Mariska Hargitay was born in 1964 in Los Angeles to Mickey Hargitay and Jayne Mansfield. Hargitay’s parents were also performers, and she went on to become one of Hollywood’s top actresses.
Her father, Mickey Hargitay, was born in Budapest and fled to the United States to avoid being deployed to the Nazi war, landing in Indianapolis. His earliest professions were as a constructor and a nightclub performer.
He met his first wife, Mary Birge, during one of these acts. He strolled into a gym one day and, to to the surprise of the gym owner, raised a 215lb bar above his head.
He subsequently launched a bodybuilding career, winning the titles of Mr. Indianapolis and Mr. Eatern America. He rose through the ranks to win Mr. Universe in 1955. Mickey’s superb features and figure propelled him to the cover of fitness magazines.
He worked hard to popularize bodybuilding, which was previously regarded as abnormal. After divorcing his wife, Mickey married Jayne Mansfield, the blonde sex icon, and launched an acting career.
The pair starred in a number of films together, including “Primitive Love,” “Promises! Promises!” and “The Loves of Hercules.” Their marriage, however, dissolved in 1964.
Mickey continued to perform in films such as “Bloody Pit of Horror” and “Slaughter on Tenth Avenue.” Despite changing careers to become a real estate investor and builder, his work influenced many.
Arnold Schwarzenegger regards him as a role model since he set the path for many bodybuilders who came after him. In the 1980 film “The Jayne Mansfield Story,” Arnold Schwarzenegger portrayed him. In 2006, Mickey died.
Jayne Mansfield, on the other hand, began her cinematic career in 1955 with a supporting role in “Female Jungle.” A year later, she received her first leading part in “The Girl Can’t Help It.”
The actress rose through the ranks of Hollywood, acting in films such as “Too Hot To Handle,” “Illegal,” and “The Burglar.”
She had 2 kids with Mickey, one of which was Hargitay, however she died in a vehicle accident three years after their divorce. Little Hargitay, who was only three years old at the time, was in the automobile that murdered her mother.
Hargitay’s life was altered by her exposure to such suffering at such a young age. The actress claims that suffering with loss has taught her to enjoy life more.
Despite the fact that the tragedy left her “frozen,” Hargitay believes she’s learned life’s most significant lessons and grown to channel her grief in productive ways as a result of it.
