Jayne Mansfield knew how to keep the cameras flashing—whether it was for her movie roles, her headline-grabbing romances, or her unforgettable Playboy spreads. She lit up the screen in films like The Girl Can’t Help It and Promises! Promises!, but let’s be real—her love life made just as many waves as her Hollywood career.
She tied the knot three times, racked up three divorces (though one was still pending when she passed), and was rarely ever seen without a new man on her arm. Jayne’s impulsive relationships didn’t just fuel the gossip columns—they left a real impact on her kids too, who grew up in the middle of all the chaos.
So, who were Jayne Mansfield’s husbands, the men who came and went—and the children she raised through all the ups and downs? Let’s break it down.
First Husband Paul Mansfield and Their Daughter, Jayne Marie
Before the Hollywood lights ever hit her face, Mansfield was a teenager in Texas falling for a boy named Paul Mansfield. They met in high school and married in 1950—she was just 17, he was 20, and the future looked simple back then.
That same year, Jayne became pregnant and gave birth to her first child, Jayne Marie, on November 8, 1950. While Jayne Marie would later try her hand at modeling and acting, her early years were shadowed by questions. Over time, some biographers have claimed Paul might not have been her biological father, with whispers of a date rape incident being the real cause of the pregnancy. Still, many records continued to list Paul as her father.
At the time of their marriage, Paul was serving in the United States Army Reserve during the Korean War. After his return, the couple settled in Los Angeles—though “settled” may be putting it generously. Their home life included not just Jayne and Paul, but also a growing collection of pets: cats, chihuahuas, and even a rabbit.
By 1955, cracks in the marriage had turned into full-blown fault lines. Arguments over Jayne’s career ambitions, rumors of infidelity, and, yes, the ever-growing number of animals all added to the strain. The two separated that year, but the legal battle dragged on.
Their divorce didn’t finalize until early 1958—three years of legal back-and-forth, including Paul’s failed attempt to gain custody of Jayne Marie.
Second Spouse Mickey Hargitay and Their Three Kids
If Mansfield ever had a true Hollywood power couple moment, it came with Mickey Hargitay. The two met on May 13, 1956, at the Latin Quarter nightclub in New York. Jayne spotted the former Mr. Universe working as a performer and famously joked to her waiter, “I’ll have a steak and that tall man on the left.”
Her charm clearly worked—they were engaged the following year. On November 6, 1957, Hargitay popped the question with a 10-carat diamond ring reportedly worth $5,000. Just days after her divorce from Paul Mansfield was finalized, she and Mickey tied the knot on January 13, 1958.
The couple became a regular duo on stage and screen, from nightclub performances to TV spots like The Bob Hope Specials. Behind the scenes, they launched business ventures together too, including Jayne Mansfield Productions and the Hargitay Exercise Equipment Company.
They welcomed their first son, Miklós “Mickey” Jr., in 1958, followed by their second son, Zoltán, in 1960. But by the early ’60s, things were starting to unravel.
In 1962, Jayne’s name started appearing alongside another man, Italian film producer Enrico Bomba, who was working on her movie Panic Button. Their romance drew plenty of attention and added tension behind the scenes.
The following year, Jayne was linked to singer and comedian Nelson Sardelli, and even hinted at wedding plans once her divorce from Hargitay went through.
Jayne filed for divorce in May 1962 but later told reporters she thought they’d reconcile. That never happened. In May 1963, she and Hargitay finalized their split with a divorce in Juarez, Mexico—Sardelli was by her side throughout the process. But when Jayne discovered she was pregnant again, she and Hargitay claimed they were still married to avoid the stigma of having a child out of wedlock.
Their daughter, Mariska Hargitay, was born on January 23, 1964, while Jayne and Mickey’s divorce was still in legal limbo. Although Mickey was named as the father, some later speculated that Nelson Sardelli might have actually been Mariska’s biological dad—something even Jayne’s former publicist brought up, and Mariska herself hasn’t fully denied in interviews.
Her Third Husband, Matt Cimber, and Fifth Child, Tony Cimber
Jayne married director Matt Cimber in September 1964, but the marriage was short-lived. By mid-1965, they had already split, and she filed for divorce on July 20, 1966. During that time, she gave birth to their son, Antonio Raphael Ottaviano—better known as Tony Cimber—on October 18, 1965.
The relationship fell apart over issues tied to Jayne’s drinking and infidelity. Not long after, she began seeing her attorney, Sam Brody. He became her last partner—and was in the car with her during the fatal 1967 crash that took both their lives.
