Quick Facts
- Full Name: Karen Velez
- Date of Birth: January 27, 1961 (Age 65)
- Birthplace: Rockville Centre, Long Island, New York
- Occupation: Former Model
- Known For: Ex-wife of Lee Majors, Playboy Playmate of the Year (1985)
- Height: 5’7″ / 170 cm
- Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
Who Is Karen Velez?
Karen Velez is a former American model who rose to national prominence as Playboy’s Playmate of the Month in December 1984 and Playmate of the Year in 1985. She’s also widely recognized as the ex-wife of actor Lee Majors, the star of The Six Million Dollar Man and The Fall Guy. The couple married in 1988, had three children together, and divorced in 1994. Since then, Karen has stepped away from public life almost entirely, choosing privacy over the spotlight.
Early Life
Karen Velez was born on January 27, 1961, in Rockville Centre, a suburban village on Long Island’s South Shore in New York. She grew up in a middle-class household during the 1960s and ’70s, a time when Long Island’s communities were tightly knit and largely residential. Details about her parents, siblings, and education remain scarce — Karen hasn’t shared much about her upbringing publicly. What’s clear is that she eventually gravitated toward modeling, a path that would take her from Long Island to the pages of one of the world’s most famous magazines.
Modeling Career and Playboy
Karen Velez’s modeling career peaked in the mid-1980s when she caught the attention of Playboy magazine. She appeared as the Playmate of the Month in the December 1984 issue, and the following year, the magazine named her Playmate of the Year for 1985. That title carried significant weight at the time — it placed her alongside past honorees who’d parlayed the recognition into acting roles, endorsement deals, and broader entertainment careers.
For Karen, though, the trajectory looked different. She didn’t chase Hollywood or build a long-running modeling portfolio. Her time in the spotlight as a Playmate was relatively brief compared to some of her peers, and she didn’t leverage the title into a sustained media presence. Instead, her life would soon shift in a very different direction — toward marriage and motherhood.
Marriage to Lee Majors
Karen Velez married actor Lee Majors on November 15, 1988. Majors, who’d already established himself as one of television’s most recognizable leading men through The Six Million Dollar Man (1974–1978) and The Fall Guy (1981–1986), was coming off his high-profile first marriage to actress Farrah Fawcett. That marriage lasted from 1973 to 1982 and had been one of the most talked-about celebrity unions of the era.
Karen and Lee’s relationship drew media attention partly because of his fame and partly because of the Fawcett connection. The couple settled into a more private domestic life compared to the tabloid frenzy that had surrounded Majors and Fawcett. They stayed married for nearly six years before divorcing on September 14, 1994. Neither Karen nor Lee has spoken extensively about the reasons behind the split.
Children
During their marriage, Karen and Lee Majors welcomed three children. In 1992, Karen gave birth to twin sons — Dane Luke Majors and Trey Kulley Majors. They also have a daughter, Nikki Majors. All three children have grown up largely out of the public eye, though some have surfaced in entertainment and social media circles over the years.
Trey Kulley Majors has pursued work in modeling and music, occasionally appearing at industry events and on social media. Nikki Majors has also been spotted at public functions with her father. Dane Luke Majors has kept the lowest profile of the three. Despite the divorce, both Karen and Lee appear to have maintained a co-parenting relationship focused on keeping their children’s lives as normal as possible given the family’s public history.
Life After Divorce
After her divorce from Lee Majors in 1994, Karen Velez essentially disappeared from public life. She didn’t return to modeling, didn’t pursue acting, and didn’t court media attention. There are no verified interviews, no social media profiles, and no tabloid stories from the decades following the split. That level of privacy is unusual for someone who was once a Playmate of the Year and married to a major television star.
It’s likely that Karen redirected her energy toward raising her three children and building a life outside the entertainment world. In an era when many ex-spouses of celebrities lean into the attention, Karen went the opposite direction. Her absence from public life speaks to a deliberate choice — one that’s made her something of a mystery to fans who remember her from the 1980s and ’90s.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Karen Velez?
Karen Velez is 65 years old. She was born on January 27, 1961, in Rockville Centre, Long Island, New York.
How long were Karen Velez and Lee Majors married?
They were married for nearly six years. The wedding took place on November 15, 1988, and the divorce was finalized on September 14, 1994.
Does Karen Velez have children?
Yes. She has three children with Lee Majors: twin sons Dane Luke Majors and Trey Kulley Majors (born 1992) and a daughter, Nikki Majors.
Where is Karen Velez now?
Karen Velez has lived a private life since her divorce from Lee Majors in 1994. She doesn’t maintain a public social media presence, and there’s no verified reporting on her current whereabouts or activities.
