Vinnie Jones' wife Tanya has died following a long illness
The news was confirmed by Vinnie's management
Last updated 11th Sep 2020
Tanya Jones, the wife of former footballer Vinnie Jones, has tragically passed away aged 53. The actor was at his wife's side when she passed away at their Los Angeles home on Saturday morning.
Vinnie Jones' management released a statement confirming the sad news that said, 'At 8.46am local time in Los Angeles on Saturday July 6, Vinnie Jones's wife, Tanya Jones, passed away after a long illness. Tanya passed peacefully at the Jones family home surrounded by Vinnie, their daughter and other family members.
"Vinnie and the family ask for privacy while they go through an understandable period of mourning during this devastating time."
In 2013 both Vinnie and Tanya suffered from a melanoma, and fought the illness together. After finding a lump under his eye, a check-up revealed Vinnie had developed a malignant melanoma, with Tanya then suffering the same illness.
Tanya had bravely overcome previous health issues. Aged 21 she underwent a heart transplant and had already been treated for cervical cancer twice.
When did Vinnie and Tanya Jones get married?
Vinnie and Tanya married in 1994 in Watford, before heading to LA so Vinnie could pursue a career in acting, which led to appearances in films such as X-Men: The Last Stand. He also starred in Mean Machine, Swordfish, Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
The couple then renewed their vows in 2007.
Vinnie Jones' children with late wife Tanya Jones
Tanya had one daughter, Kaley Jay Terry, from her previous marriage to footballer Steve Terry, who would have been around six-years-old when Tanya and Vinnie got married.
Kaley spoke of her parents' love and devotion to each other in October 2019, telling the Mirror, "My parents taught me the meaning of real love. That will never die. Even in hospital, she was talking about their upcoming 25th wedding anniversary. Every doctor or nurse, she would tell them their love story. The one thing Mum wanted for me, I know she knows I have found – true love."
Kaley's partner Lauren Keefe, a chef, asked for Tanya's blessing before she passed away, with Tanya even giving Lauren tips on what ring her daughter might like. The couple are planning to marry.
Vinnie and Tanya had another child - son Aaron Elliston Jones, born in 1991, who stays out of the spotlight but is part of the Household Cavalry.
Vinnie Jones' book: Lost Without You
Vinnie released his book Lost Without You: Loving and Losing Tanya on 3rd September 2020, detailing the love story between himself and his late wife and providing comfort to those who have also lost a loved one.
Of the book, Vinnie said, 'This is not a love story I ever wanted to tell, because I hoped it would just go on and on, and never end. I thought that we'd grow old together. I never wanted it to be a tale.
'But here I am, a middle-aged man sitting at the kitchen table as the California light fades, thinking about the coming night and how to get through it. Trying to explain to someone - to anyone - what it was like to live through something extraordinary: an amazing three decades that happened to me. Three decades that are now over.'