Mariska Hargitay drops shock bombshell about car crash that killed her mother Jayne Mansfield

Actress Mariska Hargitay, known for her role on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, recently disclosed an alarming fresh aspect concerning the calamity that significantly impacted her life during her childhood years.

In the 1950s, Jayne Mansfield was among the most prominent sex symbols, gracing both the silver screen and the pages of Playboy magazine. She made history as the initial actress to appear nude on-screen in an American film since the introduction of talking pictures with her movie “Promises! Promises!”.

Jayne’s profession, marked by its spicy allure, mirrored a tumultuous private existence, characterized by a heavy alcohol addiction and romantic entanglements with influential figures like John F. Kennedy.

At the tender age of 34, she met a heartbreaking fate in a horrific car crash. Three of her kids, among them three-year-old Mariska, were in the vehicle at the time.

Currently, Mariska, who is now 61 years old, recently unveiled a documentary titled “My Mom Jayne.” This production had its premiere at the Tribeca Festival last week, and it includes an unexpected revelation concerning a past accident.

As I reflect on the film, it strikes me that Mariska’s family recalled being rescued from the wreckage and safely transported elsewhere, but it wasn’t until much later they discovered that poor Mariska was left behind – a detail reported by People magazine.

Mariska learns from her brother, Zoltan, that at first Jayne was seated in the back of the vehicle, but during an argument, she switched places with her boyfriend, Sam Brody, and sat up front instead.

In the back of the Buick Electra, the kids managed to stay asleep during the accident that claimed the lives of Jayne, Sam, and driver Ronald Harrison.

Zoltan frequently ponders why she chose not to remain in the backseat with us, but I recall her reassuring me, saying I would be alright. Then, about twenty minutes or so later, I distinctly remember hearing her give a terrifying scream, and that was the end of it.

At the time of the accident, when Zoltan was almost seven years old, he recalled chilling memories, saying, “It seemed as if my body wasn’t responding due to the blood covering me everywhere.

After some grown-ups saved Zoltan and his younger brother Mickey Jr., it became clear to Zoltan that Mariska wasn’t among those rescued once they had been taken away from the incident.

Ellen Hargitay, their stepmother, shared that when Mariska was ultimately discovered in the vehicle, she had sustained a head injury and was trapped beneath one of the passenger seats.

I, Mariska, was born to Jayne while she was wedded to my stepfather, Mickey Hargitay. After tragically losing my mother at a young age, it was Mickey who took on the role of raising me.

In the captivating documentary, I learned an astonishing revelation – my biological father is none other than Nelson Sardelli, a vibrant man well into his nineties.

Despite my fame, my film performances often took a backseat to my tumultuous love life. This whirlwind romance led me through three unsuccessful marriages, one of which was to Mickey Hargitay, the charismatic Hungarian Mr. Universe winner from 1955. In first-person perspective, I found myself caught in the thrill and chaos of these relationships.

A year down the line, Jayne spotted Mickey assisting in Mae West’s nightclub performance, and she instructed the server: “I’d like a steak and the gentleman on the left, please.

In 1958, they got married, with Jayne donning a shimmering pink bridal gown, followed by his immediate appearances in her films such as ‘Primitive Love’ and ‘The Loves of Hercules’.

Or,

They tied the knot in 1958. On that special day, Jayne chose a stunning pink sequin wedding dress, and he soon started featuring in her movies including ‘Primitive Love’ and ‘The Loves Of Hercules’.

Behind closed doors, their marriage was notoriously stormy, often stirred up by Jayne’s affair with the Italian producer Enrico Bomba, a scandal that made its way into the news.

It wasn’t until Jayne found out she was carrying Mariska that she and Mickey had previously finalized their speedy divorce in Juarez, Mexico.

To prevent the shame associated with having a child before marriage, Jayne and Mickey temporarily maintained the facade of being married in America. However, after their daughter Mariska’s birth, Mickey went on to legally finalize their Mexican divorce through a California court.

Over time, Jayne’s professional path took a downward turn, and her private life became marked by a third divorce and a progression towards alcohol dependency.

Over time, she was relegated to performing at nightclubs, a significant fall from grace for the woman who was once known as the “working man’s equivalent of Marilyn Monroe.” In an attempt to generate attention, she engaged in provocative incidents like wardrobe mishaps and became involved in heated, alcohol-fueled fights in public.

Following the heartbreaking passing of Jayne, Mariska took up residence with Mickey. He offered her a steady home environment until she embarked on her own acting career, culminating in her iconic part on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

She shared with Glamour her thoughts about learning about crises at a young age, following the death of her mother: “I discovered early on that life can be unpredictable, and nothing is ever guaranteed. Yet, despite these challenges, one must persevere, and eventually, we find ways to grow and change from them.

She stated: ‘My unique ability has been shaped by experiences from my early life trauma. Over the past 54 years, approximately since I was 1, I’ve largely focused on understanding those events, their reasons, and determining my purpose in dealing with them.’

Mariska reminisced: ‘For much of my childhood, I found myself in an icy environment, struggling just to exist, truly struggling to survive. My journey has been about peeling back the layers, learning to trust, and then trusting once more.’

Read More

2025-06-18 03:35