Jayne Mansfield

**Jayne Mansfield** (born **Vera Jayne Palmer**; April 19, 1933 – June 29, 1967) was an American actress, singer.

## Early Life

Jayne Mansfield was born Vera Jayne Palmer on April 19, 1933 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, the only child of Herbert William Palmer (1904–1936), of English and German ancestry, and Vera Jeffrey (née Palmer) Palmer (1903–2000), of English and Cornish descent. She inherited more than $90,000 from her maternal grandfather, Thomas ($807,000 in 2020 dollars), and more than $36,000 from her maternal grandmother, Beatrice Mary Palmer, in 1958 ($323,000 in 2020 dollars)

## Career

### Playboy

While attending The University of Texas at Austin, Mansfield won several beauty contests, including Miss Photoflash, Miss Magnesium Lamp, and Miss Fire Prevention Week. By her own account, the only title she refused was Miss Roquefort Cheese, because she believed it "just didn't sound right". Jayne later also rejected "Miss Prime Rib" in 1957. In 1952, while in Dallas, she and Paul Mansfield participated in small local-theater productions of *The Slaves of Demon Rum* and *Ten Nights in a Barroom*, and *Anything Goes* in Camp Gordon, Georgia. After he left for military service, she made her first significant stage appearance in a production of Arthur Miller's *Death of a Salesman* on October 22, 1953, with the players of the Knox Street Theater, headed by Lumet. While at UCLA, she entered the Miss California contest (hiding her marital status), and won the local round before withdrawing.

Early in her career, some advertisers considered her prominent breasts undesirable, which led to her losing her first professional assignment – a commercial for General Electric that depicted young women in bathing suits relaxing around a pool. Emmeline Snively, head of the Blue Book Model Agency, had sent her to photographer Gene Lester, which led to her short-lived assignment in the General Electric commercial. In 1954, she auditioned at both Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. At Paramount, Jayne performed a sketch she had worked out with Lumet from *Joan of Arc* for casting director Milton Lewis. Lewis informed her that she was wasting her "obvious talents" and had her come back a week later to perform the piano scene from *The Seven Year Itch*. Jayne failed to impress but learned she would have to go blonde. She then performed the piano scene for Warner Brothers, but, again, failed to impress. She landed her first acting assignment in *Lux Video Theatre*, a series on CBS in the episode "An Angel Went AWOL", aired on October 21, 1954. In it, she sat at a piano and delivered a few lines of dialogue for $300 ($3,000 in 2020 dollars).

In December 1953, Hugh Hefner began publishing *Playboy*. The magazine became a success, in part, because of early appearances from Mansfield, Marilyn Monroe, Bettie Page, and Anita Ekberg. In February 1955, Mansfield was the *Playboy* Playmate of the Month, and appeared in the magazine several times. Her February appearance increased the magazine's circulation and helped boost Mansfield's career. Shortly afterward, she posed for the *Playboy* calendar, covering her breasts with her hands. *Playboy* featured Mansfield each February from 1955 to 1958, and again in 1960.

In August 1956, Paul Mansfield sought custody of his daughter, alleging that Jayne was an unfit mother because she appeared nude in *Playboy*. In 1964, the magazine repeated the 1955 pictorial. *Playboy* reprinted photos from that pictorial issue, with titles such as December 1965's "The *Playboy* Portfolio of Sex Stars", and January 2000s "Centerfolds of the Century".

### Film

Mansfield's first film part was a supporting role in *Female Jungle*, a low-budget drama completed in ten days. Her part was filmed over a few days, and she was paid $150 ($1,000 in 2020 dollars). It was released unofficially in early 1955. In February 1955, James Byron, her manager and publicist, negotiated a seven-year contract with Warner Brothers, who were intrigued by her publicity antics. The contract initially paid her $250 a week ($2,000 in 2020 dollars) and landed her two films – one with an insignificant role and another unreleased for two years. She filed for separation from Paul Mansfield that January. Mansfield was given bit parts in *Pete Kelly's Blues* (1955), starring Jack Webb, and *Hell on Frisco Bay* (1955), starring Alan Ladd. She acted in one more movie for Warner Brothers – another small but significant role opposite Edward G. Robinson in the courtroom drama *Illegal* (1955).

Mansfield's agent, William Shiffrin, signed her to play fictional film star Rita Marlowe in the Broadway play *Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?* with Orson Bean and Walter Matthau. She accepted the part while working in producer Louis W. Kellman's *The Burglar* (1957), director Paul Wendkos's film adaptation of David Goodis' novel, made in film noir style. Mansfield appeared alongside Dan Duryea and Martha Vickers. It was released two years later, when Mansfield's fame was at its peak. She was successful in this straight dramatic role, though most of her subsequent film appearances were comedic or capitalized on her sex appeal. It was Kellman's first major venture, and he claimed to have "discovered" Mansfield. She was announced for *Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?* in mid-July 1955 and was dropped by Warner Brothers on July 31.Twentieth Century-Fox signed Mansfield to a six-year contract on May 3, 1956, in its New York office to mold her as a successor to the increasingly difficult Marilyn Monroe, their resident blonde sex symbol, who had just completed the very difficult *Bus Stop.* Mansfield was still under contract to Broadway and continued playing *Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?* on stage until September 15, 1956. She undertook her first starring film role as Jerri Jordan in Frank Tashlin's .it featured a high-profile cast of contemporary rock and roll and R&B artists including Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Fats Domino, The Platters and Little Richard. Released in December 1956, *The Girl Can't Help It* became one of the year's biggest successes, both critically and financially, earning more than *Gentlemen Prefer Blondes* had three years before. Soon afterward, Fox started promoting Mansfield as "Marilyn Monroe king-sized", attempting to coerce Monroe to return to the studio and complete her contract.Mansfield next played a dramatic role in *The Wayward Bus* (1957), an adaptation of John Steinbeck's novel of the same name. With this film, she attempted to move away from her "blonde bombshell" image and establish herself as a serious actress. The film enjoyed moderate box-office success, and Mansfield won a Golden Globe in 1957 for New Star of the Year, beating Carroll Baker and Natalie Wood for her performance as a "wistful derelict". It was "generally conceded to have been her best acting", according to *The New York Times*, in a fitful career hampered by her flamboyant image, distinctive voice ("a soft-voiced coo punctuated with squeals"), voluptuous figure and limited acting range. Tashlin cast Mansfield in the film version of the Broadway show *Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?*, released in 1957, reprising her role of Rita Marlowe alongside costars Tony Randall and Joan Blondell. Fox launched its new blonde bombshell with a North American tour and a 40-day, 16-country tour of Europe. She attended the premiere of the film (released as *Oh! For a Man* in the UK) in London, and met Queen Elizabeth II.

Mansfield's fourth starring role in a Hollywood film was in *Kiss Them for Me* (also 1957), for which she received prominent billing alongside Cary Grant. However, in the film itself she is little more than comic relief; Grant's character relates to a redhead played by fashion model Suzy Parker. The film, described as "vapid" and "ill-advised", was a critical and box-office flop, and marked one of the last attempts by 20th Century-Fox to publicize Mansfield. The continuing publicity surrounding Mansfield's physical appearance failed to sustain her career. Fox gave her a leading role opposite Kenneth More in *The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw* (1958), a western comedy filmed on location in Spain. In the film, Mansfield's three songs were dubbed by singer Connie Francis. Fox released the film in the United States in 1959, and it was Mansfield's last mainstream film success. Columbia Pictures offered her a part opposite James Stewart and Jack Lemmon in the romantic comedy *Bell, Book and Candle* (1958), but she turned it down because she was pregnant. Fox then attempted to cast Mansfield opposite Paul Newman in *Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!* (1958), his ill-fated first attempt at comedy.

With a decreased demand for big-breasted, blonde bombshells and an increasing negative backlash against her excessive publicity, Mansfield became a box-office has-been by the early 1960s, yet she remained a celebrity, still able to attract large crowds outside the United States by way of lucrative and successful nightclub acts.

Mansfield gained no major star role in film roles after 1959. She was unable to fulfill a third of her contract with Fox due to her reported "repeated pregnancies". Fox stopped viewing her as a major Hollywood star and started loaning her and her likeness out to foreign productions in England and Italy, respectively, until the end of her contract in 1962. Many of her English/Italian films are regarded obscure and some considered lost.

In 1959, Fox cast her in two independent gangster films shot in the United Kingdom: *The Challenge* and *Too Hot to Handle*, both released the following year. Both films were low-budget, and their American releases were delayed. *Too Hot to Handle* was not released in the United States until 1961 as *Playgirl After Dark*. *The Challenge* was released in 1963 as *It Takes a Thief*. In the United States, censors objected to a scene in *Too Hot to Handle* in which Mansfield, wearing silver netting with sequins painted over her nipples, appears nearly nude.

When Mansfield returned to Hollywood in mid-1960, 20th Century Fox cast her in *It Happened in Athens* (1962) with Trax Colton, a handsome newcomer Fox was trying to mold into a heartthrob. She received first billing above the title but appeared in only a supporting role. The Olympic Games-based film was shot in Greece in the fall of 1960 but was not released until June 1962. It was a box-office failure, and 20th Century Fox dropped Mansfield's contract. In 1961, Mansfield signed on for a minor role but above-the-title billing in *The George Raft Story*, released the following year. Starring Ray Danton as Raft, the film showcased Mansfield in a small part as a glamorous film star. Soon after the film's release, she returned to European films, appearing in low-budget foreign films such as *Heimweh nach St. Pauli* (1963, Germany), *L'Amore Primitivo* (1964, Italy), *Panic Button* (1964, Italy) and *Einer frisst den anderen* (1964, Germany).

Tommy Noonan persuaded Mansfield to become the first mainstream American actress to appear nude in a starring role, in the film *Promises! Promises!* (1963). *Playboy* published nude photographs of Mansfield on the set in its June 1963 issue, resulting in obscenity charges against Hugh Hefner in a Chicago court. *Promises! Promises!* was banned in Cleveland, Ohio, but enjoyed box-office success elsewhere. As a result of the film's success, Mansfield landed on the Top 10 list of box-office attractions for that year. Soon after her success in *Promises! Promises!*, Mansfield was chosen from many other actresses to replace the recently deceased Marilyn Monroe in *Kiss Me, Stupid* (1964), a romantic comedy also starring Dean Martin. She turned down the role because of her pregnancy with daughter Mariska Hargitay, and was replaced by Kim Novak. That same year, Mansfield appeared in a pinup book called *Jayne Mansfield for President: the White House or Bust,* which was promoted on billboards; David Attie, a commercial and fine art photographer, took the photographs.

In 1966, Mansfield was cast in *Single Room Furnished*, directed by then-husband Matt Cimber. The film required Mansfield to portray three different characters, and was her first starring, dramatic role in several years. It was released briefly in 1966, but did not enjoy a full release until 1968, almost a year after her death. After *Single Room Furnished* wrapped, Mansfield was cast opposite Mamie Van Doren and Ferlin Husky in *The Las Vegas Hillbillys* (1966), a low-budget comedy from Woolner Brothers. It was her first country and western film, and she promoted it through a 29-day tour of major U.S. cities, accompanied by Husky, Don Bowman and other country musicians. Before filming began, Mansfield said she would not "share any screen time with the drive-in's answer to Marilyn Monroe", meaning Van Doren. Though their characters did share one scene, Mansfield and Van Doren filmed their parts at different times to be edited together later.

Mansfield's wardrobe relied on the shapeless styles of the 1960s to hide her weight gain after the birth of her fifth child. Despite career setbacks, she remained a highly visible celebrity during the early 1960s through her publicity antics and stage performances. In early 1967, Mansfield filmed her last role, a cameo in *A Guide for the Married Man*, a comedy starring Walter Matthau, Robert Morse and Inger Stevens. The opening credits listed Mansfield as one of the technical advisers, along with other star names.

### Television

Mansfield played her first leading role on television in 1956 on NBC's *The Bachelor*. In her first appearance on British television in 1957, she recited from Shakespeare (including a line from *Hamlet*) and played piano and violin. Her notable performances in television dramas included episodes of *Burke's Law*, *Alfred Hitchcock Presents*, *The Red Skelton Hour* (three episodes), *Kraft Mystery Theater* and *Follow the Sun*. Mansfield's performance in her first series *Follow the Sun* ("The Dumbest Blonde"; Season 1, Episode 21; February 4, 1962; produced by 20th Century Fox Television) was hailed as the advent of "a new and dramatic Jayne Mansfield". She appeared on a number of game shows including "Talk it up," *Down You Go* (as a regular panelist), *The Match Game* (one rare episode has her as a team captain), and *What's My Line?* (as a special mystery guest).

She performed in a number of variety shows including *The Jack Benny Program* (on which she played violin), *The Steve Allen Show* and *The Jackie Gleason Show* (during the mid-1960s, when the show was the second-highest-rated program in the U.S.). In November 1957, in a special episode of NBC's *The Perry Como Show* ("Holiday in Las Vegas"), one of her nightclub acts was featured, something quite scandalous for the audience according to the broadcaster. She was a guest on three episodes of *The Bob Hope Show* touring team. In 1957, she toured United States Pacific Command areas in Hawaii, Okinawa, Guam, Tokyo and Korea with Bob Hope for the United Service Organizations for 13 days appearing as a comedian; and in 1961, toured Newfoundland, Labrador and Baffin Island in Canada for a Christmas special. Her talk show career includes a large number of appearances which she appreciated for the publicity. One of her more notable appearances on a variety show was on *The Ed Sullivan Show* (Season 10, Episode 35; May 26, 1957) right after her success with *Rock Hunter*, where she played violin with a six-person backup band. After the show she exclaimed, "Now I am really national. Momma and Dallas see the Ed Sullivan show!"

By 1958, she earned $20,000 per episode for television performances ($179,000 in 2020 dollars). In 1964, Mansfield turned down the role of Ginger Grant on the up-and-coming television sitcom *Gilligan's Island*. Although her acting roles were becoming marginalized, Mansfield rejected the part as it epitomized the stereotype she wished to rid herself of. The part eventually went to Tina Louise. A widespread rumor that Mansfield had a breast-flashing dress mishap at the 1957 Academy Awards was found baseless by Academy researchers. Ten days before her death, she read *To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time*, a poem by Robert Herrick about early death on *The Joey Bishop Show* – her last television appearance.

As late as the mid-1980s, Mansfield remained one of the biggest television draws. In 1980, *The Jayne Mansfield Story* aired on CBS starring Loni Anderson in the title role and Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mickey Hargitay. It was nominated for three Emmy Awards. A+E Networks TV series Biography featured her in an episode titled *Jayne Mansfield: Blonde Ambition*. The TV series won an Emmy Award in the outstanding non-fiction TV series category in 2001. A&E again featured her life in another TV serial, *Dangerous Curves*, in 1999. In 1988, her story and archival footage was a part of the TV documentary *Hollywood Sex Symbols*

## Death

In 1967, Mansfield was in Biloxi, Mississippi, for an engagement at the Gus Stevens Supper Club. After two appearances on the evening of June 28, Mansfield, Sam Brody (her attorney and companion), their driver Ronnie Harrison (age 20), and three of her children – Miklós, Zoltán, and Mariska – left Biloxi after midnight in a 1966 Buick Electra 225. Their destination was New Orleans, where Mansfield was to appear on WDSU's *Midday Show* the next day. At about 2:25 a.m. on June 29, on U.S. Highway 90, 1 mile west of the Rigolets Bridge, the Buick crashed at high speed into the rear of a tractor-trailer that had slowed behind a truck spraying mosquito fogger. The semi-trailer was shrouded by insecticide fog. The three adults in the front seat died instantly. The children, asleep in the rear seat, survived with minor injuries