Jayne Mansfield was a renowned American film actress, born Vera Jayne Palmer on April 19, 1933, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. She was the only child of Herbert W. Palmer, a successful attorney, and Vera J. Palmer, who later remarried. Mansfield's ancestry was predominantly English and Cornish, with a small German influence.
Tragedy struck when Mansfield was just three years old, as her father suddenly passed away due to a heart attack. She and her mother relocated to Dallas, Texas, where she developed a passion for music, playing the violin and piano. Mansfield's IQ was reportedly 163, and she attended the University of Dallas, participating in little-theater productions.
In 1949, at the age of 16, Mansfield married Paul Mansfield, five years her senior, and gave birth to their daughter, Jayne Marie, in 1950. The couple divorced, but Mansfield retained the surname as a suitable moniker for an actress.
Mansfield began her acting career in the 1950s, initially appearing in bit roles, including Pete Kelly's Blues (1955). Her breakout role came in 1957 with The Burglar, followed by Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957) and Playgirl After Dark (1960),solidifying her status as the "poor man's Marilyn Monroe."
Despite her talent, Mansfield was often typecast in roles that showcased her physical attributes, rather than her acting abilities. Her career began to decline in the 1960s, with smaller roles in B-movies and low-budget films. She also made appearances on various game shows, including What's My Line? (1950).
Tragedy struck again on June 29, 1967, when Mansfield was killed in a car accident on Highway 90 in Slidell, Louisiana, along with her boyfriend, Samuel Brody, and driver, Ronnie Harrison. The car crash occurred when the vehicle slammed into the back of a semi-tractor trailer truck that had stopped due to a truck in front spraying for bugs.
Mansfield's funeral was held on July 3, 1967, at Fairview Cemetery in Plainfield, Pennsylvania, attended by her family and ex-husband, Mickey Hargitay. Her final film, Single Room Furnished (1966),was released the following year.
After Mansfield's death, a series of lawsuits were filed by her family members and business associates to gain control of her estate, which was initially estimated to be worth $600,000. The estate included the Pink Palace, a sports car, jewelry, and Sam Brody's estate.
In 1971, Beverly Brody sued the Mansfield estate for $325,000 worth of presents and jewelry given to Mansfield by Sam Brody. The suit was settled out of court. In 1977, Mansfield's four eldest children went to court to discover that some $500,000 in debt and litigation had left the estate insolvent.
