Delving deeper into the less-known aspects of her personal life, the question often arises, “Was Inger Stevens married to a black man?” the surprising answer lies in her secret and revolutionary union with Ike Jones.
Inger Stevens, the acclaimed Swedish-American actress, left behind an enduring legacy of riveting performances and, unexpectedly, a mystery that unfolded posthumously.
As private as it was, her personal life belied a profound and undisclosed romance that transcended the racial boundaries of her time. This article delves into the covert marital bond she shared with Ike Jones, an African-American pioneer in Hollywood.
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Was Inger Stevens Married To A Black Man?
Inger Stevens, a notable Swedish-American actress and Golden Globe winner had an intriguing personal life almost as captivating as her successful career in the film industry.
Although known for her stunning performances on the screen, the details of her private life were often shrouded in mystery, especially her relationship status. Indeed, Stevens was first married to her agent Anthony Soglio from 1955 to 1957.
However, the highlight of her love life came to light only after her untimely death in 1970. This is when Ike Jones, a pioneering African-American figure in theater, film, and television, made a startling revelation.
Jones claimed that he had secretly married Stevens in 1961 in Mexico. This was at a time when interracial marriages were not widely accepted, and in Hollywood, it could have potentially damaged an actor’s reputation or career.
Some expressed doubts about Jones’s assertion due to the absence of a publicly available marriage license, separate living arrangements, and individual tax filings.
Nonetheless, during the settlement of Stevens’s estate, her brother Carl O. Stensland confirmed in court that Stevens had kept her marriage to Jones a secret out of fear for her career.
This was further validated by a ruling from Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner A. Edward Nichols, who acknowledged Jones’s claim and appointed him as the administrator of Stevens’s estate.
A photographic proof of the couple attending a banquet together in 1968 also surfaced, providing substantial evidence of the clandestine relationship.
Inger Stevens Ethnicity And Religion
Born as Ingrid Stensland on October 18, 1934, in Stockholm, Sweden, Inger Stevens belonged to a Swedish ethnicity. She was the eldest child of Per Gustaf and Lisbet Stensland.
Following the departure of her mother and then her father moving to the U.S., Stevens spent her early years under the guardianship of her family maid and, later, an aunt on Lidingö, an island near Stockholm.
Stevens and her brother moved to the U.S. in 1944 to live with their father and his new wife in New York City.
Despite being of Swedish origin, Stevens quickly assimilated into American culture as her family moved from New York City to Manhattan, Kansas, where she spent her teenage years.
She started her journey into show business there, initially working in burlesque shows before returning to New York City to pursue a career in acting. As for her religious beliefs, Stevens was relatively private about this aspect of her life.
There are no public records or definitive statements about her religious affiliation. Like many aspects of her personal life, Stevens kept her faith to herself, maintaining the focus on her acting career.
In conclusion, the life of Inger Stevens was filled with intriguing contrasts. On the one hand, she was a successful and admired actress whose work on stage and screen won her numerous accolades.
On the other hand, her life was filled with secrets and untold stories, such as her marriage to Ike Jones, which only came to light after her tragic and untimely death.
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