Who Is Ashley Judd’s Father

Ashley Judd is an American actress who has been a major presence in Hollywood for over two decades. She is the daughter of Naomi Judd, another famous entertainer, but many do not know who Ashley’s father is. That’s because Ashley was raised solely by her mother and her father was never involved in her life.

Ashley’s father is Michael Charles Ciminella, an auto mechanic born in the Bronx, New York in 1946. Michael and Naomi dated in the late 1960s and eventually had their daughter Ashley in April 1968. Michael and Naomi separated in 1972, and neither of them ever married. While Michael was not in Ashley’s life, he did remain close with his daughter and they developed a warm relationship.

Michael Ciminella lived a quiet life in his hometown of Danville, Kentucky and worked as an auto mechanic for many years. He died prematurely of a brain aneurysm in 1997. In recent years, Ashley has publicly acknowledged her feelings of loss and grief over her father’s death. She has spoken fondly of him, describing him as kind, sweet, and gregarious.

Michael Ciminella’s absence in his daughter’s life became part of Ashley’s motivation for advocating for fatherless children. She used her platform to advocate for the strengthening of bonds between parents and children in all families. Ashley Judd also raised awareness of society’s neglect of fatherless children, speaking out on the issues surrounding family abandonment and the consequent psychological issues that such children may experience.