Latest news with #MaureenHingert
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Maureen Hingert Dies: ‘Gunmen From Laredo', ‘The King And I' Actor Was 88
Maureen Hingert, who represented Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in the 1955 Miss Universe pageant and went on to become an actor in such films as Gunmen From Laredo and The King and I as well as several 1950s TV series, died June 30 at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, Calif.. She was 88. Her death was announced on Facebook July 1 by Sri Lankan actress and Angela Seneviratne. More from Deadline Kenneth Colley Dies: 'Star Wars' & 'Life Of Brian' Actor Was 87 Jimmy Swaggart Dies: Sex Scandal-Plagued Televangelist Was 90 Karl E. Held Dies: A Producer Of Broadway-Bound 'Kowalski' Was 63 Maureen Neliya Ballard was born on January 9, 1937, in Columbo, Ceylon, to Bank of Ceylon president Lionel Hingert and Lorna Mabel del Run. In 1955, at the age of 18, she was crowned Miss Ceylon and that same year was selected as a Miss Universe contestant (she finished as second runner-up). She subsequently moved to Los Angeles and in the mid-1950s had several small, uncredited roles in films, the most notable of which was 1956's The King and I. In 1958, sometimes under her stage name Jana Davi, she appeared in the films Gun Fever, The Rawhide Trail and Fort Bowie and an episode of Death Valley Days. The following year she starred in the Western film Gunmen From Laredo and an episode of the short-lived series Captain David Grief, based on Jack London stories, before retiring to raise a family. She is survived by a daughter. Best of Deadline 'Poker Face' Season 2 Guest Stars: From Justin Theroux To Jason Ritter Remembering Michael Madsen: A Career In Photos 2025 Deaths Photo Gallery: Hollywood & Media Obituaries
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Maureen Hingert, 'King and I 'actress and former Miss Universe contestant, dies at 88
Maureen Hingert, the Sri Lankan actress and former Miss Universe runner-up contestant who starred in films such as The King and I and Gun Fever, has died. She was 88. Fellow Sri Lankan actress and model Angela Seneviratne announced Hingert's death in a Facebook post on Monday. 'May her soul rest in peace,' she added. Hingert's daughter, Marisa Zamparelli, later confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that her mother died of liver failure at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, Calif., on June 29. 'It was a beautiful and peaceful passing,' she told the outlet. Born in Colombo, Sri Lanka (then known as Ceylon) in 1937, Hingert was just 18 years old when she was crowned the winner of the Miss Ceylon beauty pageant in 1955. She would go on to represent her home country at the televised Miss Universe competition in Long Beach, Calif., that same year, where she placed 2nd runner-up. Her Miss Universe appearance not only landed her a contract with Universal but also an uncredited role in the 1956 Western, Pillars of the Sky. It wasn't her first time stepping in front of the camera; Hingert had previous experience starring in uncredited roles in the 1954 films Circus Girl and the Elizabeth Taylor-headlined Elephant Walk while living in Sri Lanka. That same year, she took on another uncredited role as a wife in the 1956 musical adaptation of The King and I. The film — which also starred Deborah Kerr, Yul Brynner, and Rita Moreno —would go on to win five Academy Awards. Hingert wouldn't receive her first official acting credit until she starred in an episode of the 1957 Wally Cox- and Ainslie Pryor-led sitcom, The Adventures of Hiram Holliday. Working under the name Jana Davi, she continued to rack up credits in popular Westerns like Gun Fever, The Rawhide Trail, and Gunmen from Laredo before retiring from acting in the early 1960s. In addition to her acting and modeling careers, Hingert was also a dancer and would often perform in Los Angeles. She married designer and artist Mario Armond Zamparelli in 1958, and the couple welcomed three daughters together — Gina, Marisa, and Andrea — before getting divorced in 1970. She later tied the knot with William J. Ballard in 1976, and the couple remained together until his death in 2012. Hingert is survived by her daughter, Marisa. Her daughter Andrea died at 42 in 2009, per THR. Her second daughter Gina, a concert promoter and preservationist, died of a brain tumor at age 59 in 2017. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The King and I' Star and Miss Universe Legend Maureen Hingert Dies at 88
The King and I actress Maureen Hingert, a star of Hollywood's Golden Age, has died at the age of 88 following health complications. The Sri Lankan actress and Miss Universe runner-up died Sunday of liver failure at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, California, her daughter Marisa Zamparelli told The Hollywood Reporter. 'It was a beautiful and peaceful passing,' Marisa said. Hingert was widely known for her work in Walter Lang's 1956 film, The King and I, adapted from the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical of the same name. The musical, which earned nine nominations at the Academy Awards and won five, notably starred Deborah Kerr, Yul Brynner, and Rita Moreno. Alongside The King and I, Hingert's resume also includes roles in Westerns like 1958's Gun Fever and 1959's Gunmen From Laredo. She also has appeared in dramas like 1956's Pillars of the Sky opposite Jeff Chandler and Dorothy Malone, and 1954's Elephant Walk starring Elizabeth Taylor. Apart from acting, Hingert also made a legacy as a pageant contestant when she finished second runner-up at the 1955 Miss Universe contest—the first in the competition's history to ever be televised. Hingert, who was born in Colombo, Ceylon in January 1937, entered the competition as Miss Ceylon—a historical name for Sri Lanka—and was the first from the country to ever reach the contest's finals. She was only 18 at the time. In 1958, Hingert married Mario Armond Zamparelli, a designer largely known for his work with business tycoon and aerospace engineer Howard Hughes. The couple welcomed three children together before their divorce in 1970. Alongside their daughter Maria, Hingert and Mario also welcomed daughters Gina Zamparelli and Andrea Zamparelli who respectively died in 2018 and 2009.
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.
