After his divorce from Judith Ann, Paul Pliska, the late American operatic bass, married Sharon Thomas, continuing his personal life while maintaining his celebrated career in opera.
He was an American operatic bass in high demand, especially for his remarkable career at the Metropolitan Opera, to which he had belonged for 45 years, in 1,642 performances.
Highlights
- His wife, Sharon Thomas, was a former resident stage director at the Metropolitan Opera.
- Plishka lost his first wife, Judy, in 2004 and his son, Jeffrey, who was accused of m*rder in 2017.
- He was acquitted of the charges in 2010, but it took several years for the wound to heal, and sadly, he passed away in 2017.
Plishka debuted with the company in 1967 and became one of its leading basses. He also performed with major companies abroad, including La Scala in Milan.
He retired from the Metropolitan Opera in 2012 but returned for several performances in 2016 and 2017.
Moreover, Plishka received such accolades as the Pennsylvania Governor‘s Award for Excellence in the Arts and was also a National Patron of Delta Omicron.
Paul Pleshka, A Legend, Was Married To His second Wife, Sharon Thomas, Who Supported Him At His Highs and Lows
Paul Plishka had been married to his wife, Sharon Thomas, for decades and is currently mourning his absence.
She has created work as a former resident stage director at the Metropolitan Opera.
Deeply saddened by the passing of Paul Plishka, beloved American bass, my longtime colleague. We have performed over 100 times together, mainly at the Metropolitan Opera, where Paul had been one of the most reliable artists and dearly admired by all. We also sang together at the… pic.twitter.com/QkRuYGtK5R
— Placido Domingo (@PlacidoDomingo) February 5, 2025
Similarly, Mrs Thomas has worked as assistant stage director and stage director for “The Metropolitan Opera HD Live” (2006-2009) and “Great Performances at the Met” in 2019.
These works showcase her roles in opera’s live performances and broadcasting.
Apart from her operatic career, she has supported her late husband during the crises, mainly dealing with the tragedy encircling his son’s arrest for taking part in M*rder committed in the year 1991.
Mrs Thomas explained the situation, saying:
The family can’t comment on Jeffrey Plishka’s case. However, his arrest and incarceration has been “extremely difficult.”
She must be feeling extremely sad after losing their son Paul, Jr, and her life partner, making it hard for her to come to terms with the d*ath news of the artist.
A Tragic Loss: The Story of Paul Plishka, His Late Wife Judy, and Their Son’s Struggles
Metropolitan Opera’s Late Artist Pual Plishka Was Married to Judy Ann. However, their marriage faced challenging circumstances that led to their divorce.
The actor had to experience an overwhelming personal tragedy in 2004 when his ex-wife passed away.
Sad news of the death of the distinguished American bass Paul Plishka, aged 83. One of the @MetOpera’s most beloved artists, he had a 51-year career in the house and sang nearly 1,700 performances there. pic.twitter.com/2gJXi2sGhs
— Opera with Opera News (@operamagazine) February 4, 2025
Having survived cancer, Judy was quite popular in the opera world, a very kind and warm woman.
She left behind an ex-husband, Plishka, and her son, Jeffrey Plishka, and many years later, her son would be at the epicenter of one awful legal case.
In 2009, their son was accused of m*rdeing and r*Aping a camp counselor named Laura Ronning.
The crime was committed in 1991, and despite Jeffrey’s denial of the accusations, the family had to go through immense pain and turmoil.
He was acquitted of the charges in 2010, but it took several years for the wound to heal, and sadly, he passed away in 2017.
The Plishka family’s story is thus quite sad, filled with unexpected twists and turns, which notes pain in family life even within a world of famous careers.
Additionally, Mr. Plishka continued to sustain a personal loss, which no one anticipated until 4 February 2025, when he left this world.
Additional Information
- Paul Plishka’s net worth is estimated at around $1 million as of 2025.
- He hailed from Old Forge, Pennsylvania, and Paterson, New Jersey; his parents were American-born children of Ukrainian immigrants.
- In 1984, Plishka’s younger brother, Dr Peter Plishka, was found dead in his Bronx apartment with a self-inflicted stab wound.
