arms of Hugh Hefner, the founder of the magazine and notorious lady's man with whom she lived for several years.
In 1985, after her relationship with Hefner ended, Theodore married one of the Playboy managers, the handsome Ray Manzella, apparently with the Playboy boss' approval, who even hosted the wedding reception.
Theodore, one of the former Playmates, speaking up about the secret life of the Playboy mansion, has revealed that her relationship with Hefner was complex.
Sondra Theodore Has Two Children with Ray Manzella
Theodore was out of the relationship with Hefner but still very much in his orbit. Her wedding to Manzella was at the Playboy mansion, and Hefner gave the couple $25,000 as a wedding present.
Theodore and Manzalla welcomed two children together, a son in 1987 and a daughter in 1988. The former Playmate was delighted to be a mother and devoted to her children, but soon the marriage was threatened by Menzalla's eye for a pretty face.
Katie is credited for appearing in the adult series "The Naughty Show" in 2011 and acting in the 2012 movie "Rain Makes Me Wet."
Manzella started representing several actresses, and the relationship foundered. Theodor and Manzella divorced in 1996 after 11 years of marriage. It was Hafner who lent Theodore money to pay for her divorce lawyer.
Theodore raised her children as a single mom, and the extent of Manzella's presence in their lives throughout their childhood is unknown. Katie and Theodore are Menzalla's only children.
Sondra's Son Is a Real Estate Agent in California
Taylor Manzella, Theodore's eldest child, was born on February 27, 1987. Taylor steered away from his parent's career choices and is not involved in show business.
He has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and works as a real estate agent in California. Theodore revealed on Instagram that her son married his long-time girlfriend during the pandemic.
Theodore revealed that the pandemic brought about a lot of changes in her son's life, who not only changed jobs and moved to a safer city but took the step to commit to his girlfriend.
She shared a snap of Taylor with his arm around a lovely woman whom she identified as his wife, Mary, and wrote:
"They deserve a good and fulfilling life together. Hoping life settles down enough for that to happen for them and everyone."
Theodore has shared that she is enormously proud of her son for being a kind, loving, considerate man who cares about his family and the world around him.
Sondra's Daughter Is a Certified Crystal Healer
Katie Manzella was born on October 26, 1988, and like her mother, she tried her hand at acting. Katie is credited for appearing in the adult series "The Naughty Show" in 2011 and acting in the 2012 movie "Rain Makes Me Wet."
Since then, her life has become focused on spiritual well-being, and she is now a Certified Crystal Healer, Reiki Master & Angel Card Reader, and ThetaHealer.
The former actress is devoted to rescuing cats and has a rescue kitten of her own, Feather. She works with rescue and placement organizations and raises money to help save abandoned cats.
Theodore has revealed that in her teenage years, she worried about her daughter, who was rebellious but praised her for the wonderful, enlightened woman she has become. She wrote:
"And as her Journey continues, I will as her mother be one step behind her in case she falls, or needs encouragement. but mostly I think I will be running to keep up with her!"
Katie seems to be close very to her mother and often posts throw-back snaps of her Theodore, and shares loving tributes to the former Playmate.
Jenny McCarthy and Ray Manzella at the 8th Annual Fire and Ice Ball for the UCLA Women Cancer Center at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, in 1997. | Source: Getty Images
All about the Father of Sondra Theodore's Children
Most of the women Manzella seems to be linked to, professionally or personally, have been on Playboy, including Vanna White, actress Suzanne Somers, and of course, Sondra Theodore.
Theodore revealed that her healing and her strength came from her relationship with her children.
Theodore was Manzella's third wife before he embarked on a long relationship with Jenny McCarthy, who was a nude model for Playboy when they met.
His first wife was his high school sweetheart, Bonnie Lutz, with whom he shares a child, then he was married to "All My Children" actress Robin Mattson whom he divorced in 1984, just before he married Theodore.
Hugh Hefner Would Love to Have a Baby with Sondra
Sondra Theodore is back in the spotlight for her participation in the controversial docu-series "Secrets of Playboy," in which she opened up about her relationship with Hefner and life in the Playboy mansion.
Theodore, who was 19 to Hefner's 50 when she met him, revealed that she was slowly groomed by the Playboy boss, who told her he wanted to have a child with her and that he'd never felt that way about anyone else.
He stopped her from working as an actress, controlled her whole life, and pressured her into behavior she now considers abhorrent. Theodore said:
"I hope my kids can be proud of me for it. I hope they’re proud of me for coming forward. They’re my salvation. My children would say, 'It’s the past, forget about it, move on.' Well, I am moving on. I’m moving on by telling the true story of what happened."
Theodore spoke about how it took years for her to understand how she had been abused and manipulated to believe it was what everyday life was all about.
After speaking out on "Secrets of Playboy," Theodore has been the target of anger and abuse on the part of hundreds of women who were part of the Playboy legacy and who feel that their experience was positive in every way.
Theodore and most other women who have spoken out were involved with Hefner in personal relationships. The former Playmate has confessed it took her years to get over her PTSD.
Theodore revealed that her healing and strength came from her relationship with her children. And her daughter Katie has expressed her love and admiration for her mother's beauty and resilience.
Sondra Theodore now lives a quiet, low-key life, far from the hectic day at the Playboy mansion. Her posts on social media are all about her two children and her passionate love for them.
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