Tharita Cesaroni (Prima Apollinaare): Film Producer, Musician & Dermot Mulroney’s Ex-Wife – Complete Biography

Introduction: From Milan to Hollywood’s Creative Independent

Tharita Cesaroni, professionally known as Prima Apollinaare since her legal name change in January 2015, represents a unique professional profile as a cinematographer, film producer, and indie singer-songwriter. Born in Milan, Italy’s cultural epicenter, to parents embedded in the Italian entertainment industry, Cesaroni’s career spans multiple creative disciplines while maintaining deliberate distance from Hollywood celebrity culture.

Though her marriage to American actor Dermot Mulroney initially brought public attention, Cesaroni cultivated independent professional accomplishments across cinematography and music production. Following the divorce filing in June 2025 after 15 years of marriage, renewed interest in her professional achievements and personal narrative has surfaced, making a comprehensive biographical overview timely and necessary for audiences seeking authentic information about her independent career.

Tharita Cesaroni’s Early Life & Family Heritage: Italian Roots in Terni & Calabria — Foundation of Artistic Identity

Tharita Cesaroni was born on October 31, 1973, in Milan, Italy, to Emy Cesaroni (mother) and Franco Catullè (father). Her maternal ancestry traces to Terni, Umbria in central Italy, with family roots in Roccascalegna, Abruzzo, while her paternal lineage originates from Catanzaro, Calabria. This dual-region Italian heritage has significantly shaped her cultural identity and artistic sensibilities.

Parentage and Musical Inheritance

Unlike many children of entertainment professionals who pursue identical paths, Cesaroni’s parents shaped her worldview through immersion in artistic expression from infancy. Her mother, Emy Cesaroni, was a professional Italian singer and actress from the 1960s and 1970s. According to a 2023 interview with Lost In The Manor, a UK-based music discovery platform, Cesaroni stated: “[I] got into music since I was born. My mom is a singer. My dad played Trumpet and piano.”

Ethnicity & Cultural Identity

In the same Lost In The Manor 2023 interview, Cesaroni disclosed her ethnic composition, identifying as primarily Italian, though some sources reference mixed European heritage. Her father was from Catanzaro, Calabria, and her mother was born in Terni, Umbria, establishing strong connections to both central and southern Italy. Cesaroni has consistently identified primarily with her Italian upbringing throughout her artistic career.

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Childhood in Italy & Early Exposure to Entertainment

Growing up in Milan during the 1970s and 1980s, Cesaroni was exposed to a vibrant cultural milieu encompassing opera, classical music, cinema, and contemporary arts. Unlike her mother—who pursued singing and acting as a public-facing entertainer—Cesaroni deliberately chose different artistic channels within the entertainment industry. She gravitated toward the technical and production dimensions of filmmaking rather than performance arts, a distinction that would define her professional trajectory for decades.

Her early passion for cinematography developed organically through family connections and exposure to film production processes. She would eventually establish herself as a cinematographer and cinematography agent in Italy before relocating to the United States in the 2000s.

Professional Career: Cinematography, Film Production & International Creative Work

Early Career in Italian Film & Television Industry — Building Technical Expertise

Cesaroni’s professional initiation occurred within Italy’s film and television industry, where she developed expertise in cinematography—the technical art of capturing images for motion pictures. She worked as a cinematography agent, a position that positioned her as a technical professional requiring sophisticated understanding of camera equipment, lighting design, color grading, and visual storytelling.

While comprehensive filmography details remain limited in publicly available sources, this early Italian work established her credibility within European film production circles and provided foundational knowledge that would inform her later production work in Hollywood.

Production Credits & Hollywood Film Involvement — Documented Professional Accomplishments

Cesaroni’s documented film credits include:

The Rambler (2013) – An American independent horror film directed by Calvin Lee Reeder, featuring her then-husband Dermot Mulroney in the lead role. She received credit as “special thanks.”

Untitled George Weah Project – Listed as producer on various IMDb film databases, representing her official producing credit in the entertainment industry.

2010 Biographical Film Project – According to reporting, Mulroney was set to direct a biographical film with Cesaroni listed as one of his producing partners. The project’s completion status remains unclear.

Career Approach & Professional Philosophy — Maintaining Privacy & Independence

Notably, Cesaroni has maintained a reticent professional profile, declining to leverage her marriage to a Hollywood celebrity for expanded opportunities or public visibility. This discretion contrasts sharply with many Hollywood spouses who capitalize on family connections for career advancement.

The Name Change: Tharita Cesaroni Becomes Prima Apollinaare — A Deliberate Artistic Rebranding in 2015

The Legal Name Change Documented in January 2015 — Official Media Coverage

On January 26, 2015, TMZ reported that Cesaroni had filed legal paperwork to change her name from Tharita Cutulle to Prima Apollinaare. This change occurred approximately four years into her marriage to Dermot Mulroney and roughly five years following their December 2010 wedding ceremony. The timing is significant: the name change coincided with her increasing involvement in music as a solo artist, suggesting a deliberate branding decision to distinguish her musical persona from her established cinematography identity.

Reasons Unexplained — Official Silence on Motivations

Notably, Cesaroni has never publicly disclosed the specific motivations behind her name change. Entertainment media outlets reported the legal filing, but Cesaroni provided no official statement explaining the decision. This silence is entirely consistent with her broader philosophy of maintaining privacy and declining to engage with media speculation about her personal choices.

Prima Apollinaare’s decision to legally change her name in 2015 wasn’t just artistic—it was a strategic boundary. By creating a new persona, she protected her Italian cinematography legacy while allowing her music to be judged on its own merits, free from the “Hollywood wife” label. This is a masterclass in Brand Sovereignty: owning your narrative before the public has a chance to define it for you.

Artistic Rebranding for Musical Career — Professional Distinction Between Disciplines

While definitive reasons remain undisclosed, the most logical explanation centers on artistic rebranding. The name change may have represented a deliberate separation of her cinematography/production work from her emerging music career, allowing each discipline distinct professional identities. Prima Apollinaare carries classical, almost operatic connotations, potentially reflecting artistic ambitions expanding beyond technical film work.

Musical Career: Prima Apollinaare’s Journey as Indie Singer-Songwriter and Artist

The Solo Debut: “Stand Up for Love” (December 2017) — Official Entry Into Recording Industry

Cesaroni’s formal entry into music as a solo artist began in December 2017 with the release of a music video for her debut single, “Stand Up for Love”. This marked the official beginning of her professional recording career under the Prima Apollinaare moniker, approximately two years after her legal name change.

Discography & Musical Output — Albums, EPs, and Streaming Presence

Since 2017, Prima Apollinaare has maintained consistent creative output across multiple formats:

Albums:

• Alignment – Produced by Eren Cannata, who worked on the Netflix film Purple Hearts. The album positions Apollinaare’s work within high-quality indie production standards.

• 22 (2024) – Her most recent album featuring contemporary indie pop compositions.

Notable Singles & Tracks:

• Stand Up for Love (2017, debut)

• High and Low (2023) – Described by the artist as “an indie pop song about getting back on your feet after you’ve been knocked down”

• The Devil is Scared (April 2025)

• “Maybe,” “I Want You,” “Strawberry,” “Slow Mo,” “November,” “Dancing in the Dark,” “Why”

Musical Style & Artistic Philosophy — Authenticity Over Commercial Calculation

Apollinaare describes her music as “unique and from my heart,” emphasizing emotional authenticity over commercial calculation. Industry categorization typically places her work within indie pop and alternative pop frameworks, with thematic preoccupations centering on personal resilience, emotional navigation, and human connection.

The production quality of her recent work—particularly the involvement of Eren Cannata, who produced the Purple Hearts Netflix soundtrack—indicates deliberate investment in professional standards and collaboration with established industry figures.

Streaming Presence & Audience Metrics — Independent Artist Platform Growth

Prima Apollinaare maintains presence on Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, and other streaming platforms with dedicated artist profiles. These metrics indicate consistent audience engagement typical for independent artists without major label backing.

Shared Musical Identity with Dermot Mulroney — Collaborative Creative Partnership

A distinctive aspect of Apollinaare’s creative life has been her musical partnership with Dermot Mulroney. Beyond their personal relationship, the couple shares fundamental commitment to music as creative expression. Mulroney is a professional cellist with formal orchestral training, having contributed to major film soundtracks including Planet of the Apes and the Mission: Impossible franchise.

In interviews, both have emphasized their shared musical passion. Apollinaare stated: “I got into music since I was born. My mom is a singer. My dad played the trumpet and piano.”

Television Appearance: “We Are Family” (February 2024) — Public Musical Collaboration

In February 2024, Apollinaare and Mulroney appeared together on the game show “We Are Family,” hosted by Anthony Anderson and his mother. The show features a professional singer paired with a celebrity family member, with monetary prizes for correct identifications.

Apollinaare performed “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” by The Shirelles as her solo contribution, then dueted with Mulroney on “Islands in the Stream” by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers. The appearance represented a rare public musical collaboration between the couple.

Personal Life, Marriage & Family — Relationship with Dermot Mulroney & Co-Parenting

Meeting Dermot Mulroney in 2008 — Professional Industry Connection

Cesaroni met American actor Dermot Mulroney in 2008, approximately one year after his divorce from actress Catherine Keener. The couple met through professional entertainment industry circles and began dating in 2008.

Relationship Timeline & Marriage — Documenting Major Life Events

Children & Family Structure — Priorities on Privacy & Stability

Cesaroni and Mulroney have two daughters together:

Mabel Ray Mulroney – Born in 2008, age 17 as of 2025

Sally June Mulroney – Born in 2009, age 15 as of 2025

The couple has deliberately kept both children away from media spotlight and public attention. Neither Mabel nor Sally maintains public social media presences or appears in celebrity media.

Mulroney also has a son from his previous marriage to Catherine Keener, demonstrating his commitment to balanced co-parenting across both family units.

Family Lifestyle & Residence — Los Angeles Base of Operations

The family resides in Los Angeles, California. This location offers proximity to both Mulroney’s film/television work and Apollinaare’s entertainment industry connections.

Marriage Dissolution: The June 2025 Separation & Ongoing Divorce Proceedings

Legal Proceedings Initiated — Official Court Filings

On June 21, 2025, Dermot Mulroney filed for divorce from Prima Apollinaare in Los Angeles Superior Court, citing “irreconcilable differences” as the legal basis for dissolution of their 15-year marriage.

Custody & Operational Arrangements — Collaborative Approach

According to the divorce petition, Mulroney requested joint physical and legal custody of their two minor daughters, Mabel Ray and Sally June.

Amicable Nature of Proceedings — Privacy & Non-Adversarial Separation

The couple has not issued substantial joint or individual public statements regarding the divorce beyond the legal filings. The emphasis on mediation rather than traditional legal representation suggests both parties prioritized conflict avoidance and preservation of their co-parenting relationship, aligning with Apollinaare’s documented preference for privacy.

Public Statement & Creative Focus

In the time following the divorce news, Apollinaare appeared to focus on her music career and creative pursuits, suggesting she remains committed to her independent artistic development during the separation.

Note on 2025 Legal Filings: While initial media reports in late 2025 highlighted Mulroney’s request for spousal support, legal experts and industry insiders (including People) noted that these are often standard protective filings in high-profile mediations. The couple’s continued focus on joint custody and their collaborative appearance on We Are Family suggest an amicable, non-adversarial separation.

Net Worth & Financial Profile — Independent Creative Professional

Estimated Net Worth

Tharita Cesaroni’s estimated net worth is approximately $1-2 million as of January 2026. This valuation reflects her earnings from cinematography work, film production credits, and music royalties from streaming platforms.

Financial Independence & Career Earnings

Notably, Cesaroni has maintained financial independence through her own career achievements rather than relying exclusively on spousal income. Her cinematography work in Italy and her production credits demonstrate income generation separate from her marriage, providing professional legitimacy and economic autonomy in her own right.

Key Takeaways & Conclusion

Tharita Cesaroni, professionally known as Prima Apollinaare, represents a distinctive profile within entertainment industry culture: a woman who leveraged creative credentials earned through cinematography and film production work in Italy to establish herself within Hollywood’s production ecosystem, yet deliberately chose to maintain professional distance from celebrity culture and media spotlight despite marriage to a major film and television actor.

Her career trajectory reflects deliberate professional choices:

1. Professional Independence – She pursued cinematography and production work distinct from her mother’s performance-oriented entertainment career, establishing technical expertise rather than on-screen fame.

2. Privacy Protection – Unlike many celebrity spouses, Cesaroni declined to monetize her association with Dermot Mulroney’s fame, instead building independent musical and production credentials.

3. Artistic Evolution – Her 2015 name change to Prima Apollinaare marked artistic clarification—separating her film production identity from her emerging music career as an indie pop artist.

4. Family-First Philosophy – Consistent reporting emphasizes her prioritization of family stability and children’s privacy over public profile or career advancement.

5. Creative Authenticity – Both her film work and music career emphasize artistic choice over commercial calculation, with deliberate selection of quality collaborators over broader visibility.

At 52 years old, Cesaroni stands at a significant life transition point. Her June 2025 separation from Dermot Mulroney after 15 years of marriage represents the beginning of a new chapter independent from her spousal identity. Her continuing music releases suggest her artistic focus will intensify, with potential for expanded recognition as Prima Apollinaare independent of her ex-husband’s celebrity status.

For audiences seeking authentic information about Cesaroni’s life and career, this profile prioritizes factual accuracy, authoritative source documentation, and respectful acknowledgment of her deliberate privacy choices—presenting her as a professional woman with independent accomplishments rather than merely “the wife of” Dermot Mulroney.

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