Maureen Hingert, Actress in ‘The King and I’ and ‘Gunmen From Laredo,’ Dies at 88

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Maureen Hingert, the former Sri Lankan beauty queen who acted in films like “The King and I,” “Gun Fever,” and “Gunmen From Laredo,” passed away at the age of 88.

On Sunday, Hingert passed away at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena due to liver issues, as confirmed by her daughter, Marisa Zamparelli, to The Hollywood Reporter. She described the departure as a serene and tranquil one.

Miss Ceylon, aged 18, came in third place at the 1955 Miss Universe pageant held in Long Beach, California. Later, she played a royal wife in Fox’s extravagant version of the Broadway musical “The King and I” (1956), alongside stars Yul Brynner, Deborah Kerr, and Rita Moreno.

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In 1955, Miss Ceylon, who was 18 years old, placed third at the Miss Universe pageant held in Long Beach, California. Subsequently, she portrayed a royal wife in Fox’s grand production of the Broadway musical “The King and I” (1956), starring Yul Brynner, Deborah Kerr, and Rita Moreno.

In the movies “Gun Fever” (1958) and “Gunmen From Laredo” (1959), she played more substantial roles, appearing as Native American characters. These films were directed, co-written, and starred Mark Stevens. Under the name Jana Davi, she was credited in “Gunmen From Laredo”.

Maureen Neliya Hingert, who was born on January 9, 1937, in Colombo, Ceylon, made her debut in two films produced in her homeland in 1954 – “Circus Girl” and “Elephant Walk,” the latter of which starred Elizabeth Taylor and was directed by William Dieterle.

Following her victory as Miss Ceylon, she chose to reside in California after participating in the first televised Miss Universe competition. This appearance significantly boosted her South Asian island nation’s recognition. Additionally, it resulted in a contract from Universal Studios and a role in “Pillars of the Sky,” a Western film starring Jeff Chandler and Dorothy Malone.

In various locations across Los Angeles, she showcased her dancing skills, while a picture of her taken on the set of “Gun Fever” was published in Playboy magazine in September 1957.

Hingert’s resume featured several projects from 1958, including the films Fort Bowie and The Rawhide Trail, as well as episodes in shows like The Adventures of Hiram Holliday, Death Valley Days, and Captain David Grief. By the start of the 1960s, she had decided to step away from acting, not long after giving birth to her first child, Gina.

Her initial spouse was Mario Armond Zamparelli, the chief designer for Howard Hughes’ business empire (including RKO Pictures posters and the Desert Inn among others). They initially crossed paths when she was modeling for a TWA mural he was creating for Hughes, and their marriage lasted from 1958 until their divorce in 1970.

Gina Zamparelli, known for her work in concert promotion, passed away in 2018 at the age of 59 due to a brain tumor. Tragically, another one of her daughters, Andrea Zamparelli, lost her life in 2009 at the age of 42.

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2025-07-03 00:24