Veronica Porsche Ali
Encyclopedia
Veronica Porsche Ali is an American professional psychologist
and the former wife of boxing legend Muhammad Ali
.
Porsche was born in Louisiana
on December 16, 1955 to Ethel and Horace Porche and is of Louisiana Creole
descent. She attended Holy Rosary Catholic boarding school in Lafayette, Louisiana
before moving with her parents to Echo Park, California, a suburb of Los Angeles
. She graduated from Belmont High School
in Los Angeles in 1973. Her brothers, Anthony (Tony) Porche and Leonard Porche, were football and track & field athletes at Belmont High School
. Porsche graduated high school and attended the University of Southern California (USC), majoring in Pre-Medicine.
She was the third wife of American boxer
Muhammad Ali
, and is the mother of his two daughters, actress and undefeated professional boxer Laila Ali
and author Hana Yasmeen Ali. Ali and Porsche began a relationship in 1974 while in Kinshasa, Zaire and were married at the Presidential Compound in N'Sele according to the Islamic tradition when Porsche was 18 years old. Porsche was one of the four poster girls who had promoted the Rumble in the Jungle
fight in Zaire
versus George Foreman
; which led to erroneous reports that she was a professional model before meeting Ali. Porsche and Ali were then married in Los Angeles in the summer of 1977. They divorced in December 1986.
Prior to meeting Ali, she spelled her last name Porche. As her fame grew, and she began to have contact with reporters and other media, she began to tell them that her name was pronounced "like the sports car". This led to people spelling her name Porsche
. Her name appears on documents using both spellings. Reportedly, she favors the style and sophistication of the Porsche spelling, though her family name was originally Porché, the version still used by many family members in Louisiana. Porsche was fluent in French as a child and her mother called her Véronique.
Porsche studied acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse to overcome shyness and had limited experience as an actress. She played a tour guide, Ranger Emily, in the 1986 film Terror on Alcatraz and made a cameo appearance in "Freedom Road" starring Ali and Kris Kristofferson
. She co-hosted a segment of "Good Morning, New York" and appeared as herself in a made-for-TV documentary
, Intimate Portrait: Laila Ali (2001) (TV) and in many other broadcasts and television appearances around the world.
In the movie Ali
, starring Will Smith
, the role of Veronica Porsche Ali was played by Michael Michele
. Both Porsche and Ali commented that their relationship and other occurrences were not accurately portrayed. There has been much misinformation about Porsche's character and background. Ever elusive and private, Porsche remains a mystery.
. Anderson was probably most noted for his portrayal of "Judas" in the broadway show Jesus Christ Superstar
and the 1973 movie
of the same name. Veronica and Carl traveled together in the mid 1990s when Carl reprised his Judas role and toured the United States. Anderson died of leukemia in 2004. In May 2007, Veronica appeared with her two daughters, Laila and Hana, on the American TV series Dancing with the Stars
.
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
and the former wife of boxing legend Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
.
Porsche was born in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
on December 16, 1955 to Ethel and Horace Porche and is of Louisiana Creole
Louisiana Creole people
Louisiana Creole people refers to those who are descended from the colonial settlers in Louisiana, especially those of French and Spanish descent. The term was first used during colonial times by the settlers to refer to those who were born in the colony, as opposed to those born in the Old World...
descent. She attended Holy Rosary Catholic boarding school in Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...
before moving with her parents to Echo Park, California, a suburb of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. She graduated from Belmont High School
Belmont High School (Los Angeles, California)
Belmont Senior High School is a public high school located at 1575 West 2nd Street in the Westlake community of Los Angeles, California. The school, which serves grades 9 through 12, is part of the Los Angeles Unified School District.-History:...
in Los Angeles in 1973. Her brothers, Anthony (Tony) Porche and Leonard Porche, were football and track & field athletes at Belmont High School
Belmont High School (Los Angeles, California)
Belmont Senior High School is a public high school located at 1575 West 2nd Street in the Westlake community of Los Angeles, California. The school, which serves grades 9 through 12, is part of the Los Angeles Unified School District.-History:...
. Porsche graduated high school and attended the University of Southern California (USC), majoring in Pre-Medicine.
She was the third wife of American boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
, and is the mother of his two daughters, actress and undefeated professional boxer Laila Ali
Laila Ali
Laila Amaria Ali is a retired American professional boxer. She is the daughter of boxing legend Muhammad Ali from his third wife Veronica Porsche Ali.-Boxing career:...
and author Hana Yasmeen Ali. Ali and Porsche began a relationship in 1974 while in Kinshasa, Zaire and were married at the Presidential Compound in N'Sele according to the Islamic tradition when Porsche was 18 years old. Porsche was one of the four poster girls who had promoted the Rumble in the Jungle
The Rumble in the Jungle
The Rumble in the Jungle was a historic boxing event that took place on October 30, 1974, in the Mai 20 Stadium in Kinshasa, Zaire . It pitted then world Heavyweight champion George Foreman against former world champion and challenger Muhammad Ali...
fight in Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
versus George Foreman
George Foreman
George Edward Foreman is an American two-time former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Olympic gold medalist, ordained Baptist minister, author and successful entrepreneur...
; which led to erroneous reports that she was a professional model before meeting Ali. Porsche and Ali were then married in Los Angeles in the summer of 1977. They divorced in December 1986.
Prior to meeting Ali, she spelled her last name Porche. As her fame grew, and she began to have contact with reporters and other media, she began to tell them that her name was pronounced "like the sports car". This led to people spelling her name Porsche
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
. Her name appears on documents using both spellings. Reportedly, she favors the style and sophistication of the Porsche spelling, though her family name was originally Porché, the version still used by many family members in Louisiana. Porsche was fluent in French as a child and her mother called her Véronique.
Porsche studied acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse to overcome shyness and had limited experience as an actress. She played a tour guide, Ranger Emily, in the 1986 film Terror on Alcatraz and made a cameo appearance in "Freedom Road" starring Ali and Kris Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson
Kristoffer "Kris" Kristofferson is an American musician, actor, and writer. He is known for hits such as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night"...
. She co-hosted a segment of "Good Morning, New York" and appeared as herself in a made-for-TV documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
, Intimate Portrait: Laila Ali (2001) (TV) and in many other broadcasts and television appearances around the world.
In the movie Ali
Ali (film)
Ali is a 2001 American biographical film directed by Michael Mann. The film tells the story of boxing icon Muhammad Ali, played by Will Smith, from 1964 to 1974 featuring his capture as of the heavyweight title from Sonny Liston , his conversion to Islam, criticism of the Vietnam War, banishment...
, starring Will Smith
Will Smith
Willard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. , also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood...
, the role of Veronica Porsche Ali was played by Michael Michele
Michael Michele
Michael Michele is an American film and television actress. She played Dr. Cleo Finch on the medical drama ER and Det. Rene Sheppard on the police procedural Homicide: Life on the Street...
. Both Porsche and Ali commented that their relationship and other occurrences were not accurately portrayed. There has been much misinformation about Porsche's character and background. Ever elusive and private, Porsche remains a mystery.
Personal life
In 1992 Porsche-Ali married jazz artist Carl AndersonCarl Anderson (singer)
Carl Anderson was an American singer, film and theatre actor best known for his portrayal of Judas Iscariot in the Broadway and film versions of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.-Early life:Born in Lynchburg, Virginia, Anderson was one of 12 children of...
. Anderson was probably most noted for his portrayal of "Judas" in the broadway show Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
and the 1973 movie
Jesus Christ Superstar (film)
Jesus Christ Superstar is a 1973 American film adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice rock opera of the same name. Directed by Norman Jewison, the film centers on the conflict between Judas and Jesus during the last weeks before the crucifixion of Jesus...
of the same name. Veronica and Carl traveled together in the mid 1990s when Carl reprised his Judas role and toured the United States. Anderson died of leukemia in 2004. In May 2007, Veronica appeared with her two daughters, Laila and Hana, on the American TV series Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars (U.S. season 4)
The fourth season of the American edition of Dancing with the Stars premiered on March 19, 2007 and aired until May 22, 2007.To avoid direct competition with Fox Broadcasting Company's American Idol, Dancing with the Stars changed time slots from the previous season. In the fourth season, the...
.
External links
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/14490589@N03/1924836028/ Picture