British actor Vinnie Jones' wife Tanya dead at 53
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
The wife of former soccer hardman and actor Vinnie Jones died this weekend after a long battle with cancer.
Tanya died at the age of 53 at home surrounded by her family in Los Angeles.
Hollywood action star Vinnie’s spokesman told The Sun: “At 8:46 a.m. local time in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 6, Vinnie Jones‘ wife, Tanya Jones, passed away after a long illness.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
“Tanya passed peacefully at the Jones family home surrounded by Vinnie, their daughter and other family members.
DISNEY CHANNEL STAR CAMERON BOYCE DIES AT 20; SUFFERED SEIZURE, FAMILY SAYS
“Vinnie and the family ask for privacy while they go through an understandable period of mourning during this devastating time.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
A source said her condition had worsened over the last few weeks.
In 2013 Vinnie revealed they were both suffering from melanoma — the most serious type of skin cancer.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Tanya, who had an emergency heart transplant at the age of 21, had already been treated twice for cervical cancer.
Vinnie had found a lump under his eye, and a check-up revealed it was malignant melanoma. Then Tanya developed the same illness. They fought it together, as a couple, and successfully.
A source said last night: “Tanya had been ill for quite a while. But the last two or three weeks her condition really deteriorated. Vinnie has been by her bedside. It’s heartbreaking news.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
“I think Vinnie had been in the U.K. at some point and then flew back straight away when he heard.
“It had been a waiting game for them — but she was not going to get better.”
Jones and Tanya married in Watford in 1994.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
They moved to Los Angeles, where he pursued a successful acting career.
In 1998, he made his film debut in Guy Ritchie’s crime comedy "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels," in which he played a mob enforcer.
Jones also appeared in "Mean Machine" in 2001 and in 2006 acted in "X-Men: The Last Stand." He is well known for his roles in "Eurotrip" and "She's The Man."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
He went on to co-star alongside Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger in the action thriller "Escape Plan" which was released in 2013.
He earned a reputation as a hardman in his soccer career and was a member of the “Crazy Gang” at Wimbledon.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
He won the 1988 FA Cup Final with the club which he played well over 200 games.
He also had spells at Chelsea, Leeds United, Sheffield United and Queen’s Park Rangers.