Jayne Mansfield had a tragically brief life, as it was cut short by a car accident in 1967. She was the mother of Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay. Jayne was often compared to Marilyn Monroe, as they shared similar features and took acting roles which were often meant for blonde bombshell beauties. Jayne Mansfield was married three times and had several children, including Mariska.
A Bit About Jayne
Jayne Mansfield was born in 1933 in Pennsylvania. She was a talented musician at a young age, playing both the piano and the violin. She was married to her first husband very young, then went on to marry two more times. Her second marriage to Mickey Hargitay produced three children, including Mariska.
Jayne was not only known for her acting roles, but she was also a singer and a dancer. A few of her movies, which she’ll be remembered for, are It Takes a Thief, The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw, Kiss Them for Me, and Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? She played opposite some big names in Hollywood, including Cary Grant, Tony Randall, and Joan Collins.
Jayne Mansfield also had a fairly successful career playing in clubs around the US. Sadly, she met her fate when traveling from her club act in Biloxi, Mississippi, to Louisiana to be on television the next day. The car in which she was traveling rear-ended a large semi truck during the early hours of June 29, 1967. Both her boyfriend and her driver were killed instantly, along with Jayne. Because of this accident, an extension bar was added onto the back of the semi-truck trailers to prevent cars from going underneath. They are informally referred to as Mansfield bars.
The Legacy of Jayne Mansfield
Jayne Mansfield has inspired different musical groups to write songs about her. One of the most famous ones is “The Ballad of Jayne” by LA Guns, popular in the early 1990s. Additionally, a promotional product, a 22-inch tall hot water bottle, was made in honor of her. They are actually collectors’ items today.
Mariska Hargitay’s Project
Jayne’s daughter, Mariska (pronounced Marishka), who was three at the time of her mom‘s death, will be directing and producing a documentary on her mom.
My Mom Jayne is set to be released in June of this year, on HBO Max. Mariska aims to give a deep look into Jayne’s life, so she is not remembered only as a beautiful blonde starlet, but also as a complex person who was loved by many.
Aside from directing episodes of Law & Order: SVU, this will be Mariska‘s directorial debut away from the Dick Wolf series. She is eager to bring her mom‘s story to viewers so more people can understand and celebrate Jayne like her family did.
A Few Final Thoughts
Mariska Hargitay is a phenomenal actress in her own right. From the early days of ER, then onto projects like Prince Street, then ultimately to the Law & Order franchise, she has found her calling in playing a tough detective. We think she’ll be a great detective in discovering everything that her mom, Jayne Mansfield, was all about!
