Jayne Mansfield

Jayne Mansfield has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6328 Hollywood Boulevard. Kennedy Center Honors (1989). Though her remains are in Fairview Cemetery, with a large and beautiful heart shaped monument, and the graves of her mother and stepfather are beside hers, a memorial cenotaph is in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Hollywood, California, in her honor. Peabody Award: "Valentine". She is interred in Fairview Cemetery, just southeast of Pen Argyl. Autobiography: "My Heart Belongs," Morrow (1976). Her private funeral service, attended by her family and second husband, Hargitay, was held on July 3, 1967 at Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, officiated by a Methodist minister. Husband Richard Halliday dies, 1973.

This urban legend was possibly spawned by the fact that her blonde wig flew off her head and was seen in police photographs. Tony Award: "The Sound of Music". Erroneously, it was said that Mansfield was decapitated in the accident. This is not true, though she did suffer severe head trauma. Tony Award, (later) Emmy Award: "Peter Pan". Though all three children survived with minor injuries, as they were cushioned from serious harm, the adults were instantly killed, as was Mansfield's pet Chihuahua. Special Tony Award: "Annie Get Your Gun". She was riding in the front seat of the 1966 Buick Electra with Harrison and Brody, and her children were sleeping in back, as the roadway became obscured by a white haze from a distant mosquito fogger, which prevented Harrison from discerning the presence of a slow-moving tractor-trailer ahead. They crashed into the truck and slid under it as the top of her car was sheered back. Donaldson Award, NY Drama Critics Award: "One Touch of Venus".

On June 29 at approximately 4:07 a.m., Mansfield died in a car accident on U.S. Highway 90 in rural Orleans Parish, Louisiana, about one mile west of the Rigolets Bridge. Daughter Heller Halliday. After an engagement at the Gus Stevens Supper Club in Biloxi, Mississippi, Mansfield, her boyfriend, lawyer Sam Brody, and her driver, Ronnie Harrison, along with Mickey Jr., age eight, Zoltan, age six, and Mariska, age three, headed to New Orleans, where she was to appear on a TV interview later that day. Married Richard Halliday 1940. She died before the movie was completed. They were divorced in 1936. Her time was split between a Southern nightclub tour and the production of Single Room, Furnished, a drama directed by Cimber. Their son is actor Larry Hagman, who once appeared with his mother in South Pacific, as a member of the chorus.

In 1967, her life was moving at full speed. In 1929, she married Ben Hagman. And LaVey's public claims of an affair with her apparently began only after her death. Amongst the roles originally created by her were those of Nellie Forbush in South Pacific and Maria in The Sound of Music. It was a laugh." So, it appears that her involvement with the Church of Satan was no more than another photo-shoot. Mary Martin (December 1, 1913 - November 3, 1990) was an American star of (mainly stage) musicals. In an interview, Mansfield said, "He had fallen in love with me and wanted to join my life with his. "In Performance at the White House, A Salute to Broadway" (1988) Television.

Mansfield, who made no secret of her many affairs, denied being intimate with LaVey and no associate of hers ever confirmed any such romance. "Legends!" (1986) National Tour. According to Jayne's press agent, Ray Strait, "The biggest backfire of a press stunt that she ever pulled." LaVey was apparently smitten with the actress, who was not interested. "Irving Berlin's America" (1986) Television. The truth apparently is that a meeting between Mansfield and LaVey was arranged as a publicity stunt. "The Sound of American Music: Rodgers and Hammerstein" (1985) Television. Some allege that she became involved with the International Church Of Satan, founded in 1966 by Anton LaVey, and that she had an affair with LaVey. "Over Easy" (1981-1983, PBS, Host) Television.

Cimber took over the management of her career during their brief marriage. "Beverly Sills Farewell" (1981) Television. When her marriage to Hargitay broke up, she married Matt Cimber, who had directed her in a stage production of Bus Stop in Yonkers, New York. "Standing Room Only: Showstoppers" (1980) Television. It is said that she turned down the role of Ginger Grant in the TV sitcom Gilligan's Island. "Valentine" (1979) Television/Film. She appeared in low-budget productions, mostly in Europe, often opposite Hargitay. "Bing Crosby, His Life and Legend" (1978) Television.

Despite the monumental publicity she received as a sex symbol, by the mid-1960s her movie career was in steep decline. "Do You Turn Sommersaults?" (1977) Broadway and Tour. She did a number of guest spots on television, which included cameo appearances on The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Jack Benny Show, The Steve Allen Show and Burke's Law. "Together On Broadway" with Ethel Merman (1977). Mansfield also headlined in Las Vegas with her own nightclub act, toured military bases with Bob Hope for the USO and released a live album titled Jayne Mansfield Busts Up Las Vegas. "Jack Paar Special" (1972) Television. In 2002, he sold it for about $4,000,000 to developers and it was torn down in November of that year. "Mary Martin at Eastertime" (1966) Television.

Singer Engelbert Humperdinck bought the Pink Palace in the 1970s. "I Do! I Do!" (1966) Broadway, National Tour. Mansfield turned it into her famous "Pink Palace." It was painted pink, had pink decorations, a bed with heart-shaped canopy and marble cupids above the bedstead that was surrounded by pink fluorescent lights, pink fur on the floors of the bathrooms, a pink heart-shaped bathtub, a fountain spurting pink champagne, and a large pink heart-shaped swimming pool, hand-built by Hargitay. "Mary Martin, Hello Dolly 'Round the World" (1966) Television. After they married, she and Hargitay bought a 40-room Mediterranean-style mansion formerly owned by Rudy Vallee at 10100 Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills for $75,000. "Hello Dolly" (1965) Tour, London. "You are so beautiful," she said to the Queen, who replied, "So are you.". "Jennie" (1963) Broadway.

She was presented to Queen Elizabeth on November 4. "Bing Crosby Christmas Show" (1962) Television. In October 1957, Mansfield went on a sixteen country tour of Europe for 20th Century Fox. "Peter Pan" (1960) Television. Jayne-Marie was a Playboy centerfold in July 1976; and Mariska has become an actress with a list of movie and TV credits that would undoubtedly make her mother proud. "Music with Mary Martin" (1959) Television. But Hargitay apparently never questioned the girl's paternity and raised her as his own. "Magic with Mary Martin" (1959) Television.

Actor Nelson Sardelli claims to have fathered Mariska. "The Sound of Music" (1959) Maria. One biographer quotes Jayne as saying that Paul was not Jayne-Marie's father, but that she married him rather than getting an abortion as she was personally opposed to it. "Annie Get Your Gun" (1957) Television. She and Paul had one child, Jayne-Marie Mansfield (born November 8, 1950); she and Mickey had three children, Miklós Jeffrey Hargitay (born December 21, 1958), Zoltan Anthony Hargitay (born August 1, 1960) and Mariska Magdolina Hargitay (born January 24, 1964); and she and Matt had one child, Antonio Raphael Ottaviano Cimber (or Anthony Richard) (born October 18, 1965). "Peter Pan" (1956) Television. Mansfield had three husbands, Paul Mansfield (married May 10, 1950-divorced 1958), actor and bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay (married January 13, 1958-divorced 1964) and director Matt Cimber (married September 24, 1964-divorced 1966). "Hallmark Hall of Fame, Born Yesterday" (1956) Television.

Mansfield and Hargitay were married the same day her divorce became final. "Ford Star Jubilee: Together With Music" (1955) Television. Hargitay, however, showed up early, to quit prior to being fired, and got into a fight with another strong man in the act, who gave Hargitay a black eye. "Peter Pan" (1955) Television. West angrily held a press conference on June 6, 1956, to announce Hargitay's dismissal. "The Skin of Our Teeth" (1955) Broadway, Washington, DC, Paris. Universe of 1955, Mickey Hargitay, who was then in a nightclub act starring Mae West and married himself. "Person to Person" (1954) Television.

Her marriage to Paul faltered when she began a romance with muscleman and Mr. "General Foods 25th Anniversary Show" (1954) Television. Mansfield, Monroe and Mamie Van Doren were sometimes referred to as the "3 M's.". "Peter Pan" (1954) Broadway. She was invariably compared, usually with disfavor, to Marilyn Monroe, the most famous blonde sex symbol of the era. "Main Street to Broadway" (1953) Film. She would play similar roles throughout the remainder of her career. "Ford 50th Anniversary Show" (1953) Television.

But she became mired in the breathless, prototypical dumb blonde with sexy high-pitched squeals and was rarely able to shake the stereotype. "Kind Sir" (1953) Broadway. She formed Jayne Mansfield Productions. "America Applauds: An Evening for Richard Rodgers" (1951) Television. And she won a Golden Laurel in 1959 for Top Female Musical Performance for the comedy Western The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw (1958). "South Pacific" (1949) Nellie Forbush. Mansfield won a Golden Globe in 1957 for Most Promising Newcomer - Female, along with Carroll Baker and Natalie Wood. "Annie Get Your Gun" (1947) National Tour.

After a couple more movies, she reprised her role of Rita Marlowe in the 1957 movie version of Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? co-starring Tony Randall. "Night and Day" (1946) Film. And on May 3, 1956, she signed a long-term contract with 20th Century Fox. "Lute Song" (1946) Broadway. Back on the West Coast, she appeared on TV game shows and played her scene-stealing role of Jerri Jordan in the movie The Girl Can't Help It (1956). "Pacific 1860" (1946) London. The part brought her a great deal of attention and she rode the waves of stardom on "The Great White Way." She received the Theatre World Award of 1956 for her performance. "One Touch of Venus" (1943) Broadway and Tour.

Wearing only a towel, she would rise to answer the telephone, flaunting as much of her big breasted, voluptuous physique as she could. "True to Life" (1943) Film. After two more movies at Warners, she went to New York and starred in the role of siren Rita Marlowe in the Broadway production of George Axelrod's comedy Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter (1955). "Happy Go Lucky" (1943) Film. In February 1955, Mansfield was "Playmate of the Month" in Playboy, a men's magazine she would pose for several times over the ensuing years. "Star Spangled Rhythm" (1942) Film. In January 1955, she was part of a publicity drive for Howard Hughes' RKO movie Underwater! starring Jane Russell. "Birth of the Blues" (1941) Film.

and did a small role in Pete Kelly's Blues starring Jack Webb, which brought her favorable attention. "New York Town" (1941) Film. She then went to Warner Bros. "Kiss the Boys Goodbye" (1941) Film. She had a small role in The Female Jungle (1955). "Love Thy Neighbor" (1940) Film. Her movie career started with bit parts. "Rhythm on the River" (1940) Film.

She was rumored to have gotten her first TV job by slipping a note to the producer that read "36, 22, 35.". "The Great Victor Herbert" (1939) Film. She was always willing to make appearances and do practically anything for publicity. "Leave It To Me" (1938) Broadway. The only title she ever turned down was "Miss Roquefort Cheese," because she believed that it "just didn't sound right." For her efforts, she was rewarded with walk-ons on television. She won several more beauty contests.

With tunnel vision, Mansfield wanted to be a movie star. While attending the University of Texas, she won several beauty contests, with titles that included "Miss Photoflash," "Miss Magnesium Lamp" and "Miss Fire Prevention Week." In 1954, they moved to Los Angeles and she studied dramatics at UCLA. She studied dramatics at Southern Methodist University and the University of Texas. Then, at seventeen, she married her first husband, Paul Mansfield, and moved to Austin.

Jayne attended Highland Park High School in Dallas. After discovering fan magazines, she cut out the glamorous photographs of movie stars and hung them in her bedroom. She also enjoyed singing, and would give enthusiastic performances. Jayne could play the violin by the time she was seven, and would stand in the driveway of her home playing for passersby.

In 1939, Vera married Harry Lawrence "Tex" Peers (1916-1997), and the family moved to Dallas, Texas. After his death, Jayne's mother worked as a school teacher to support them. When Jayne was three years old, her father, a lawyer, suddenly died of a heart attack. The maiden name of Jayne's maternal grandmother was Jeffrey.

It is not clear if her parents, both Palmers, were distant cousins. She was born Vera Jane Palmer in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, the only child of Herbert William Palmer (1904-1936) and Vera Jeffrey Palmer (1903-2000). Jayne Mansfield (April 19, 1933 – June 29, 1967) was an American actress and sex symbol. Single Room Furnished (1968) (Crown International Pictures) ... Johnnie/Mae/Eileen.

Girl with Harold, Technical Adviser. A Guide for the Married Man (1967) (20th Century Fox) .. Tawny. The Las Vegas Hillbillys (1966) (Woolner Brosthers Pictures) ..

Junior. The Fat Spy (1965) (Magna Pictures Distribution) .. aka Primitive Love (USA) (1966). Jayne Mansfield (herself) ..

L' Amore primitivo (1964) Language: Italian .. Angela. Panic Button (1964) (Gorton Associates) .. Darlene.

Dog Eat Dog (1964) (Ajay Film Company) .. aka Stag Party (International English title). Herrenpartie (1964) Language: German, Serbo-Croation .. Sandy Brooks.

Promises! Promises! (1963) (Noonan-Taylor Production) .. Pauli (USA). aka Homesick for St. Evelyne ..

Pauli (1963) Language: German .. Heimweh nach St. Eleni Costa. It Happened in Athens (1962) (20th Century Fox) ..