On This Day
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American actress Jayne Mansfield and American film producer and director Matt Cimber file for divorce, after less than 2

American actress Jayne Mansfield and American film producer and director Matt Cimber file for divorce, after less than 2 years of marriage

Jayne Mansfield was an American actress, Playboy Playmate, singer, and sex symbol of the 1950s and early 1960s. She was known for her numerous publicity stunts, her buxom figure, and her personal life. Her film career was short-lived, but she won a Theatre World Award and a Golden Globe Award. Mansfield gained a reputation as Hollywood's "smartest dumb blonde".

Mansfield played the role of fictional actress Rita Marlowe in Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? on Broadway in 1955–56 and reprised the role in the 1957 film adaptation. Her other film roles include the musical comedy The Girl Can't Help It (1956), the drama The Wayward Bus (1957), the neo-noir Too Hot to Handle (1960), and the sex comedy Promises! Promises! (1963).

Historical Significance

Jayne Mansfield was an American actress, Playboy Playmate, singer, and sex symbol of the 1950s and early 1960s.

Key People

Jayne Mansfield

actress and Playmate

American actress and Playmate

–

Events Before

  1. 49-year-old former England international soccer forward Stanley Matthews is the only player to be awarded a knighthood w

    49-year-old former England international soccer forward Stanley Matthews is the only player to be awarded a knighthood while still playing for Stoke City

  2. State funeral for Winston Churchill at St Paul's Cathedral in London; at the time, the world's largest-ever state funera

    State funeral for Winston Churchill at St Paul's Cathedral in London; at the time, the world's largest-ever state funeral

  3. Righteous Brothers' music single "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" hits #1

    "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" is a song by Phil Spector, Barry Mann, and Cynthia Weil, first recorded in 1964 by the American vocal duo the Righteous Brothers.

  4. One of the most popular musical films of all time, "The Sound of Music," starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer,

    One of the most popular musical films of all time, "The Sound of Music," starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, premieres (Academy Award for Best Picture - 1966)

  5. Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov leaves his spacecraft Voskhod 2 for 12 minutes and becomes the first person to conduct a

    Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov leaves his spacecraft Voskhod 2 for 12 minutes and becomes the first person to conduct a spacewalk

Events After

  1. François Pienaar is born

    François Pienaar is born

  2. AFL Championship, War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo: Kansas City Chiefs beat Buffalo Bills, 31-7; QB Len Dawson passes for 2

    AFL Championship, War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo: Kansas City Chiefs beat Buffalo Bills, 31-7; QB Len Dawson passes for 2 TDs, RB Mike Garrett runs for 2 TDs

  3. Actor Lee Marvin (42) divorces Elizabeth Ebeling after 14 years of marriage

    Actor Lee Marvin (42) divorces Elizabeth Ebeling after 14 years of marriage

  4. Republican Edward W. Brooke of Massachusetts takes his seat as the first African American popularly elected to the US Se

    Republican Edward W. Brooke of Massachusetts takes his seat as the first African American popularly elected to the US Senate

  5. Canadian actor Christopher Plummer (37) divorces second wife, British columnist Patricia Lewis after nearly 5 years of m

    Canadian actor Christopher Plummer (37) divorces second wife, British columnist Patricia Lewis after nearly 5 years of marriage

More from the 1960s

Apollo 11 Moon Landing

NASA's Apollo 11 mission successfully lands the first humans on the Moon. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become the first people to walk on the lunar surface.

space exploration

Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" Speech

Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, calling for an end to racism in the United States.

civil rightspolitics government
birth

Tommy Morrison is born

Tommy Morrison, American professional boxer, known for american boxer, was born on 1969-01-02.

birth

Gabrielle Carteris is born

Gabrielle Carteris is born

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on July 20, 1966?
Jayne Mansfield was an American actress, Playboy Playmate, singer, and sex symbol of the 1950s and early 1960s. She was known for her numerous publicity stunts, her buxom figure, and her personal life. Her film career was short-lived, but she won a Theatre World Award and a Golden Globe Award.
Why is American actress Jayne Mansfield and American film producer and director Matt... significant?
Jayne Mansfield was an American actress, Playboy Playmate, singer, and sex symbol of the 1950s and early 1960s.
Who was involved in American actress Jayne Mansfield and American film producer and director Matt...?
Key figures include Jayne Mansfield (actress and Playmate).

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July 20 in HistoryYear 1966