Zsa Zsa Gabor

February 6, 1917–December 18, 2016

by JWA Staff
Our work to expand the Encyclopedia is ongoing. We are providing this brief biography for Zsa Zsa Gabor until we are able to commission a full entry.

Cover of Zsa Zsa Gabor's ghostwritten 1960 autobiography.

Known as much for her glamorous lifestyle and playful remarks about marriage as for her acting roles, Zsa Zsa Gabor thrived in the spotlight. Born Sari Gabor, the middle of three sisters (with Magda and Eva), Zsa Zsa made her stage debut in the operetta Der singende Traum before being crowned Miss Hungary in 1936. She immigrated to America in 1941 and married hotel tycoon Conrad Hilton. She made her film debut in 1952 with three films, including Moulin Rouge. Gabor enjoyed performing in campy comedies such as the 1958 Queens of Outer Space, filmed the same year she appeared in Touch of Evil. Unusually for the time, she appeared as often on television as she did in film (occasionally playing herself), in cameos on Mr. Ed, Gilligan’s Island, and Batman, finally retiring in 1994, after roles on Fresh Prince of Bel Air and in the Beverly Hillbillies movie. Famous for her nine marriages (one of which ended after one day), Gabor published several books with titles like Zsa Zsa’s Complete Guide to Men (1969) and regularly made jokes such as “I want a man with kindness and understanding. Is that too much to ask of a millionaire?” In spite of such quips, she remained married to Frederic Prinz von Anhalt from 1986 until her death.

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How to cite this page

Jewish Women's Archive. "Zsa Zsa Gabor." (Viewed on October 31, 2024) <http://qa.jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/gabor-zsa-zsa>.