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The Daily Insight

Who Is Sonji Roi? Everything To Know About The Ex-Wife Of Muhammad Ali

Author

Natalie Ross

Published Feb 08, 2026

The first wife of American professional boxer Muhammad Ali, Sonji Roi, hasn’t been credited with a Wikipedia profile. Sonji passed away in 2005 due to a Heart Attack. 

Sonji was a singer, model, and actress who has starred in the TV series The Mike Douglas Show(1966), and The Merv Griffin Show(1966).

In addition, some of her songs>Here I am and Here  Stay, Depper In My Heart, and I Can’t-Wait Until I Can See My Baby’s Face. The songs are available at YouTubE.

Sonji was best known for being the first wife of Muhammad Ali, the world’s greatest fighter. He was also a poet and philanthropist who was ranked as the best heavyweight boxer of all time.

NameSonji Roi
BirthdayNovember 23, 1945
Age59 years old (Deceased)
GenderFemale
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionSinger, Model

Table of Contents

Muhammad Ali Ex-wife: Sonji Roi Wikipedia

Sonji Roi’s biography is still missing on the Wikipedia site.

Sonji Roi came into the spotlight as the first wife of Muhammad Ali. In total, he was married to 4 different women.

Furthermore, she was also a renowned singer and TV personality. She got featured in the 1996 documentary Muhammad Ali: The Whole Story. She has also>Here I am and Here  Stay and Depper In My Heart.

Before her fame and recognition, she used to work as a waitress.

Disclosing Sonji Roi Cause Of Death

Sonji Roi, also known as Mrs. Sonji Clay, died on October 11, 2005, because of a heart attack. 

The cause of her death got disclosed by her Nephew, and no autopsy was done later. Furthermore, She took her last breathe in her Chicago home situated in Illinois, United States.

Sonji Roi Birthday

Sonji Roi was born on November 23, 1945, in the United States. In addition, she was 59 years old at the time of passing.

She held American nationality and belonged to the ethnicity of African-American.

Sonji’s Family

Sonji Rai married her first husband, Muhammad Ali, from 1964 to 1966.

Ali had proposed to her on their first date, and she instantly agreed to the marriage. However, the marriage didn’t last long, and they divorced in just 2-years. Also, they didn’t parent any children.

After the divorce, she married her second husband, Reynold Glover, who was an attorney by profession. In addition, the couple shared two children Brian Reynaldo Jr. and Herman Griffin.

Her husband Reynold died on November 27, 2007, a couple of years after her death.