Who was Johnny Knoxville’s first wife? All about Melanie Cates as actor marries Emily Ting 

2005 MTV Movie Awards  - Backstage and Audience - Source: Getty
Actor Johnny Knoxville (R) with wife Melanie and daughter Madison (C) during the 2005 MTV Movie Awards at the Shrine Auditorium June 4, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. The 14th annual award show will premiere on MTV Thursday, June 9 - Source: Getty

Johnny Knoxville, who was previously married to designer Melanie Cates, recently married his longtime girlfriend, costume designer Emily Ting, in a private ceremony attended by their closest friends and family. According to The New York Post, the wedding ceremony, which took place on Sunday, November 16, was officiated by filmmaker John Waters and saw Knoxville wearing a blue colored tuxedo. Ting, on the other hand, was spotted wearing a baby blue colored short dress with a golden bodice on top and a big yellow ribbon at the waistline. Not much is known about Melanie Cates, who leads a life away from the spotlight. She and The Ringer actor were married for fourteen years until their divorce in 2009.

Johnny Knoxville and Emily Ting were also joined by their beloved dog, Bucket, as they were seen posing for pictures on their special day. According to USA Today, this is Knoxwille's third marriage, and the actor was previously married to Naomi Nelson from 2010 until the finalization of their divorce last year. The couple shares two children.

Knoxville shared a series of pictures from his wedding ceremony to Emily Cates, writing:

"It seems I have had a lot of news lately but there is no news bigger than this…..Today Emily and I got married and I'm the luckiest and happiest fella in the universe. Bucket is pretty happy to as you can see from the pictures."

More about Johnny Knoxville's first wife, Melanie Cates, as he ties the knot with girlfriend Emily Ting

Johnny Knoxville, whose real name is Philip John Clapp, married Melanie Lynn Cates on May 15, 1995. The couple kept their private life away from the spotlight, although they were often spotted attending red carpet events together.

Melanie Lynn Cates, who is also known as Melanie Lynn Clapp, was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and according to her IMDB profile, was previously thanked in the credits of the 2002 film, "Jackass: The Movie," starring her then-husband Johnny Knoxville. The couple welcomed their first and only child, a daughter, Madison Clapp, on January 4, 1996. Knoxville and Melanie Cates first announced their separation in July 2006.

According to CBS News, Knoxville filed for divorce a year later, in July 2007, citing "irreconcilable differences" as the reason. The couple finalized their divorce two years later in July 2009, whereby Johnny Knoxville agreed to share joint custody of their daughter and to pay his ex-wife Melanie $6000 monthly in child support.

According to People Magazine, Melanie Cates was also set to receive half of any residual checks that Knoxville received from not just the Jackass movie franchise but also the 2005 film The Dukes of Hazzard.


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Edited by IRMA