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Actor Mickey Hargitay dies at age 80
Yahoo - AP ^ | 9/18/06 | SANDY COHEN

Posted on 09/18/2006 7:50:16 PM PDT by Borges

LOS ANGELES - Mickey Hargitay, the actor and world champion bodybuilder who was married to 1950s sex siren Jayne Mansfield and whose daughter is Emmy-winning winning actress Mariska Hargitay, has died. He was 80.

Hargitay died Thursday in Los Angeles, according to a family statement issued Monday through publicist Gary Mantoosh. The cause of death was not released.

"Words cannot express how saddened we are by the loss of Mickey," the statement said. "At the same time, we are so grateful for who he was and is to all of us, and for the love he gave us in our lives. He will continue to be our source of inspiration and strength."

Born Miklos Hargitay in 1926, he emigrated from his native Hungary to the United States after World War II. He became interested in bodybuilding in the 1950s and was named Mr. Universe, Mr. America and Mr. Olympia in 1955.

"My dad's a bit of a superhero," Mariska Hargitay told the National Public Radio show "Fresh Air" last year.

He parlayed his perfect physique into a performing career when Mae West tapped him to be one of the musclemen in her stage show.

It was there that Hargitay met Mansfield, whom he married in 1957. That same year, he made his big-screen debut in "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue." He went on to star opposite his wife in three films: "The Loves of Hercules," "Promises! Promises!" and "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?"

The couple had three children together, including Mariska, before divorcing in 1964. Mansfield died in a car crash in 1967.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who played Hargitay in the 1982 TV movie "The Jayne Mansfield Story," offered his condolences and called Hargitay "a magnificent individual."

"Mickey was such an inspiration and always had such a positive attitude," Schwarzenegger said in a statement. "He was a role model of mine for being a successful immigrant who came to this country and pursued his dreams."

Hargitay's career continued after his divorce with appearances in a half-dozen Italian films and horror flicks. He even guest-starred in a 2003 episode of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," the show in which his daughter Mariska plays a leading role.

When she won an Emmy for her work last month, Mariska tearfully thanked her father, "because he is the reason I'm standing here today."

Besides Mariska, survivors include his wife, Ellen, sons Mickey Jr. and Zoltan, and another daughter, Tina.


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: hollywoodpinglist; jaynemansfield; mariskahargitay; mickeyhargitay; obituary
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To: Borges

Hargitay and Jayne Mansfield, Around the time of their 1958 marriage
21 posted on 09/18/2006 8:46:45 PM PDT by lunarbicep (Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest. - Mark Twain)
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To: Borges

Age 80, dated Jane Mansfield, Mr Universe and America sounds like he had a good long life. Prayers for the family. I never knew Mariska was the daughter of Jane Mansfield. Good genes I guess she can look forward to a long life.


22 posted on 09/18/2006 8:50:33 PM PDT by jakerobins
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To: infowarrior

IIRC, Mariska has no memory of the accident but does have a scar on her head from the crash.


23 posted on 09/18/2006 8:51:22 PM PDT by COEXERJ145 (Free Republic is Currently Suffering a Pandemic of “Bush Derangement Syndrome.”)
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To: annelizly
In the extras on the Season 1 DVD of L&O-SVU, Dann Florek takes the viewers through a tour of the station. He mentions that Mariska keeps a picture of her mother, Jayne Mansfield, on her character's desk.

It is visible in a lot of episodes.

24 posted on 09/18/2006 8:55:52 PM PDT by COEXERJ145 (Free Republic is Currently Suffering a Pandemic of “Bush Derangement Syndrome.”)
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To: SevenofNine

Hey sevenofNine, long time no see. Hope all's well with you. Welcome back...


25 posted on 09/18/2006 8:58:46 PM PDT by Marysecretary (Thank you, Lord, for FOUR MORE YEARS!!!)
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To: Borges

I just read today that the rumor came from the fact her wig was thrown onto the dashboard from the force of the accident.


26 posted on 09/18/2006 9:00:16 PM PDT by Hildy
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To: COEXERJ145

The car crash happened on HWY 90 between Biloxi, MS and New Orleans, La if I remember correctly..


27 posted on 09/18/2006 9:01:09 PM PDT by ThomasPaine2000 (Peace without freedom is tyranny.)
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To: fieldmarshaldj
After reading the article at snopes I don't think "scalped" exactly describes it.
28 posted on 09/18/2006 9:02:26 PM PDT by ItsForTheChildren
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To: mwyounce

It's Hollywood.

He probably changed his name to that.


29 posted on 09/18/2006 9:17:18 PM PDT by El Sordo
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To: ItsForTheChildren

Well, it was the kindest word to use for a family website...


30 posted on 09/18/2006 9:18:29 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (Cheney X -- Destroying the Liberal Democrat Traitors By Any Means Necessary -- Ya Dig ? Sho 'Nuff.)
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To: pissant
Never knew about him. But his offspring sure is a pleasure to look at.

First saw her on ER (before it went all left, all the time). Hubba hubba dooba dooba!

31 posted on 09/18/2006 9:21:25 PM PDT by Christian4Bush ("Ma'am, you don't have to thank us. You just go beat him for us." Soldier to Irey re: Murtha)
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To: Christian4Bush

She looked great with short hair, IMO


32 posted on 09/18/2006 9:22:15 PM PDT by pissant
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To: BunnySlippers
a huge pink Spanish mansion. Still lovely.

It was sold in 2002 and torn down.:(

33 posted on 09/18/2006 9:26:10 PM PDT by DJ MacWoW (If you think you know what's coming next....You don't know Jack.)
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To: Borges

Mickey Hargitay Born Oct 19, 1927 Budapest, Hungary

34 posted on 09/18/2006 9:29:43 PM PDT by restornu ("Fill your minds with truth. Fill your hearts with love. Fill your lives with service."Pres. Monson)
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To: Borges

Jayne Mansfield & Mickey Hargitay - Jayne Mansfield and second husband Mickey Hargitay on the dance floor.

35 posted on 09/18/2006 9:31:43 PM PDT by restornu ("Fill your minds with truth. Fill your hearts with love. Fill your lives with service."Pres. Monson)
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To: BunnySlippers

Where on Sunset? Do you know the cross streets?


36 posted on 09/18/2006 9:34:12 PM PDT by peggybac (Tolerance is the virtue of believing in nothing)
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To: peggybac; BunnySlippers
Where on Sunset? Do you know the cross streets?

10100 Sunset Boulevard, in Beverly Hills.

It was torn down in November 2002. There are some lovely pics at the link.

Nov 9, 2002

37 posted on 09/18/2006 9:41:16 PM PDT by DJ MacWoW (If you think you know what's coming next....You don't know Jack.)
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To: Borges

May he rest in peace. He had what seems a wonderful life.


38 posted on 09/18/2006 9:50:04 PM PDT by EDINVA
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To: Hildy


I would have guessed he was past age 80.


39 posted on 09/18/2006 9:56:27 PM PDT by onyx (1 Billion Muslims -- IF only 10% are radical, that's still 100 Million who want to kill us.)
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To: Borges
Rest in Peace Mickey. The "Crimson Executioner" is no more!
 
 
Mickey Hargitay as Travis Anderson, aka The Crimson Executioner, in Bloody Pit of Horror (1965)

40 posted on 09/18/2006 9:59:01 PM PDT by wolficatZ ("..a creature from the prehistoric past. The terrible, fearsome, Croco-Stimpy! ")
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