Mickey Hargitay

Born: 1926-01-06

Birthplace: Budapest, Kingdom of Hungary [now Hungary]

Biography

Miklós Károly "Mickey" Hargitay (January 6, 1926 – September 14, 2006) was a Hungarian-American actor and bodybuilder.

Born in Budapest, Hargitay immigrated to the United States at age 21 in 1947. Known as "Mickey", he eventually became a naturalized American citizen. He became known as a competitive bodybuilder, helping to popularize the sport and winning Mr. Universe in 1955. His bodybuilding gave him an entree to acting. In 1958, Hargitay married actress Jayne Mansfield. Hargitay and Mansfield made four movies together: Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957), The Loves of Hercules (1960), Promises! Promises! (1963), and Primitive Love (1964).

Hargitay and Mansfield had two children. Hargitay also raised Mansfield's daughter, actress Mariska Hargitay, as his own, although she is the biological daughter of Nelson Sardelli.