Before the Kardashians, There Were the Gabor Sisters

The Gabor sisters—Zsa Zsa (1917–2016), Eva (1919–1995), and Magda (1915–1997)—were Hungarian-American socialites and actresses who gained fame in the 1950s and 1960s for their glamour, charm, and high-profile marriages. Each had a distinct career and public persona, but they were collectively known for their wit, wealth, and opulent lifestyles.

Outside of their careers, they were each well known for their serial matrimony: Magda was married six times; Zsa Zsa nine times; and Eva five times. British actor George Sanders was first married to Zsa Zsa and later to Magda, though the latter marriage only lasted one month.

The Gabor sisters were born into a family of Hungarian-Jewish background, in Budapest, Hungary to parents Vilmos and Jolie Gabor. The family moved to New York in the wake of World War II. Magda had played a small role in a Hungarian film before the war, so Jolie and her three daughters moved to Hollywood to break into the film business. Eva was the first of the sisters to immigrate to the US, shortly after her first marriage, to a Swedish osteopath, Dr. Eric Drimmer, whom she married in 1937 when she was 18 years old.

The Gabors were among the earliest “famous for being famous” celebrities, appearing in gossip columns, on talk shows, and at high-profile events. They epitomized old Hollywood glamour with their jewels, gowns, and European charm. They were often seen on TV game shows like What’s My Line? and Hollywood Squares, adding to their public persona. Their personal lives—particularly Zsa Zsa’s—fascinated the public, making them icons of excess and high society.

In his autobiography, television host Merv Griffin, who was known to spend time with Eva socially, wrote of the Gabor sisters' initial presence in New York and Los Angeles: “All these years later, it's hard to describe the phenomenon of the three glamorous Gabor girls and their ubiquitous mother. They burst onto the society pages and into the gossip columns so suddenly, and with such force, it was as if they'd been dropped out of the sky.”