I recently blogged about the wonderful new addition Emmy-winning actress Mariska Hargitay and her husband welcomed into their home—a baby boy named August. Unfortunately, the tears of joy Hargitay shed just a few months ago have now turned to tears of sorrow. The actress’s father Mickey Hargitay, the actor and world champion bodybuilder died late last week. He was 80 years old.
According to news reports, Hargitay died Thursday in Los Angeles of multiple myeloma. Hargitay was once married to 1950s sex siren Jayne Mansfield (the couple had three children together, including Mariska, before divorcing in 1964)–in that decade he was also named Mr. Universe, Mr. America and Mr. Olympia. He parlayed his perfect physique into a performing career when Mae West tapped him to be one of the musclemen in her stage show.
“Words cannot express how saddened we are by the loss of Mickey,” a statement released by the family said. “At the same time, we are so grateful for who he was and is to all of us, and for the love he gave us in our lives. He will continue to be our source of inspiration and strength.”
According to PEOPLE Magazine, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who played Hargitay in the 1982 TV movie “The Jayne Mansfield Story,” offered his condolences: “Mickey was such an inspiration and always had such a positive attitude,” Schwarzenegger said in a statement. “He was a role model of mine for being a successful immigrant who came to this country and pursued his dreams.”
Hargitay’s career continued long after he was immortalized by TV movies. In 2003 he guest-starred in an episode of “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit,” the show in which his daughter Mariska plays a leading role. You may remember that when she won her first Emmy last month, Mariska tearfully thanked her father, “because he is the reason I’m standing here today.”
In addition to Mariska, Hargitay is survived by his wife, Ellen, sons Mickey Jr. and Zoltan, and another daughter, Tina.