Maureen Hingert, the Sri Lankan-born actress and former Miss Universe contestant known for her role in “The King and I,” died Sunday at age 88 from liver failure at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, California. Her daughter, Marisa Zamparelli, confirmed the death and described it as a beautiful and peaceful passing.
Born Maureen Neliya Hingert on January 9, 1937, in Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), she first gained international attention as an 18-year-old when she was crowned Miss Ceylon in 1955. She then competed in the Miss Universe contest held in Long Beach, California, that same year, finishing as second runner-up in what was the first Miss Universe pageant to be televised.
Her pageant success launched her Hollywood career, beginning with uncredited roles in films made in her home country. She appeared in “Circus Girl” and “Elephant Walk,” the latter starring Elizabeth Taylor, both in 1954. After her Miss Universe appearance, she remained in California and secured a contract with Universal Studios.
Hingert’s most notable film role came in 1956 when she appeared as a royal wife in 20th Century Fox’s adaptation of “The King and I,” starring Yul Brynner, Deborah Kerr, and Rita Moreno. The film earned nine Academy Award nominations and won five Oscars. She also had an uncredited role in the Western “Pillars of the Sky” alongside Jeff Chandler and Dorothy Malone that same year.
Following her breakthrough, Hingert took on more substantial roles in Western films, often portraying Native American characters. She starred in “Gun Fever” in 1958, a film starring, directed, and co-written by Mark Stevens, where she played the character Tanana. In 1959, she appeared in “Gunmen From Laredo” as Rosita, often credited under the stage name Jana Davi.
Her filmography also included appearances in “Fort Bowie” and “The Rawhide Trail,” both released in 1958. On television, she appeared in episodes of “The Adventures of Hiram Holliday,” “Death Valley Days,” and “Captain David Grief.” Her first credited television appearance was in a 1957 episode of “The Adventures of Hiram Holliday.”
Beyond acting, Hingert worked as a professional dancer, performing at major Los Angeles venues including the Shrine Auditorium. A photograph from the set of “Gun Fever” was featured in Playboy magazine in September 1957, further raising her profile in Hollywood.
In 1958, she married Mario Armond Zamparelli, chief designer for Howard Hughes’ corporate empire, who worked on projects including RKO Pictures movie posters and the Desert Inn. The couple met when Hingert was modeling for a TWA mural that Zamparelli was painting for Hughes. They had three daughters together: Gina, Andrea, and Marisa.
Hingert stepped away from acting in the early 1960s to focus on raising her family. Her marriage to Zamparelli ended in divorce in 1970. She later married William J. Ballard in 1976, and they remained together until his death in 2012.
Tragedy struck the family multiple times over the years. Daughter Andrea died in 2009 at age 42, while Gina, who worked as a concert promoter in Los Angeles, died in 2018 at age 59 from a brain tumor. Hingert is survived by her daughter Marisa.
Hingert’s appearance at the 1955 Miss Universe pageant was credited with helping put Sri Lanka on the international map, making her the first contestant from her country to reach the finals of the competition. Her participation in the historic first televised Miss Universe contest opened doors to a Hollywood career that spanned nearly a decade.
Her death was first announced on social media by fellow Sri Lankan actress Angela Seneviratne on July 1, before being confirmed by family members to entertainment publications. The announcement highlighted her pioneering role as both a beauty pageant contestant and actress who helped bring recognition to Sri Lanka on the international stage during Hollywood’s golden age.
