Arlene Litman had a difficult life as a mother, but she managed to raise a superstar daughter after her husband abandoned her. Arlene’s daughter rose to fame as Denise Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” for which she received numerous awards and nominations.
Arlene’s daughter was born in San Francisco, California, but has spent the majority of her life in New York and Los Angeles. Arlene Litman was an Ashkenazi Jewish woman from Poland and Russia, and her ex-husband was an African-American opera singer.
Despite the fact that Arlene and Allen Litman divorced, their daughter began acting in commercials when she was 11 years old. She landed a major role in the hit comedy series “The Cosby Show” when she was 16 years old.
Arlene Litman Biography
She was a teacher from a white Jewish family. Arlene was a brave woman who lost her entire family for marrying a black man when interracial marriage was still frowned upon in the 1960s, according to her daughter.
Zoe, the YSL Beauty Global Makeup and Fragrance Ambassador, launched her own lipstick collection in 2019 and named one of them after her grandmother Arlene Litman .
When her marriage failed, Arlene was forced to return to her family. Despite the fact that Arlene’s family was Jewish, her daughter claims that her parents were atheists.
Arlene’s Parents
Eil Litman, her father, was born in 1912 in Pennsylvania to Abraham E. Litman and Fanny Lillian Ageloff. Her grandparents were both Jewish immigrants from Russia. Eileen Litman’s father was born in Pennsylvania and died in 1986.
Sylvia Ellen Goldvarg, Arlene’s mother, was born in Pennsylvania in 1916 to Russian immigrant parents, Louis Goldvarg and Sarah Silverman. She grew up in her hometown, married Pennsylvanian Eileen, and passed away in 2016.
Raised Her Biracial Daughter despite Family’s Discrimination
Arlene gave birth to her daughter Lisa Bonet in 1967, at the height of the hippie movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Arlene and Allen split up soon after the baby was born. Arlene Litman relocated to San Fernando to raise her child on her own. Allen has been absent for the majority of his daughter’s life.
Arlene faced discrimination from her family while raising her daughter as a single mother. In an interview with Porter Magazine, her daughter stated that growing up as a mixed-race child in school, let alone in her mother’s family, was difficult.
As a young girl, Arlene’s daughter felt alone and unsafe. That experience helped her discover her talent for acting and expressing God through her art.
Lisa Bonet Mom – Her Daughter’s Biggest Supporter
Arlene Litman was always by her daughter’s side during difficult times in her professional and personal life. Prior to her death in 1998, she witnessed the birth of her granddaughter, Zoe Kravitz. Her daughter claims they had a close relationship: ““He was a nice man. She adored me.”
An earthquake struck in 1994, stranding Arlene’s daughter Lisa and her grandchild on the streets. Arlene, according to the actor, came to her aid and was supportive.
Arlene Litman’s Granddaughter
Arlene Litman is still very much a part of her descendants’ lives. Zoe, the YSL Beauté Global Makeup and Fragrance Ambassador, launched her own lipstick collection in 2019 and named one of them after her grandmother.
She suggested that Arlene Litman wear the rosewood nude lipstick because “she always wore very simple to no makeup, so this feels appropriate for her. “Zoë Kravitz revealed that her late grandmother inspired the lipstick Arlene’s Nude No 121, which is currently available for $38.
The beauty company has employed the thirty-three-year-old for some time. Her lipstick collection, she says, is for anyone who wants to be playful and express themselves. Arlene’s granddaughter is also an actor, having starred in the romantic comedy film “No Reservations.” Her breakthrough came when she played Angel Salvadore in the superhero film “X-Men,” for which she received Scream Award and Teen Choice Award nominations.
Arlene Litman Professional Career
Liz Bonnet’s mother has spent her entire life as a teacher. Litman, in particular, was an Ashkenazi Jewish music teacher in Pennsylvania.
Her Husband was a Singer
The Pittsburgh-born music teacher married opera singer Allen Bonnet, who was born in Dallas, Texas, on February 13, 1935. Arlene Litman married him on June 12, 1967, in San Francisco, California. He was an African-American man.
Allen, her husband, was a successful opera singer who had sung many songs including Love’s Message, My Abode, Serenade, and others. Despite his acclaim as an opera singer, his popularity within the country remained limited, and he never achieved widespread recognition as a singer. However, currently, his song is available on his YouTube channel.
Whatever her husband’s status or profession, Litman’s married, life began to deteriorate after a while, and the couple decided to separate and divorce.
Following the divorce, Arlene’s ex-husband met and married another woman, Deborah Church, with whom he had seven children. They were reportedly having a happy marriage until the death of Litman’s ex-husband, Allen, who died of a heart attack at the age of 83 on November 9, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.
Arlene Litman Is the Mother of Her Well-known Daughter
Liza Boneta, Arlene’s only child, was born on November 16, 1967. She raised her only child, Lisa, by herself until she was a teenager and achieved great success as an actor in the American film industry.
Her daughter broke into the glamorous world by competing in a few beauty pageants. She eventually entered the acting business, making her debut as Denise Huxtable on The Cosby Show. She then appeared in a number of films and television shows, including Angel Heart, Final Combination, Lathe of Heaven, New Eden, and many others. Her performances have also earned her nominations for Primetime Emmys, Saturn Awards, Young Artist Awards, and other honors.
Arlene Litman’s Daughter Lisa Married Twice
Her daughter, like her ex-husband Allen, married twice. In 1987, Lisa married American rock singer Lenny Kravitz. On her 20th birthday, she eloped with her first husband. Unfortunately, they only had 6 years together before divorcing in 1993.
Second, in October 2017, her only child married actor Jason Momoa. They began dating in 2005 and had two children, but they were never married. Despite their long marriage, the couple filed for divorce in January 2022. However, they have not yet divorced.
How Did She Die?
Liza Bonet’s mother, Arlene, died at the age of 58 in Los Angeles, California, as previously stated. Breast cancer was the cause of her death. She had been battling the disease for a long time before saying her final goodbyes. Finally, on March 3, 1998, she succumbed to cancer and left the world in peace.
Arlene Litman was the first grandmother of a grandchild before her death. Her only daughter Lisa gave birth to a baby girl from her first marriage, Zoe Isabella Kravitz, on December 1, 1998.
Arlene’s granddaughter Zoe is already a working actor, singer, and model in Hollywood. Furthermore, Lisa became the mother of Nakao-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha Momoa and Lola Iolani Momoa again, but Litman was unable to see them because they were born after her death.
Arlene Litman’s Net Worth
Arlene Litman probably earned a lot of money as a music teacher in a school, which is why she was able to raise her daughter Lisa as a single parent. Her net worth, however, was not revealed until she died.
Her famous daughter, Lisa Bonnett, on the other hand, has a net worth of $14 million, which she earned through her successful career as an actor.
