Mickey Hargitay, the 1955 Mr. Universe and father - with late sex symbol Jayne Mansfield - of actress Mariska Hargitay, died of multiple myeloma Thursday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Ellen, his wife of 38 years, tells the Los Angeles Times. He was 80.

"Words cannot express how saddened we are by the loss of Mickey," his family said in a statement, the Associated Press reports. "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."

Born Miklos Hargitay in Hungary, he emigrated to the United States after World War II. His bodybuilding - he was named Mr. Universe, Mr. America and Mr. Olympia in 1955 - helped popularize the sport and landed him a role in Mae West's Las Vegas revue.


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