When we talk about the legendary Jayne Mansfield, usually it’s about the hair, the curves, or the "Pink Palace." But honestly? Her love life was just as intense as her movie career. If you’re wondering who was jayne mansfield married to, the answer isn't just one name—it was three very different men who shaped her world, from her high school days to the peak of her fame and the rough years at the end.
She wasn't just a "blonde bombshell" in a vacuum. She was a woman who was constantly looking for a partner to share her massive ambitions with, even if that meant some pretty messy public divorces along the way.
The First Husband: Paul Mansfield
Basically, the "Mansfield" name that everyone knows? That came from her first husband, Paul Mansfield. They were just kids, honestly. Jayne was only 17 when they got married on May 6, 1950. It was a bit of a whirlwind—they’d met in high school and she was pregnant pretty quickly with their daughter, Jayne Marie.
Paul wasn't a Hollywood guy. He was a PR professional and a student. They both enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin to study acting, but things got complicated when Paul was drafted to serve in the Korean War. While he was away, Jayne didn't just sit around. She started winning beauty contests and pushing for a career in show business.
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By the time they moved to Los Angeles in 1954, the marriage was already on thin ice. Paul wasn't thrilled about the "sexy" direction her career was taking. When she started getting roles and posing for Playboy, it was pretty much over. They officially divorced in 1958, but the name stuck forever.
The Mr. Universe Era: Mickey Hargitay
If you’ve ever seen photos of Jayne Mansfield with a massive, muscular man who looks like he walked off a Greek statue, that’s Mickey Hargitay. He was Mr. Universe 1955, and their meeting is the stuff of Hollywood legend.
The story goes that Jayne was at a Mae West show where Mickey was one of the "musclemen" on stage. When the waiter asked for her order, she famously pointed at him and said, "I'll have a steak and that tall man on the left."
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They were the ultimate "power couple" of the late 1950s. They married on January 13, 1958, in a glass chapel in Palos Verdes where fans could literally watch from outside. Mickey was more than just a husband; he was her builder. He helped create the famous Pink Palace on Sunset Boulevard, even tiling "I love you Jaynie" in gold leaf at the bottom of their heart-shaped swimming pool.
Together, they had three children:
- Miklós (Mickey Jr.)
- Zoltan
- Mariska (the future Law & Order: SVU star)
Interestingly, Mariska Hargitay recently revealed in 2025 that Mickey wasn't her biological father—Italian singer Nelson Sardelli was. But Mickey raised her as his own and stayed incredibly close to the family until the very end. The Jayne and Mickey era was the peak of her life, even though they finally divorced in 1964 after years of making movies together and living in a literal "powder box" mansion.
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The Final Marriage: Matt Cimber
The third and final man was Matt Cimber (also known as Thomas Vitale Ottaviano). He was a director, and honestly, this marriage happened right as Jayne’s career was starting to slide. They married in September 1964 and had one son, Antonio (Tony) Cimber.
This wasn't a happy time. The 1960s were changing, and the "blonde bombshell" look was going out of style. Matt tried to manage her career, putting her in stage shows they produced together, but the spark wasn't there like it was with Mickey. They separated in 1965, and by the time Jayne tragically died in that car accident in 1967, she was in the middle of a messy legal battle with him while being involved with her lawyer, Sam Brody.
Actionable Insights: Understanding the Legacy
If you're digging into the history of Jayne Mansfield, keep these points in mind:
- The Name is a Brand: She kept her first husband's name because she thought it had "star quality," showing she was business-minded from the start.
- The Mickey Impact: If you want to see them on screen together, look for The Loves of Hercules or Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (where he has a cameo).
- Family Ties: Despite the three marriages, her children remained a unit. Mickey Hargitay ended up being the legal guardian for his three children with Jayne, providing a stable home after she passed away.
The men in Jayne Mansfield's life were a reflection of her different eras: the girl next door, the global superstar, and the woman trying to find her footing in a changing world.