Latest news with #Hingert
Express Tribune
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Maureen Hingert, former Miss Universe runner-up and actress, dies at 88
Maureen Hingert, a former Miss Universe contestant and actress known for her role in The King and I, has passed away at the age of 88. Hingert's death was confirmed by her daughter, Marisa Zamparelli, on July 2, following an initial announcement by fellow Sri Lankan actress Angela Seneviratne on July 1. Zamparelli stated that her mother died peacefully of liver failure on June 30 at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, California. Hingert, who represented Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) at the 1955 Miss Universe pageant, earned the title of second runner-up. Her participation in the pageant marked a significant milestone, as it was the first Miss Universe competition to be broadcast on television. Hingert became widely recognized for her striking long, black hair and radiant smile, capturing the attention of both the judges and the audience. Following the pageant, Hingert pursued a brief acting career in Hollywood, making uncredited appearances in films such as Circus Girl (1954) and Elephant Walk (1954), both produced in her native Sri Lanka. In 1956, she appeared in The King and I, the well-known film adaptation of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. Hingert went on to appear in several other films, including Gunmen from Laredo and The Rawhide Tail, using the screen name Jana Davi. After a decade in the industry, Hingert retired from acting in the early 1960s to raise her family. She married American artist Mario Zamparelli in 1958, and they had three daughters. She was preceded in death by her husband and two daughters. Hingert's death marks the loss of a pioneering figure in both Sri Lankan and Hollywood cinema.
Hindustan Times
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Maureen Hingert dies at 88: Cause of death revealed by The King and I actor's family
Maureen Hingert, the Sri Lankan-born actress and former beauty queen best known for her role in The King and I, has sadly passed away at the age of 88. She appeared in several films during the 1950s and 60s, including Gun Fever and Gunmen From Laredo. Her daughter confirmed that the actor died on Sunday. Maureen Hingert passed away at 88 due to liver failure.(Screenshot: Gunmen from Laredo) Also Read: Lauren Sanchez's wedding dress mysteriously vanishes after romantic Venice ceremony: Report Hingert passed away at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena due to liver failure. Her daughter, Marisa Zamparelli, told The Hollywood Reporter, "It was a beautiful and peaceful passing.' Best known for her role in The King and I, which earned her nine Oscar nominations and won five Academy Awards, she was also the Miss Universe runner-up, as reported by The New York Post. Hingert was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on January 9, 1937, and later moved to Los Angeles for college. At just 18, Hingert was crowned Miss Ceylon and went on to make history as the second runner-up at the 1955 Miss Universe pageant, the first edition of the competition to be televised. Her pageant success paved her path to Hollywood. Following her role in The King and I, she appeared as Tanana in 1958's Gun Fever and Rosita in 1959's Gunmen from Laredo. Hingert's Hollywood career included roles in several notable films, such as Pillars of the Sky (1956) with Jeff Chandler and Dorothy Malone, Elephant Walk (1954) alongside Elizabeth Taylor, as well as Fort Bowie and The Rawhide Trail, both released in 1958. Also Read: Macy's Fourth of July fireworks 2025: Best spots to watch in NYC apart from Brooklyn Bridge About Maureen Hingert's family Hingert married designer Mario Armond Zamparelli in 1958. The two met while the actor was modeling for a TWA mural he was painting for Howard Hughes. The couple had three daughters—Marisa, Gina, and Andrea- before divorcing in 1970. Tragically, Gina passed away in 2018 at age 59, and Andrea died in 2009 at 42. Hingert later married William J. Ballard in 1976, and they remained together until he died in 2012.
New York Post
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Maureen Hingert, ‘The King and I' actress and Miss Universe star, dead at 88
Actor and Miss Universe finalist Maureen Hingert has died. She was 88. The 'King and I' star passed away Sunday of liver failure at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, Calif., according to her daughter, Marisa Zamparelli. 'It was a beautiful and peaceful passing,' Marisa told The Hollywood Reporter. Advertisement 7 Maureen Hingert at London Heathrow Airport in 1955. ANL/Shutterstock 7 Maureen Hingert died of liver failure. ANL/Shutterstock Hingert was born on January 9, 1937 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. She moved to Los Angeles for college. Advertisement At age 18, Hingert was crowned Miss Ceylon and then finished second runner-up in the 1955 Miss Universe contest held in Long Beach, Calif., the first in the competition's history to be televised. 7 Maureen Hingert (second to the far right) at the Miss Universe 1955 competition. Bettmann Archive Hingert's pageant success helped launch her career in Hollywood. She was best known for her role as a royal wife in Walter Lang's 1956 film 'The King and I,' an adaptation of the 1951 Rodgers & Hammerstein musical of the same name. The 20th Century-Fox feature starred Deborah Kerr, Yul Brynner, Rita Moreno, Martin Benson and Rex Thompson. It was nominated for nine Oscars and won five. Advertisement Hingert followed up 'The King and I' with her roles as Tanana in 1958's 'Gun Fever' and Rosita in 1959's 'Gunmen from Laredo.' 7 Yul Brynner, Deborah Kerr in 'The King and I.' ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection 7 Maureen Hingert, Mark Stevens in 'Gun Fever.' Courtesy Everett Collection She also appeared in 1956's 'Pillars of the Sky' opposite Jeff Chandler and Dorothy Malone, 1954's 'Elephant Walk' alongside Elizabeth Taylor, and 1958's 'Fort Bowie' and 'The Rawhide Trail.' Advertisement On television, Hingert was in episodes of 'The Adventures of Hiram Holliday,' 'Death Valley Days' and 'Captain David Grief.' 7 Maureen Hingert, Maxwell Reed in 'Captain David Grief.' Courtesy Everett Collection Hingert was often credited as Jana Davi in her acting projects. The late star was also a dancer and gave solo performances at major Los Angeles venues including the Shrine Auditorium. 7 Frank Richards, Maureen Hingert in 'Death Valley Days.' Courtesy Everett Collection In 1958, Hingert married her first husband, designer Mario Armond Zamparelli, who worked closely with aerospace engineer Howard Hughes. The couple met when Hingert was modeling for a TWA mural that Mario was painting for Hughes. They had three daughters, Marisa, Gina and Andrea, before their divorce in 1970. Advertisement Gina, a concert promoter in LA, died in 2018 of a brain tumor at age 59. Andrea died in 2009 at age 42. Hingert got married for the second time to William J. Ballard in 1976. Ballard died in 2012.
Daily Mirror
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
The King and I star dies as family share cause and pay tribute
Maureen Hingert has died aged 88 as her daughter confirmed the sad news. The Hollywood actress, known for appearing in The King and I, died on Sunday of liver failure. She was born in Sri Lanka and featured in a number of Hollywood films including The King and I, Gun Fever, and Gunmen From Laredo. Following her death at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, Hingert's daughter said: 'It was a beautiful and peaceful passing.' The Miss Universe runner-up was best known for her work in The King and I, which was nominated for nine Oscars. The film won five Academy Awards and featured stars Deborah Kerr, Yul Brynner, and Rita Moreno. Hingert also appeared in Western movies such as 1958's Gun Fever and 1959's Gunmen From Laredo. Aside from acting, she had a successful pageant career. She finished runner-up at Miss Universe in 1955. Hingert originally entered the competition as Miss Ceylon when she was just 18-years-old. Her success in the competition made her the first from her country to ever reach the final. Hingert's appearance at the contest has been credited with putting her South Asian island country "on the map". Acting and modelling wasn't the only success of Hingert, as she regularly performed as a dancer. Her photoshoot from the film Gun Fever also landed her a spot in Playboy Magazine in September 1957. Fans paid tribute to Hingert on social media as one said: "Rest in peace, Ms Maureen Hingert. Thank you for bringing much glory to the 'pearl in the Indian Ocean' - Sri Lanka." Another added: "Maureen Hingert, Sri Lanka's First Miss Universe Finalist & Hollywood Star, Passes Away. A true pioneer and icon remembered."
Metro
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
The King and I actress and beauty pageant star Maureen Hingert dies aged 88
The King and I actress Maureen Hingert has died from health complications at the age of 88. The Sri Lankan star, who was best known for the 1956 Walter Lang musical, died on Sunday (June 29). Hingert's daughter Marisa Zamparelli confirmed the former Miss Universe runner-up died of liver failure at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, California. 'It was a beautiful and peaceful passing,' Zamparelli told The Hollywood Reporter. A classic of the Hollywood Golden Age, The King and I was adapted from the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical of the same name and earned nine nominations at the Oscars, winning five. Hingert starred as the royal wife alongside the likes of Deborah Kerr, Yul Brynner – who won the Best Actor Academy Award – and Rita Moreno. Hingert was born in Colombo, Ceylon on January 9, 1937 and appeared in two films made in her home country: Circus Girl and the Elizabeth Taylor-starring Elephant Walk, both released in 1954. After she was crowned Miss Ceylon (the country now called Sri Lanka) in 1955, she went on to compete in the first Miss Universe pageant to be televised. As an 18-year-old, she became the first Ceylonese contestant to win an award at the competition when she finished second runner-up. After the Miss Universe pageant, Hingert secured a contract at Universal Studios as well as a role in Pillars of the Sky, a Western starring where she starred alongside Jeff Chandler and Dorothy Malone. Hingert went on to act in The King and I, as well as filling out her IMDb with credits in Westerns including 1958's Gun Fever and 1959's Gunmen From Laredo. More Trending In 1958, Hingert married Mario Armond Zamparelli, a designer who was largely known for his work with business magnate, aerospace engineer and occasional film producer Howard Hughes. Zamparelli was the Chief Executive Designer of Hughes' business empire. Hingert and Zamparelli had three children together, including Marisa who shared a statement when her mother died. Their two other daughters Gina Zamparelli and Andrea Zamparelli respectively died in 2018 and 2009. The couple divorced in 1970, after which Hingert remarried William J Ballard, who died in 2012. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Star Trek actor Peter-Henry Schroeder dies aged 90 MORE: BBC Play School presenter Donald Macdonald dies aged 86 MORE: Tulisa announces death of musician dad Steve Contostavlos in heartbreaking tribute
