Janet Condra is most often introduced as Larry Bird’s first wife—a footnote in the origin story of one of basketball’s greatest legends. But that framing misses what people are really searching for when they type her name into Google: Who is she outside of Larry Bird? What happened between them? What’s the truth about Corrie Bird? Where is Janet Condra now—and why is there so little confirmed information about her?
What makes Janet Condra’s story compelling isn’t scandal or celebrity. It’s the opposite: a woman who, after briefly intersecting with fame, chose a life that stayed local, private, and largely undocumented. That privacy is also why many articles online contain contradictions, assumptions, and copy-pasted claims that aren’t backed by strong sources.
Quick Facts About Janet Condra
Below is what’s most consistently referenced across reputable and semi-reputable sources, plus important accuracy notes:
- Full name: Janet Condra
- Known for: Larry Bird’s first wife; mother of Corrie Bird
- Hometown (commonly reported): French Lick / West Baden Springs area, Indiana (Bird’s home region; many profiles connect her to the same)
- Marriage: Married Larry Bird in 1975; marriage lasted less than a year
- Child: Corrie Bird, born 1977
- Public presence: Extremely limited; no confirmed official social profiles widely recognized (a major reason for misinformation)
- Profession / net worth: Frequently guessed online, rarely confirmed with documentation (treat estimates cautiously)
Who Is Janet Condra?
Janet Condra is best understood as a private individual connected to a public figure, rather than a public figure herself. Most information about her circulates because fans want a fuller picture of Larry Bird’s early life and family story, especially around:
- his early marriage
- the birth of his biological daughter
- how his relationships evolved during his rise to NBA stardom
Even Wikipedia’s summary of Bird’s personal life notes the key elements: Bird married Janet Condra in 1975, the marriage was brief, and they had a daughter, Corrie, in 1977.
What’s missing from most “bio” pages is the context: Janet Condra is not known for media appearances, interviews, or public commentary. So the most accurate version of her story is the one that respects uncertainty.
Janet Condra’s Early Life in French Lick, Indiana
Growing Up in a Small Midwestern Town
Many accounts place Janet Condra’s roots in southern Indiana, the same region that shaped Larry Bird. Bird is from West Baden Springs, Indiana, near French Lick, and attended Springs Valley High School.
That matters because it explains the “small-town closeness” theme repeated across nearly every profile: in communities like this, relationships form early, reputations last, and privacy can be a deeply held cultural value.
Education and High School Years
While many articles claim Janet attended Springs Valley High School (the same school associated with Bird), the most defensible statement is that Janet and Larry knew each other young and were connected through their hometown world—because that is the consistent narrative and matches Bird’s documented local background.
Important accuracy note: Janet Condra’s exact birth date/year is not reliably confirmed in high-quality sources. If you see confident “born in ____” claims, treat them as unverified unless tied to a primary record.
How Janet Condra Met Larry Bird
High School Sweethearts
The core storyline repeated across multiple profiles is that Janet and Larry’s relationship began before Bird became a national name—when he was still a young player in Indiana.
This matters for search intent because readers aren’t just asking “who was she?”—they’re asking “what was their story before fame changed everything?”
Their Small-Town Romance
Bird’s basketball journey accelerated quickly from local talent to college star and, eventually, NBA legend. Britannica describes Bird as one of the greatest shooters ever and highlights his championships with the Celtics.
When someone’s life trajectory changes that fast, early relationships often face intense pressure—especially when both partners are very young.
ALSO READ ON: Lola Jade Fielder‑Civil: Life, Family, and Growing Up in the Shadow of Fame
Marriage to Larry Bird (1975–1976)
Wedding in 1975
Larry Bird married Janet Condra in 1975. Multiple sources agree on the year, including Wikipedia’s personal-life section and People’s profile on Dinah Mattingly, which references Bird’s first marriage.
Some websites state an exact wedding date (often “November 8, 1975”), but those details are usually not supported by strong primary documentation. If your goal is to outrank and be trusted, it’s smarter to lead with what’s widely verifiable.
Why Their Marriage Ended So Quickly
Bird and Condra’s marriage lasted less than a year.
Most narratives attribute the breakup to a combination of youth, stress, and Bird’s rapidly intensifying basketball focus—reasonable explanations, but rarely backed by direct quotes from Janet herself (because she has stayed private).
The Impact of Larry Bird’s Rising Career
Bird’s career arc became historic: he led the Celtics to NBA championships in 1981, 1984, and 1986 and became one of the game’s defining players.
Even if Janet never sought publicity, the reality is that Bird’s path would have created distance and pressure—especially in an era where professional sports demanded constant travel and full commitment.
The Birth of Corrie Bird
Pregnancy After Divorce
Wikipedia notes that following an attempted reconciliation, Bird and Condra had a daughter, Corrie, in 1977.
That one fact shapes much of the curiosity around Janet Condra today.
Paternity Controversy and Confirmation
Many articles claim Bird initially denied paternity and that a paternity test occurred. However, mainstream, highly authoritative sources rarely document the blow-by-blow details. If you include this in your article, the most responsible approach is:
- state that online accounts often describe early distance and complexity
- avoid presenting courtroom/test claims as confirmed unless you have primary reporting
What is widely consistent: Corrie is recognized as Bird’s biological daughter.
Raising Corrie as a Single Mother
Corrie Bird’s birth date is commonly reported as August 14, 1977, and multiple bio sources repeat that she was born in Brazil, Indiana. IMDb’s biography page lists that birth date and place, and many profiles align with it.
Janet Condra is often described as the primary parent during Corrie’s early life, which fits the overall narrative of limited public connection in Corrie’s childhood—again, a story shaped by privacy more than publicity.
Janet Condra’s Life After Divorce
Did She Remarry?
Some biographies claim Janet remarried and mention names like “Mike Deakins,” but those details are typically not sourced to strong, verifiable records. Because Janet has maintained privacy, it’s safer to say:
- No widely confirmed public record is consistently cited across authoritative outlets for Janet’s remarriage details.
If you’re writing to outrank, this is a credibility opportunity: clearly separate verified facts from commonly repeated but unconfirmed claims.
Her Career and Working Life
A common claim is that Janet worked as a mail carrier or held steady local employment. These statements may be true, but they are usually reported by secondary biography sites rather than primary documentation.
If you include this, phrase it carefully:
- “Multiple profiles report…” rather than “She worked as…”
Why She Chose a Private Life
This is the most consistent “theme” across nearly every article about Janet Condra: she did not write books, chase interviews, build a brand, or appear in documentaries. That absence itself is a major fact pattern—because in celebrity culture, silence is unusual.
Janet Condra and Larry Bird’s Relationship After Divorce
Co-Parenting Challenges
Even in the most respectful versions of this story, the reality is that co-parenting with a rising sports superstar is complicated—especially when neither side publicly narrates the relationship.
Financial Support vs Emotional Distance
Some sources suggest Bird provided support; others describe emotional distance for years. Without strong primary sourcing, the safest approach is:
- acknowledge that public accounts differ
- avoid absolute claims
- focus on what is consistent: Corrie is recognized as his daughter
Relationship Between Corrie Bird and Larry Bird
The “relationship” angle is one of the biggest ranking opportunities because it matches People Also Ask queries.
What can be responsibly said:
- Corrie is Bird’s biological daughter
- Corrie married in 2008 (a detail often cited in bios; IMDb lists her marriage and date)
- Many accounts describe a historically complicated relationship, but details are kept private.
Janet Condra vs. Dinah Mattingly
Larry Bird’s Second Marriage
Larry Bird married Dinah Mattingly in October 1989 in a very private wedding, according to People.
Difference Between Corrie Bird and Mariah Bird
This is where many competitor articles make mistakes.
- Corrie Bird = Larry Bird’s biological daughter from his first marriage to Janet Condra
- Mariah Bird = adopted daughter of Larry Bird and Dinah Mattingly
If you want to outrank weaker articles, include a clear “common confusion” paragraph like the above.
Clearing Up Common Confusion
People also reports that Bird and Mattingly adopted two children, Mariah and Connor.
(Spelling note: People uses “Connor”; some sources spell it “Conner.” Follow the more reputable outlet.)
Janet Condra’s Age and Current Life
How Old Is Janet Condra?
There is no consistently verified public birth date for Janet Condra in authoritative sources. Many sites guess “born in the 1950s,” but those are estimates.
A strong SEO move here is transparency:
- “Her exact age is not publicly confirmed in reliable records.”
That honesty increases trust—especially in a niche biography topic flooded with guesswork.
Where Is Janet Condra Today?
Most profiles say she remains in Indiana, but again, confirmation is limited. Given her privacy, it’s reasonable to conclude that she likely lives away from media attention—but avoid stating a specific city without strong evidence.
Does She Appear in Public?
She is not known for public appearances, official interviews, or verified social media accounts. In practical terms, that’s why current-life sections often repeat the same line: “She lives privately.”
Janet Condra’s Net Worth and Lifestyle
Divorce Settlement Rumors
Some articles claim a divorce settlement figure or ongoing support amounts. These are rarely backed by court documents or credible reporting. If you want to include the topic (because people search it), do it like this:
- explain that net worth and settlement numbers are unconfirmed
- explain why (private individual, limited public records)
Estimated Net Worth (With Disclaimer)
Many blogs publish “estimated net worth” numbers for Janet Condra (often $200k–$500k). But estimates without evidence don’t build authority.
If you do include a range, label it clearly:
- “Unverified online estimates (not confirmed by official records) suggest…”
For contrast (and to satisfy search intent), Larry Bird’s net worth is commonly estimated around $75 million by multiple net-worth aggregators, but these are still estimates rather than audited disclosures.
Interesting Facts About Janet Condra
Here are factual or responsibly framed points that readers tend to look for:
- Larry Bird married Janet Condra in 1975, and the marriage lasted less than a year.
- They had a daughter, Corrie Bird, in 1977.
- Corrie Bird is widely reported to have been born August 14, 1977, in Brazil, Indiana.
- Larry Bird later married Dinah Mattingly in 1989 and adopted two children with her.
- Janet Condra has remained largely outside the public record, making many “bio facts” online hard to confirm.
Janet Condra’s Legacy: Life Beyond the Shadow of Larry Bird
Janet Condra’s story resonates because it runs against the typical celebrity narrative.
Larry Bird became a basketball icon—three NBA championships with the Celtics, a place among the greats, and decades of fame.
Janet Condra, by contrast, became known for choosing the quieter path: raising a child, maintaining privacy, and not turning a famous relationship into a public career.
In an internet era that rewards oversharing, her legacy is almost defined by what she didn’t do:
- no publicity tour
- no interviews
- no personal brand
- no public feuds
That choice is also why the best article about her isn’t the one with the most dramatic claims—it’s the one that is most accurate, transparent, and complete.
Frequently Asked Questions About Janet Condra
Is Janet Condra still alive?
There is no widely reported, credible public record stating otherwise. Because she is a private person, definitive updates are limited.
How long were Janet Condra and Larry Bird married?
They married in 1975 and were married for less than a year.
Did Janet Condra and Larry Bird have children?
Yes. They had one biological child, Corrie Bird, born in 1977.
Is Mariah Bird Janet Condra’s daughter?
No. Mariah Bird is Larry Bird’s adopted daughter with Dinah Mattingly, not Janet Condra’s child.
When was Corrie Bird born?
Corrie Bird is commonly listed as born August 14, 1977 (often cited in biography sources such as IMDb).
Why is there so little information about Janet Condra?
Because she has consistently lived privately, with minimal public appearances or interviews—meaning fewer verifiable sources exist compared to celebrity figures.
ALSO READ ON: Marmaduke Mickey Percy Grylls: Everything You Need to Know About Bear Grylls’ Second Son
