Maureen Hingert, the beloved actress and beauty queen who gracefully bridged Sri Lanka and Hollywood, has left behind a legacy as vibrant as her on-screen performances.
At a Glance
- Maureen Hingert, a pioneering actress from Sri Lanka and former beauty queen, has died at the age of 87.
- The cause of death was liver failure, according to her daughter.
- Hingert first gained international fame as the second runner-up in the 1955 Miss Universe Pageant, representing Ceylon.
- She is best known for her role in the classic 1956 film “The King and I.”
A Pioneering Star of Hollywood’s Golden Age
Maureen Hingert, an actress and beauty queen who was one of the first women from Sri Lanka (then known as Ceylon) to find success in Hollywood, has died at the age of 87. Her daughter, Marisa Zamparelli, confirmed that she passed away from liver failure. “It was a beautiful and peaceful passing,” Zamparelli said.
Hingert’s journey from her birthplace of Colombo, Ceylon, to the silver screen was a remarkable one that put her home country on the global map and paved the way for future generations of South Asian artists.
From Miss Ceylon to a Hollywood Contract
Hingert was first catapulted to international fame in 1955 when, as Miss Ceylon, she was named the second runner-up in the Miss Universe pageant held in Long Beach, California. Her success at the pageant caught the eye of Hollywood producers, and she was quickly signed to a contract with 20th Century Fox.
Her most famous and enduring role came shortly after, when she was cast as one of the royal wives, Mena, in the classic 1956 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical film, “The King and I,” starring alongside legends Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr.
A Career in Film
Following her role in the Oscar-winning “The King and I,” Hingert continued her acting career, often appearing under the screen name Jana Davi. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, she appeared in several Western films, including “Gun Fever” and “Gunmen from Laredo,” showcasing her versatility as an actress.
She retired from acting in the early 1960s to focus on her family after marrying Mario Armond Zamparelli, a prominent artist and designer who worked closely with billionaire Howard Hughes. Her passing was met with an outpouring of tributes online. “Rest in peace, Ms. Maureen Hingert,” one fan wrote. “Thank you for bringing much glory to the ‘pearl in the Indian Ocean’—Sri Lanka.”
