Jayne Mansfield Car Accident, How Did Jayne Mansfield Die?
by Mathelene | Updated May 31, 2023
Who is Jayne Mansfield?
Jayne Mansfield was an American actress, singer, and model who was born on April 19, 1933, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. She became known for her glamorous image, hourglass figure, and distinctive blonde hair. Mansfield rose to fame in the 1950s and 1960s as one of Hollywood's biggest sex symbols, often compared to Marilyn Monroe.
After studying drama at Southern Methodist University, Mansfield began her career in the entertainment industry as a nightclub performer and model. She gained attention for her appearances in men's magazines, such as Playboy, and quickly transitioned to acting. Mansfield made her film debut in the 1955 film "Female Jungle" and went on to star in numerous movies throughout her career.
Some of her notable film roles include "The Girl Can't Help It" (1956), "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?" (1957), "The Wayward Bus" (1957), and "Promises! Promises!" (1963). Mansfield was known for her comedic timing and exuberant personality on-screen. While she achieved success as an actress, her film career declined in the 1960s, partly due to the changing trends in Hollywood and the rise of new actresses.
In addition to her acting career, Mansfield pursued a singing career and released several singles and albums. She also appeared in stage productions, including the Broadway play "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?" and various nightclub acts. Outside of her professional life, Mansfield's personal life garnered media attention.
She was married three times, first to Paul Mansfield, with whom she had a daughter named Jayne Marie. Her second marriage was to Mickey Hargitay, with whom she had three children: Miklós Jr., Zoltan, and Mariska, who later became a successful actress known for her role on the TV series "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." Mansfield's third marriage was to Matt Cimber.
Tragically, Jayne Mansfield's life was cut short when she died in a car accident on June 29, 1967, at the age of 34. The accident occurred in Louisiana, and Mansfield, along with her boyfriend Sam Brody and their driver, Ronnie Harrison, were killed in the collision. Mansfield's legacy continues to be remembered for her contributions to Hollywood and her iconic status as a sex symbol of the era.
Jayne Mansfield Car Accident
On June 29, 1967, in the early hours of the morning, Jayne Mansfield, along with three of her children and actress Mariska Hargitay, was involved in a fatal car accident. Mansfield was traveling in a Buick Electra car when it collided with the rear of a semi-truck on a dark highway in Louisiana.
The accident occurred at approximately 2 AM when Mansfield's car, carrying her and the three adults in the front seat, struck the back of the semi-truck. The impact of the collision was so severe that it sheared off the top of the car, resulting in the immediate deaths of Mansfield, her boyfriend Sam Brody (who was also her attorney and companion), and their driver Ronnie Harrison.
However, the three children who were asleep in the back seat miraculously survived the accident. Among them was Mariska Hargitay, who would later become a well-known actress herself. Although the car was severely damaged, the children sustained only minor injuries.
The tragedy sparked numerous rumors and speculation, fueled by the shocking images of the mangled car with its top sheared off. False rumors emerged, including claims that Mansfield was decapitated in the accident. However, these rumors were debunked, and the official cause of Mansfield's death was reported as severe head trauma.
This devastating accident cut short the life of Jayne Mansfield, a renowned actress and sex symbol of the time. It left a lasting impact on her family and fans, who mourned the loss of her vibrant presence in the entertainment industry.
How Did Jayne Mansfield Die?
In 1967, Jayne Mansfield traveled to Biloxi, Mississippi, for a performance at the Gus Stevens Supper Club. After her engagements on the evening of June 28, Mansfield, accompanied by her attorney and companion Sam Brody, their driver Ronnie Harrison, and her three children, embarked on a journey from Biloxi to New Orleans in a 1966 Buick Electra 225. They were headed to Mansfield's appearance on WDSU's Midday Show the next day.
Around 2:25 a.m. on June 29, while traveling on U.S. Highway 90, approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) west of the Rigolets Bridge, the Buick collided at high speed with the rear of a 'Johnson' tractor-trailer driven by Mr. Rambo. The tractor-trailer had slowed down due to an insecticide fog-spraying truck with a flashing red light approaching from the opposite direction. Mansfield, Brody, and Harrison died instantly in the front seat, while the children, who were sleeping in the back seat, survived with minor injuries.
Contrary to rumors, Mansfield was not decapitated, although she did sustain severe head trauma. The myth of decapitation originated from police photographs of the crash, showing the car with its top virtually torn off and what appeared to be a blonde-haired head tangled in the shattered windshield.
However, Mansfield's death certificate clearly states that her immediate cause of death was a "crushed skull with avulsion of cranium and brain," refuting the notion of decapitation. The true identity of the object resembling a head in the photographs remains debated, speculated to be either a wig she was wearing or carrying, the top portion of her real hair and scalp, or something else entirely.
Following her death, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommended the implementation of underride guards, known as "Mansfield bars" or "ICC bumpers," on all tractor-trailers to prevent similar accidents. Mansfield's funeral took place on July 3 in Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, with a private service held at the chapel of the Pullis Funeral Home. She was interred in Fairview Cemetery beside her father.
In 1968, wrongful-death lawsuits were filed on behalf of Mansfield's daughter, Jayne Marie Mansfield, and her then-husband, Matt Cimber. The death car was preserved by a private collector in Florida and became a roadside attraction in the 1970s. Currently owned by Scott Michaels, it is displayed at his Dearly Departed Tours & Artifact Museum in Los Angeles, located across from the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
Jayne Mansfield Children
Jayne Mansfield had a daughter from her first marriage to Paul Mansfield, who was a public relations professional. Additionally, from her second marriage to actor and bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay, she was the mother of three children. The names of their children were Miklós, Zoltán, and Mariska.
Mariska Hargitay later became a well-known actress, recognized for her role on the television series "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." Mansfield had a son with her third husband, Matt Cimber, who was a film director. Although specific details about their son are not provided, it is known that Mansfield had a child during her marriage to Cimber.
Jayne Mansfield Children - FAQs
Jayne Mansfield was born on April 19, 1933, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, United States.
Jayne Mansfield had three marriages throughout her life.
Jayne Mansfield tragically died in a car accident on June 29, 1967.