Mansfield, Jayne
Born: April 19, 1933, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Died: June 29, 1967, in Slidell, Louisiana
Vocations: Actress
Geographic Connection to Pennsylvania: Bryn Mawr, Montgomery County
Keywords: The Female Jungle; Mariska Hargitay; Miklos (Mickey) Hargitay; Highland Park High School; Hollywood Walk of Fame; Marilyn Monroe; Playboy; Underwater; University of Texas at Austin; U.S. Highway 90; The Wayward Bus; Mae West; Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter; Esther Williams
Abstract: Jayne Mansfield was born on April 19, 1933, to Herbert and Vera Palmer. Born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, her family settled in Dallas, Texas. Mansfield studied at the University of Texas at Austin, where she decided to become an actress. She was a well-known actress, appearing in the Broadway play Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter (1955) and movies such as The Female Jungle (1954), Pete Kelly’s Blues (1955), and The Wayward Bus (1957). She was married three times and had five children. Mansfield died on June 29, 1967, in a car accident on her way from a night club engagement.
Biography:
Jayne Mansfield was born Vera Jayne Palmer on April 19, 1933, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, to Herbert and Vera Palmer. Herbert, who was 30, died of an unexpected heart attack when Jayne was three years old. After his death, Vera worked as a schoolteacher to support the family. In 1939 Vera met a sales engineer named Harry L. Peers, fell in love, and moved to Dallas, Texas. Mansfield had a middle-class upbringing with advantages such as piano, violin, and dance lessons. She was not considered very beautiful, but her trademark breasts developed early.
When Jayne was 17 she married Paul Mansfield, who was 21. They married on May 6, 1950, in Fort Worth, Texas. In June 1950, Mansfield graduated from Highland Park High School. She went on to give birth to her first child, Jayne Marie Mansfield, on November 8, 1950. Mansfield attended the University of Texas at Austin in 1951, during which she decided to become an actress. Paul was drafted the next year into the Korean War. During the two years he was in the army, she appeared in local television shows and plays and studied drama in Dallas. Following his discharge, the couple moved to Hollywood in 1954 so Mansfield could pursue her dream of becoming a movie star.
In Los Angeles, Mansfield became a part-time model for the Blue Book Agency and worked as a photographer at The Trails, Esther William’s night club. She landed her first acting role in The Female Jungle (1954). Mansfield then took a small role in Pete Kelly’s Blues (1955), starring Jack Webb. The couple separated four months after arriving in Hollywood, but the divorce was not final until January 8, 1958.
In January 1955, Mansfield was part of a publicity drive for the RKO Pictures movie Underwater. She wore a swimsuit that was too small and her bikini top conveniently fell off. This incident brought her a lot of attention and led to spreads in Playboy. Mansfield wanted more attention so she dyed her hair platinum blond and began to act as a “dumb blond.” Her looks were often compared to those of Marilyn Monroe. She landed a role in the Broadway play Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter (1955) as Rita Marlowe, the object of the main character’s affection who sells his soul for success and her love. Mansfield went on to appear in the films Illegal (1955), Hell on Frisco Bay (1955), The Girl Can’t Help It (1956), and Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter (1957). She also appeared in The Wayward Bus (1957), which was considered one of her best performances.
Mansfield met Mr. Universe 1956 Miklos (Mickey) Hargitay on May 13, 1956, while attending a Mae West performance at the Latin Quarter. They were married on January 13, 1958, at the Wayfarer’s Chapel in Palos Verdes, California. The chapel was all glass, so fans were able to watch the wedding from outside, which was a publicity dream come true for Mansfield. The marriage was a boost for both of their careers. The couple had a son, Miklos Hargitay, Jr., on December 28, 1958. They had a second son named Zoltan Anthony Hargitay on August 1, 1960. Their daughter, Mariska Hargitay, was born on January 24, 1964. The couple appeared together in a nightclub act and several films, including The Loves of Hercules (1960), Primitive Love (1966), and Spree (1967).
Mansfield’s grandfather died on January 2, 1957, and left her a large inheritance, so she bought an old Hollywood Mansion from Rudy Vallee, which she called the “Pink Palace.” The home was purchased for a low price because it needed a lot of repairs. Hargitay was previously a carpenter and plumber, so he helped to rebuild the mansion. Jayne went on to adopt pink as her trademark color by driving pink cars, decorating her home pink, and wearing pink clothing.
Mansfield and Hargitay were divorced in 1963. Jayne went on to marry Thomas Vitale Ottaviano (also known as Matt Cimber or Matteo Ottaviano) on September 24, 1964. The two had a son, Antonio Cimber, on October 18, 1965. Jane and Thomas were divorced in 1966.
Jayne Mansfield died in a car accident on June 29, 1967, on U.S. Highway 90 in Mississippi. She was riding home from a night club engagement with her companion Sam Brody, driver Ronnie Harrison, and three children Milkos Jr., Mariska, and Zoltan. All three of the adults were killed instantly, but the children, who were asleep in the backseat, only received minor injuries. In addition to the work of many devoted fans, Mansfield is commemorated with a star at 6328 Hollywood Boulevard on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Works:
Broadway Plays
Movies
Sources:
For More Information:
This biography was prepared by Chrystal Webb, Spring 2006.