Marita Stavrou: All you need to know about the actress and relationship with NBA Hall Of Famer Reggie Miller

Former actress Marita Stavrou is most famous for her close to decade-long marriage to Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller, but her life has taken in careers in modeling and design as well. Here is all there is to know about her.

Who is Marita Stavrou?

Marita Stavrou is an American model, actress, designer and lifestyle curator. She is most famous for her former marriage to NBA superstar Reggie Miller.

Following her acting career (her last credit came in 2000), Stavrou has segued into a career as a designer and lifestyle curator, parlaying her years of travel into “creating stunning residential and commercial spaces.” She is the owner of Marita Stavrou Inc, and her design projects include the Private Real Estate Club of the Setai Hotel, the Can Luna Residence in Ibiza, and the Miami Venetian Private Residence in San Marino Island.

Stavrou was one of seven children born into limited means in Chicago, with her family forced to lean heavily on the American welfare system. As a result, she was forced to get a job at the age of 11, and worked as a towel girl at a restaurant. 

What is Marita Stavrou’s age?

Marita Stavrou was born on November 2, 1965; as of August 2023, she is 57 years old.

Marita Stavrou’s height and weight

Marita Stavrou stands at 5ft 9in tall (approx 1.75m) and weighs in at about 62kg. Her physique lent itself well to her previous modeling career.

Marita Stavrou and Reggie Miller

Marita Stavrou married former basketball player and NBA Hall of Famer Reggie Miller on August 2, 1992. The pair had dated for seven months after being introduced to one another by another NBA Hall of Famer in Magic Johnson. They were married for over eight years. In August 2000, Miller filed for divorce from Stavrou due to irreconcilable differences, with the separation eventually being finalised on April 3, 2001.

It was a far from amicable settlement, however. Following their separation, Stavrou, through her lawyers, alleged that Miller had been overly generous with his funds in a bid to hide away some of his wealth. Gifting away large sums to friends and associates, Stavrou believed, was a ploy by her ex-husband to reduce the share of his assets to which she was entitled as part of the divorce. 

She also took issue with the timing of Miller’s divorce filing, which was done a day before he signed a new three-year, $36-million deal with the Indiana Pacers that would have entitled her to a higher pay-out.

Miller’s lawyers refuted this, pointing to a payment of $5 million that had already gone to the actress, as well as to the fact that, per the pre-nuptial agreement signed by both parties, the NBA star had been ploughing 5% of his yearly income into an independent fund for her benefit. 

They would eventually reach a legal understanding, allowing Miller to move on and remarry in 2003. The Indiana Pacers legend married Laura Laskowski, with whom he has had three children. Stavrou, for her part, has remained unwedded since. 

Due to the private nature of the divorce itself, the reasons for their separation have never been explicitly stated. However, the nature of their careers has been blamed; with Miller often on the road and Stavrou reportedly bored with life in Indianapolis, it is likely that the pair grew apart over time. 

Marita Stavrou’s ex-husband Reggie Miller’s NBA career

Reggie Miller's 18-season NBA career with the Indiana Pacers marked him as a legendary shooter and clutch player. Drafted in 1987, he quickly became known for his three-point expertise, reshaping the game with his long-range accuracy. Despite his shooting prowess, Miller also possessed strong ball-handling skills and a talent for moving without the ball.

Renowned for clutch performances, Miller earned the moniker "Knick Killer" for his memorable showdowns against the New York Knicks. Notably, he scored eight points in under nine seconds during the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals. His trash-talking and competitive spirit added to his on-court persona, making him both admired and controversial.

A five-time NBA All-Star, Miller played a key role in the Pacers' successes, including a 2000 NBA Finals appearance. Following his retirement in 2005, he transitioned to a successful career as a basketball analyst and commentator. The Pacers retired his jersey number 31 in 2006 in recognition of his contributions.

Reggie Miller's impact extends beyond his playing years, influencing the evolution of the game with his revolutionary three-point shooting and memorable moments. His legacy endures as one of basketball's greatest shooters and clutch performers, leaving an indelible mark on the sport's history.

Marita Stavrou movies

While she does not have a plethora of movie titles, she earned her first feature credit as an unnamed extra in the 1989 film ‘Strictly Business’, which starred Samuel L. Jackson and Halle Berry in pre-stardom roles. She also had a guest role in the hit sitcom ‘Family Matters’, as well as a small role in the 2000 independent film ‘Dinner Rush’, which starred Danny Aiello.

Stavrou’s sister, Sarah, also had an acting credit in ‘Strictly Business’.

Marita Stavrou and Family Matters

The sitcom ‘Family Matters’, which first aired in 1989, centred on the the Winslow family, an African-American middle class family living in Chicago and ran for nine seasons, ending in 1998. 

Marita Stavrou appeared in the 1994 episode ‘Till Death Do Us Apartment’, playing the role of ‘Kim’. After Waldo Geraldo Faldo (Shawn Harrison) and Eddie Winslow (Darius McCrary) get an apartment and move in together, Waldo invites two girls, Kim and Darlene (Kimberly Russell), over to celebrate, leading to a misunderstanding with Eddie’s girlfriend Maxine Johnson (Cherie Johnson).

According to IMDb, this episode was one of the worst-performing of the series at the US box office, featuring in the 18th percentile. 

Marita Stavrou’s net worth

Per reports, Marita Stavrou is worth in the region of $10 million. The bulk of her earnings came from her divorce settlement with Reggie Miller, from whom she received at least $5 million. She has also made significant earnings from her modeling and design career. 

Is Marita Stavrou Greek?

While there is not a lot of detail about her early life that is publicly available, Marita Stavrou is, despite her surname, not Greek. She is black and of multiracial descent.

Marita Stavrou’s Instagram

In a departure from what is widely obtainable in Hollywood circles, Marita Stavrou does not have an Instagram account. The same is true for other social media platforms. Similarly, her LinkedIn profile displays little activity, indicative of her preference for a muted profile. 

Marita Stavrou’s philanthropy

Described on her website as a “philanthropist at heart” who is “passionate about empowering young women”, Marita Stavrou collaborates with the Bisila Bokoko African Literacy Project, a New York-based non-profit, non-partisan international organization that promotes literacy in Africa, to design libraries on the continent. 

She is also on the board of directors of The Few Initiative For Children, an organisation founded in 2013 to empower Chicago’s youth through after-school and summer programs.