One thing that can be said about Mickey Hargitay with absolute certainty is that he lead a very interesting life. Having emigrated from his native Hungary to the United States soon after World War II, Hargitay became Mr. Universe, Mr. America and Mr. Olympia in 1955. His perfect physique gave him a way into show business, where he first met his future wife, Jayne Mansfield. And despite the wide variety of roles he chose in his short career as an actor, it is his unforgettable turn as The Crimson Executioner in The Bloody Pit of Horror for which he will be remembered most by many genre fans.

Hargitay inspired many, including his daughter Mariska who went on to dedicate an emmy to her father for her role in Law & Order: SVU, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, who played the actor in the 1982 made-for-TV movie “The Jayne Mansfield Story”. In fact, Hargitay was a sterling example to many displaced people seeking hope and propsperity in a new land.

Rest in peace, Mr. Hargitay.

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