What is Matt Cimber doing now? All we know about Jayne Mansfield’s third husband amid domestic abuse allegations

My Mom Jayne’s premiere at the Cannes Film Festival made some revelations about the tragic life of The Wayward Bus star, including her short-lived marriage with filmmaker Matt Cimber.

According to People Magazine, the documentary directed by the actress’s daughter, Mariska Hargitay, hinted at her third marriage being even more problematic. Per the magazine, Mickey Jr., Hargitay’s brother, recounts her mother wearing sunglasses indoors to hide "two black eyes." People Magazine noted that the documentary didn’t delve deeper into the potential domestic abuse allegations against Matt Cimber.

Jayne Mansfield married her third husband in 1964 after divorcing Mickey Hargitay in the same year, per People Magazine. According to his LinkedIn profile, Matt Cimber (who fathered the actress’ youngest child, Antonio “Tony” Cimber) is an independent Film & TV director, writer, and producer. While he last directed Peace for Profit (2008) and Miriam (2006), Femena and Femme d'Action (announced in 2013) are listed as his upcoming projects on IMDb.

Matt Cimber’s directorial debut happened in Single Room Furnished, which starred Jayne Mansfield in her final acting role. The Italian filmmaker went on to direct multiple exploitation films during the ‘70s, including The Black Six, Lady Cocoa, and The Candy Tangerine Man, with the last one being one of the favorites of Samuel L Jackson and Quentin Tarantino, according to GCDb (The Grindhouse Cinema Database).

In a 2021 interview with Closely Observed Frames, Cimber was told about Tarantino being an admirer of his ‘70s work. Matt reciprocated,

“I think Quentin is the greatest and most creative filmmaker of our or any other time. He is a miracle that I have watched grow and grow. From the first of his films to date, his growth has been amazing.”

Besides his ‘70s films, Matt Cimber is well-known for his work on Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, a wrestling promotion, during the ‘80s. It inspired the Netflix series GLOW, in which the filmmaker inspired the role of Sam Sylvia (portrayed by Marc Maron).

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Matt Cimber and Jayne Mansfield were married for less than a year

The Challenge (1960) actress was married to ‘55 Mr. Universe and actor-bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay when she met her third husband. Cimber was directing Mansfield and her husband in a Broadway revival of the play Bus Stop in 1964, according to Woman's World. At the time, the actress was already having problems in her second marriage, including reports of infidelity.

After divorcing Hargitay, Jayne married Matt later that year, but their relationship didn’t last long. The pair eventually split the following year, with the Hollywood star being pregnant with her fifth child, Tony. Matt Cimber and Jayne Mansfield officially filed for a divorce in 1966, with the actress being linked to her attorney, Sam Brody.

Both, along with the driver, tragically passed away in a car crash in June 1967. After their demise, the actress’ daughter, Jayne Marie, alleged that her partner at the time, Brody, beat her mother, but the case was later dropped.