Biography for
Mickey Hargitay More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

6 January 1926, Budapest, Hungary

Date of Death

14 September 2006, Los Angeles, California, USA, (multiple myeloma)

Birth Name

Miklós Hargitay

Height

6' (1.83 m)

Spouse

Ellen Siano	(14 April 1967 - 14 September 2006) (his death)
Jayne Mansfield	(13 January 1958 - 26 August 1964) (divorced) 3 children
Mary Birge	(? - 6 September 1956) (divorced) 1 child

Trivia

Member of ensemble cast of Mae West's stage show.

After ex-wife Jayne Mansfield's death, Mickey arranged to have a heart-shaped headstone erected for her at her place of burial.

Inspired to body-build after seeing a magazine cover of Steve Reeves ("Hercules"), Mickey won the "Mr. Universe" competition in 1955 and later appeared as Hercules himself in the Italian film "The Loves of Hercules" co-starring his then-wife, Jayne Mansfield.

While Mickey was posing in Mae West's popular revue at New York's Latin Quarter, Jayne Mansfield happened to catch the show. When her dinner companion asked her what she wanted that evening, she quipped, "I'll have a steak and the man on the left." The elderly Ms. West, never to be outdone in the vanity department, tried to break up the attention-grabbing couple but failed. They married two years later in what would become one of the most publicized marriages in Hollywood history.

Mansfield initally divorced Hargitay on 1 May 1963; she divorced him again in Juarez, Mexico. On 26 August 1964, the California Superior Court recognized the Mexican divorce pronouncement.

First recipient of the Joe Weider Lifetime Achievement Award. [1999]

His career began when Mae West noticed him on the October 1953 cover of Strength and Health Magazine and made him a member of her muscleman night-club act.

Fled Hungary in 1947 to escape the compulsory Soviet military draft.

He sued Mansfield's estate in September, 1967 for over $275,000 to support their 3 children; in their 1964 divorce decree, Mansfield agreed to pay child alimony.

Worked as a plumber and carpenter before his big break. He remodeled much of his and Jayne Mansfield's Beverly Hills mansion, The Pink Palace, including building its famous heart-shaped pool. In Nov 2002 the house was razed by it current owner.

Son 'Zoltán Hargitay' was critically injured by a "tame" lion while visiting the Jungleland Zoo in the San Fernando Valley, but made a full recovery (December 1966).

Father with Mansfield of: sons Mickey Hargitay Jr., Zoltan Hargitay , and daughter Mariska Hargitay. He also has a daughter, Tina (b. 1949), by his first wife, Mary Birge.

Former stepfather of Jayne Marie Mansfield. Grandfather of August Miklos Friedrich Hermann (Mariska's son).

Did not begin bodybuilding until arriving in the U.S. in 1947. He did much to change the concept of the art, once thought of as freakish and discouraged by athletic coaches. It was also dominated by American champions until Hargitay won his 1955 titles.

Later became a successful real estate investor and contractor.

His father was extremely athletic and brought up his sons to become athletes. The family had an acrobatic act that they performed in the large opera houses throughout Hungary.

A one-time exceptional soccer player and former European speed-skating champion.

Walked into an Indianapolis gym one day in 1947 never having lifted weights before and astounded the owner when he was capable of lifting 215 pounds over his 180 pound frame.

Performed an adagio act with Mary, his first wife, in nightclubs.

Hosted a TV exercise show in 1959.

Was given the Muscle Beach Hall of Fame Award from the Muscle Beach Historical Committee in May 2006.

In addition to his four children he was survived by brother Eddie, sister Eva, ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Appeared on daughter Mariska Hargitay's TV program "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999) in 2003.

Was inspired to take up bodybuilding after seeing famed bodybuilder Steve Reeves on a magazine cover. Both men later portrayed "Hercules" for Italian cinema.

Is the Godfather of actor Eddie Hargitay.

Father-in-law of Peter Hermann. Former father-in-law of Dana Hargitay.

Mickey was declared to be Jayne Mansfield's official widower after a court ruled her divorce from him was void.

Personal Quotes

I enjoyed my career. I never wanted to be any more than what I was, and I had fun doing it.

[Referring to Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957)] "Jayne went to California to do the film. And they said, 'You know who is going to play her boyfriend?' I said 'No, who?', and they said 'You'".

Where Are They Now

(1980) His son Mickey opened Mickey Hargitay Plants, a nursery/landscaping service.