Karen Velez Majors, the ex-wife of famed actor Lee Majors, known for his roles in iconic television shows like The Six Million Dollar Man and The Fall Guy, passed away on June 2nd, 2023, at her home in Downey, California. She was 62 years old. The news brought sadness to many who knew her personally and the fans who followed her throughout her Playboy career.
After her death, a lot of people began asking, how did Karen die? But the Majors and Velez family chose not to publicly disclose the reason behind her tragic demise. What’s more, Lee didn’t even share the news of her death, which is rather odd, considering how amicable they were.
Although not confirmed, a source revealed her cause of death may have been complications arising from the flu. A typically manageable illness, Flu can become severe and even fatal if not treated properly, especially in individuals with pre-existing health conditions or weakened immune systems.
After her death, many of her well-wishers and admirers expressed their sorrow and paid their respects to the obituary published in her honor. Among the numerous messages of sympathy and remembrance, a significant tribute came from Arny Freytag. Arny captured Karen’s centerfold for her Playboy Playmate of the Month feature in December 1984, which eventually throttled her to fame.
Let’s find out some interesting facts about Karen.
Profile Summary
Ethnicity: Puerto Rican
Net Worth: $500,000
She And Her Siblings Were Adopted by Her Stepfather
Karen was the daughter of Valerie DeGuido and Alfred DeGuido. When Valerie married Alfred, he adopted her children. Alfred passed away in 2005.
Growing up in Rockville Centre, Long Island, New York, Karen’s childhood was a mixture of Puerto Rican and Italian culture. Later, her family moved to Miami, Florida, where she attended North Miami Senior High School.
Velez spent her childhood with her two siblings, Stephen and Lisa.
Her Grandmother Pushed Her To Try for the Playboy
Her family, embodying an open and supportive nature played a significant role in her life choices. Notably, it was her grandmother, Doris Newman, who encouraged her to try out for Playboy magazine.
In an old interview with Time Magazine, her grandpa at the time said, “If you showed your ankles or wore lipstick in my day, you were a tramp. But today n*dity doesn’t mean much.”
She Posed for the Magazine to Confront Her Body Insecurities As Well
Velez, known for being the first Puerto Rican Playboy Playmate, was surprised and honored to become Playmate of the Year. Her journey to posing for Playboy was about confronting her insecurities about her appearance.
She reflected,
One of the reasons I posed for Playboy was to see if I was really as insecure about my looks as I thought I was.
She initially captured attention as Miss December 1984, which led to her fame as Miss 1985. Despite being known for her Playboy legacy, she insisted she was not a show-off but a model who wanted to celebrate her body before having children. She dreamed of a big family.
Her Ex-Husband Lee Didn’t Know She was a Playmate
In an interview with the Playboy mag, Lee Majors reflected on their first encounter noting in 1984, “When I met Karen, I didn’t know she was a Playmate. She had on baggy clothes, and I just remember that she was nice.”
Their initial meeting sparked a connection leading to their marriage four years later, on November 15th, 1988. Afterward, Lee made the significant move to Karen’s hometown in Florida.
From their relationship, they welcomed three children, daughter Nikki, and twin sons, Dane & Trey, 34.
Despite the strong start and shared life experiences, Karen and Lee divorced in 1994. Their spokesman at the time, Paul Bloch said, “It is a very amicable divorce.”
After separating from Lee, it was reported she was married to Vic Ventimiglia Jr. from 1999 to 2004. However, this information is incorrect. The confusion likely stemmed from the fact that Vic Jr. was indeed married to a woman of the same name.
What we know for a fact is that, at the time of her death, Karen did have a partner, whose identity she never disclosed.
Her Children are Doing Well In Their Life
Karen Velez’s influence continued through her daughter, Nikki, 38, who also entered the Playboy world. She posed for the Playboy’s Playmate Daughter feature. Additionally, she also tried her hands in acting, featuring in movies including, P.S.I. Luv U (1991). Nikki is married and is a mother of four children.
Meanwhile, Trey has pursued a career in modeling, and Dane has acted in movies and TV shows.
