In a family renowned for their contributions to Hollywood, one member has chosen a distinctly different path. While the Hargitay name is often associated with the silver screen, the serene world of plants in Los Angeles tells another story. Mickey Hargitay Jr. has embraced a life far from the acting spotlight, finding fulfillment in running a successful plant shop in the heart of the city.
Rather than following in the footsteps of his famous parents, Mickey Hargitay Sr., and Jayne Mansfield, he has cultivated a passion for horticulture. His shop, a green oasis in the urban landscape, reflects his dedication to nature and his entrepreneurial spirit.
From Childhood Chores to a Thriving Plant Shop, His Journey in Horticulture
Hargitay Jr. found his calling in an unexpected place; the family chore of watering plants. What began as a childhood task evolved into a lifelong passion and a successful career. After the death of his mother, young Mickey moved to West Hollywood and then to Doheny Estates. Amidst the chaos of his early years, the steady presence of plants provided him with a sense of stability and purpose.
Mickey recalled how he initially disliked his plant-watering duties in a conversation with the LA Times in 2016. “It was my chore when I was a kid growing up to water the plants. I didn’t know that was what I was going to end up doing,” he said. “I probably hated it at the time, but you end up loving what you sometimes don’t as a child,” he added.
At 23, Mickey opened his first plant shop in an early 1900s bungalow on Fountain and North Sycamore avenues. Initially, the shop was more of a social hub than a serious business. “We made a living but not a lot of goal setting and not a lot of looking towards the future,” he said.
However, as the neighborhood around him transformed, so did his approach to the business. He began bringing in exotic plants and educating customers on their care.
Hargitay’s dedication to horticulture has not only grounded him but also garnered a notable clientele, including celebrities like George Clooney and Jim Carrey. Despite his famous family, Mickey prefers a more grounded lifestyle. “[My family] made decisions to reach for the stars and I’ve wanted to keep my feet on the ground,” he says. “I’ve wanted to do something that seems more grounded and is more real.”
Through his plant shop, Mickey has built a community and a career that reflects his passion and keeps him connected to the natural world.
Stepmother Embraced Motherly Role After The Loss of His Mother
Mickey’s life took a tragic turn on June 29, 1967, when his mother, Jayne, died in a car accident. The accident occurred near Biloxi, Mississippi, when their car collided with the rear of a truck. Contrary to some reports, Mansfield was not decapitated, although she did suffer severe head trauma.
Nine years old Mickey and his younger siblings, Zoltan and Mariska were all asleep in the backseat of that car and miraculously survived the crash, despite sustaining injuries.
Although Mickey, 67, rarely talks about the incident and its impact on his life publicly, his sister occasionally speaks about it in the media. The Law and Order: SVU star described the loss as “the scar of her soul.” In a 2021 interview, she said, “I think I learned about crisis very young, and I learned very young that s— happens and there’s no guarantees, and we keep going.”
After this tragic event, Mickey Sr., married Ellen Siano who openly embraced Mickey Jr and his siblings with open arms. She immediately stepped into the role of their mother, providing the care and stability they needed.
He Has Some Experience in Hollywood
Despite being surrounded by his family’s illustrious acting legacy, Mickey (born Miklós Jeffrey Palmer Hargitay), only dabbled briefly in the world of cinema. His earliest appearance was as a baby in the 1962 film, It Happens in Athens.
As he grew, Mickey also appeared in several documentaries and television shows that highlighted his famous family, including The Wild Wild World of Jayne Mansfield, and guest appearances on shows like New York, New York, and The Merv Griffin Show.
A Family of Hollywood Ties
The Hargitay family’s connection to Hollywood extends across many of its members:
- Tina, the eldest sibling from Mickey Sr.’s first marriage, leads a quiet life, steering clear of the limelight that envelops the rest of the family.
- Jayne Marie Mansfield is the daughter of Jayne Mansfield from her first marriage. She followed in her mother’s footsteps to become a Playboy Playmate. She made a notable mark in July 1976 by being the first daughter of a Playmate to be featured in Playboy.
- Zoltan, took a different route in Hollywood, working as a carpenter on film sets for movies such as Retroactive and T-Force.
- Tony Cimber, another half-brother from his mother’s third marriage to Matt Cimber, currently works as a real estate agent.
- Mariska, the youngest of the siblings, has achieved significant acclaim as an actress, best known for her long-standing role as Detective Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU.
After Divorce, He Seems To Be Leading A Single Life
Despite the glamorous backdrop of his family’s Hollywood legacy, Hargitay Jr., has maintained a relatively private and grounded approach to his love life. He is believed to be single at present. He was previously married to Dana Hargitay. According to IMDb, the couple married on September 28, 2002, but have since divorced.
Dana is a photographer based in Petaluma, California. She studied for a Bachelor’s in Arts at UCLA from 1992 to 1994. Born on April 1, 1971, in Santa Barbara, Dana is also a former actress known for her roles in Desperate Obsession (1995), Good vs Evil (1999), and Roads to Riches (2002).
Trivia
- Mickey’s maternal grandparents were Herbert William Palmer, who had English and German roots, and Vera Jeffrey Palmer, who was of English and Cornish descent.
- His paternal grandparents, Ferenc and Mária (Rothsischer) Hargitay, were natives of Budapest, Hungary.
- His father emigrated from Hungary to the United States to avoid being drafted into military service by the Soviet Union, in 1947.
