A one-time exceptional soccer player and former European speed-skating champion.
After ex-wife Jayne Mansfield's death, Mickey arranged to have a heart-shaped headstone erected for her at her place of burial.
Appeared on daughter Mariska Hargitay's TV program "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999) in 2003.
Did not begin bodybuilding until arriving in the U.S. in 1947. He did much to change the concept of the art, once thought of as freakish and discouraged by athletic coaches. It was also dominated by American champions until Hargitay won his 1955 titles.
Father with Mansfield of: sons Mickey Hargitay Jr., Zoltan Hargitay , and daughter Mariska Hargitay. He also has a daughter, Tina (b. 1949), by his first wife, Mary Birge.
Father-in-law of Peter Hermann. Former father-in-law of Dana Hargitay.
First recipient of the Joe Weider Lifetime Achievement Award. [1999]
Fled Hungary in 1947 to escape the compulsory Soviet military draft.
Former stepfather of Jayne Marie Mansfield. Grandfather of August Miklos Friedrich Hermann (Mariska's son).
He sued Mansfield's estate in September, 1967 for over $275,000 to support their 3 children; in their 1964 divorce decree, Mansfield agreed to pay child alimony.
His career began when Mae West noticed him on the October 1953 cover of Strength and Health Magazine and made him a member of her muscleman night-club act.
His father was extremely athletic and brought up his sons to become athletes. The family had an acrobatic act that they performed in the large opera houses throughout Hungary.
Hosted a TV exercise show in 1959.
In addition to his four children he was survived by brother Eddie, sister Eva, ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Inspired to body-build after seeing a magazine cover of Steve Reeves ("Hercules"), Mickey won the "Mr. Universe" competition in 1955 and later appeared as Hercules himself in the Italian film "The Loves of Hercules" co-starring his then-wife, Jayne Mansfield.
Is the Godfather of actor Eddie Hargitay.
Later became a successful real estate investor and contractor.
Mansfield initally divorced Hargitay on 1 May 1963; she divorced him again in Juarez, Mexico. On 26 August 1964, the California Superior Court recognized the Mexican divorce pronouncement.
Member of ensemble cast of Mae West's stage show.
Mickey was declared to be Jayne Mansfield's official widower after a court ruled her divorce from him was void.