Jayne Mansfield: The Life and Tragic Death of a Hollywood Star

Jayne Mansfield, circa 1958. Photo credit: The Hollywood Archive

Jayne Mansfield was a talented actress and performer who achieved great success during her career in Hollywood. However, her life was also marked by tragedy and controversy, culminating in her untimely death at the age of 34. Despite the brevity of her life, Mansfield left an indelible mark on Hollywood and popular culture.

Born Vera Jayne Palmer on April 19, 1933, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, Mansfield grew up in a family of modest means. She attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, where she studied drama and worked as a model to pay her tuition. In 1954, Mansfield moved to Los Angeles and began her career in entertainment.

Mansfield’s initial forays into acting included bit parts in films such as “Female Jungle” (1956) and “Pete Kelly’s Blues” (1955), but she quickly landed her breakthrough role in the Broadway production of “Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?” (1955). Her performance as the sultry Rita Marlowe caught the attention of Hollywood, and Mansfield was soon offered a contract with 20th Century Fox.

Mansfield’s success in Hollywood was immediate. She starred in a series of hit films, including “The Girl Can’t Help It” (1956), “Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?” (1957), and “The Wayward Bus” (1957). Mansfield’s beauty, talent, and charisma made her a beloved figure among audiences, and she quickly became one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood.

In addition to her acting career, Mansfield was also a talented singer and performer. She released several albums, including “Jayne Mansfield Busts Up Las Vegas” (1958) and “Shakespeare, Tchaikovsky, and Me” (1959). She also performed in nightclubs and on television variety shows, showcasing her skills as a dancer and comedian.

Aside from her acting success, Mansfield’s personal life was marked by controversy and scandal. She was married three times and had five children, including actress Mariska Hargitay. Mansfield was also known for her alleged affairs with high-profile men, including Robert Kennedy and John F. Kennedy.

Mansfield’s provocative persona and willingness to push boundaries also made her a controversial figure. Jayne Mansfield’s association with Playboy magazine began in 1955, when she appeared in a pictorial spread in the magazine’s February issue. The photos, which were taken by the legendary pin-up photographer, Bunny Yeager, were a huge hit with readers and helped to establish Mansfield as one of the era’s leading sex symbols.

Mansfield went on to appear in several more Playboy pictorials throughout her career, including a memorable 1963 spread in which she posed alongside a live tiger. Her appearances in the magazine helped to cement her status as one of the most desirable women of her time.

Despite the controversies surrounding her, Mansfield was also known for her philanthropic work and activism. She was an advocate for animal rights and supported a number of charities, including the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the March of Dimes.

Mansfield, seemed to be on top of the world, when tragedy struck. On the evening of June 29, 1967, Mansfield was on her way to New Orleans for a television interview with WDSU-TV. She was traveling in a car with her boyfriend, Sam Brody, her driver, Ronnie Harrison, and her three children: Miklós, Zoltán, and Mariska.

The car was driving down a stretch of highway near Slidell, Louisiana, when it slammed into the back of a slow-moving tractor-trailer that had stopped on the road due to a mosquito fogger. The impact of the crash caused the top of the car to be sheared off, killing Mansfield, Brody, and Harrison instantly.

Mansfield’s children, who were in the backseat, miraculously survived the crash with only minor injuries. According to reports, Mariska Hargitay, who was only three years old at the time, was found sleeping in the backseat, still strapped into her car seat. The crash had been so severe that the car’s engine was found nearly 100 feet away from the wreckage.

The aftermath of Mansfield’s death was marked by controversy and speculation. There were rumors that she had been decapitated in the crash, although this was later proven to be untrue.

In the years following Mansfield’s death, there have been many efforts to memorialize her legacy. One of the most notable is the Jayne Mansfield Memorial in Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania. The memorial was erected in 1967 by local residents who were fans of Mansfield and wanted to honor her memory.

The memorial consists of a statue of Mansfield in a flowing gown, surrounded by a reflecting pool and a landscaped garden. It has become a popular destination for fans of the actress, as well as for tourists who are interested in Hollywood history.

Mansfield’s death was a tragic end to a life that had been marked by both success and controversy. She was mourned by fans and colleagues alike, who remembered her as a talented and vibrant performer. Despite her untimely death, Jayne Mansfield’s legacy continues to live on today. In addition to the memorial in Pen Argyl, Mansfield has also been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She remains a beloved figure in Hollywood and popular culture, remembered for her beauty, talent, and charisma and her impact on the entertainment industry is still felt to this day.