Mariska Hargitay

Early life

Mariska Magdolna Hargitay was born at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California to actress Jayne Mansfield. Her biological father was the Brazilian singer Nelson Sardelli, a fact Hargitay did not learn until she was in her twenties. She was conceived during Mansfield's marriage to Mickey Hargitay, so he was her legal father; she grew up believing he was her biological father as well. Her first and middle names are Hungarian and refer to Mary Magdalene (Mariska is a Hungarian diminutive of Mary). From the time Mansfield married Matt Cimber until her death in 1967, Hargitay was known as "Maria" due to Cimber's Italian heritage. She was raised Catholic. Mansfield had four other children: Jayne Marie Mansfield, Miklós "Mickey" Hargitay, Jr., Zoltán Hargitay, and Antonio "Tony" Cimber. Hargitay also has three half-sisters from her biological father: Venetia Sardelli (1960–2001), Giovanna Sardelli and Pietra Sardelli.

On June 29, 1967, Hargitay, her brothers Miklós and Zoltán, Mansfield, Sam Brody (Mansfield's then-boyfriend), and driver Ronnie Harrison were in an automobile crash on a stretch of U.S. Route 90 between New Orleans and Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The accident ripped off the top of the car, instantly killing Mansfield, Brody, and Harrison. Asleep in the back of the vehicle, three-and-a-half-year-old Hargitay and her brothers escaped with minor injuries. The accident left Hargitay with a zig-zag scar on her head.

After Mansfield's death, Hargitay and her brothers were raised by Mickey Hargitay and his third wife, Ellen Siano. Hargitay has said that the early loss of her mother left "a hole in my life that won't ever be filled. I will never get over it. I will always be a girl who lost her mom."

Hargitay began attending the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1982 as a theater arts major. That same year, Hargitay was crowned Miss Beverly Hills USA. By the time she was a freshman in college, Hargitay had an agent and several small roles to her credit. She attended UCLA School of Theater Film and Television where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She left college before completing her degree. Hargitay attended Groundlings Theatre and School in Los Angeles.

Career

Early work and roles

After Hargitay was crowned Miss Beverly Hills USA, she competed in the Miss California USA pageant the following year and placed fourth runner-up to Julie Hayek, who was later crowned Miss USA. In 1984, Hargitay appeared in Ronnie Milsap's music video for "She Loves My Car", the first country music video to appear on MTV. A year later she had a small role in the horror film Ghoulies. Hargitay has appeared on numerous other television programs, including: Freddy's Nightmares – A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Series; Ellen; All-American Girl; Baywatch; Cracker; Gabriel's Fire; In the Heat of the Night; The Single Guy; Wiseguy; and thirtysomething. Her voice is featured on the 2005 video game True Crime: New York City.

Hargitay briefly replaced Gabrielle Fitzpatrick as Dulcea in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, although her scenes were cut from the film when Fitzpatrick recovered from her surgery and returned to the film. In 1988, she had a recurring role as Carly Fixx in the soap opera Falcon Crest. Hargitay played Jill Banner in the Japanese-American co-production Strawberry Road in 1991. She portrayed police officer Angela Garcia in the 1992 series Tequila and Bonetti and appeared in the two-part fourth season finale episode of Seinfeld, where they had her read for the role of Elaine Benes in "The Pilot". She was considered for the character of Elaine Benes on Seinfeld itself before it began. Two years later, Hargitay portrayed Didi Edelstein, the sexy next-door neighbor, in the 1995 sitcom Can't Hurry Love, which starred Nancy McKeon. In 1997, Hargitay played detective Nina Echeverria on the drama series Prince Street, and had a recurring role as inept desk clerk Cynthia Hooper during the fourth season of ER.

Hargitay said in 1986 that she never thought about doing television until a role on the one-hour adventure drama series Downtown was offered. In fact, she experienced difficulties in her efforts to begin a career as a Hollywood actor. Hargitay endured frequent comparisons to her mother.

''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit''

Hargitay is best known for her portrayal of Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU. Benson is the longest-running character on the longest-running American primetime drama in history.

Casting for the lead characters of NBC police procedural television drama series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit occurred in the spring of 1999. Dick Wolf, along with officials from NBC and Studios USA, was at the final auditions for the two leads at Rockefeller Center. The last round had been narrowed down to six finalists. For the female lead – Detective Olivia Benson – Samantha Mathis, Reiko Aylesworth, and Hargitay were being considered. For the male lead – Detective Elliot Stabler – the finalists were Tim Matheson, John Slattery, and Christopher Meloni. Meloni and Hargitay had auditioned in the final round together, and after the actors left, there was a moment of dead silence, after which Wolf blurted out, "Oh well. There's no doubt who we should choose – Hargitay and Meloni." The duo, who Wolf believed had the perfect chemistry from the first time he saw them together, were his first choice. Garth Ancier, then head of NBC Entertainment, agreed, and the rest of the panel assembled voiced their assent.

Hargitay trained as a rape crisis advocate to prepare for the role of Benson. She has portrayed Benson since 1999. Hargitay won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for the role. She received UCLA's TFT Distinguished Alumni Award in 2011 and was honored at the school's June commencement ceremony. During the last months of her pregnancy in 2006, Hargitay took maternity leave from SVU, and was temporarily replaced by Connie Nielsen, who portrayed Stabler's temporary partner Dani Beck.

In late December 2008, Hargitay suffered a partially collapsed lung after taking a fall during a stunt on the set of SVU. She underwent surgery in January and returned to work shortly afterward.

In May 2009, after the show's tenth season, Hargitay and Meloni's contracts expired when they were reportedly making $375,000–$385,000 per episode. During negotiations in April for a new contract, the duo attempted to receive a percentage of the show's profits as other high-profile Law and Order actors had done in the past. It was rumored that NBC threatened to replace Hargitay and Meloni if they persisted in their demands. However, two months later it was officially reported that both their contracts had been renewed for two more years. When the thirteenth season was about to air, initial reports indicated that Hargitay would appear in only the first 13 episodes. However, NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt later clarified that she would be in every episode of the season.

As of August 2012, Hargitay was earning approximately $400,000–$500,000 per episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. In 2013, Hargitay was awarded with the 2,511th star of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her star was placed next to the star of her mother, which is located at 6328 Hollywood Boulevard. In 2013 and 2014, she was ranked by Forbes as the second-highest-paid television actress, after only Sofía Vergara of Modern Family. In the following years, Hargitay continued to be considered one of the highest-paid television actresses in the world, making well over $500,000 per episode.

In July 2021, Hargitay suffered a broken ankle after taking a fall in the rain while leaving the screening of Black Widow. Her injury caused minor script changes and was written into the season 23 premiere of SVU. In 2025, Forbes named Hargitay as the 11th highest-paid actor of 2024, 2nd highest-paid actress after Nicole Kidman, and the highest-paid actor on television by a wide-margin, earning an estimated $750,000 per episode between acting, producing, and syndication profits from 26 seasons of SVU.

Other ventures

In January 2007, Hargitay and her older son appeared in a Got Milk? advertisement. At the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards, Hargitay won the "Video of the Year" Award, shared with Taylor Swift and all of the celebrities that appeared in the music video for Swift's song "Bad Blood".

Hargitay has produced a documentary, I Am Evidence. Released by HBO in 2018, the documentary discusses the thousands of untested rape kits in the United States. Hargitay called the reality of untested rape kits "the clearest and most shocking demonstration of how we regard these crimes in our country." The film received Best Documentary at the 40th News and Documentary Emmy Awards, winning Hargitay her second Emmy and first as a producer.

Hargitay was a guest narrator at Disney's Candlelight Processional on December 19 and 20, 2022. In 2025, Hargitay announced the launch of Mighty Entertainment, a production company. Hargitay's feature film directorial debut, My Mom Jayne, was released in the United States by Mighty Entertainment in June 2025. The documentary film delved into the life and death of her mother, Jayne Mansfield. That same year, she served as an executive producer on Nuns vs. The Vatican directed by Lorena Luciano.

Joyful Heart Foundation

In November 2009, Hargitay and the Joyful Heart Foundation built healing and wellness kits for women who suffered domestic violence and were living in the Los Angeles County's domestic violence shelters. They created enough kits to give one to each of about 600 women. In California, the domestic violence services budget was in a major crisis, and shelters were forced to turn women away. Hargitay and her foundation donated money to the cause. Hargitay has worked with Michigan Police and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy to raise awareness about the statistics of untested rape kits. Hargitay appeared in the 17th season of NBC's The More You Know public service announcements in 2006, and again in the spring of 2009. She is an honorary board member director of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.

As of November 2010, the Joyful Heart Foundation had sent over 5,000 women and children on therapeutic programs in New York, Los Angeles, and Hawaii, which combine yoga, meditation, massage, journaling, and swimming with dolphins. According to Hargitay, the Foundation had raised $20 million as of April 2011. Reference to the Joyful Heart Foundation was worked into episodes of Special Victims Unit, via a necklace containing two pendants representing the Foundation that Hargitay's character began wearing in the show's 13th season. The Foundation works with several brands to create products supporting the cause, including Me&Ro, Michael Stars, and AZIAM's Wife Lover Tanks.

Continued activism

On September 27, 2011, Hargitay donated $100,000 to her alma mater, the UCLA School of Theater Film and Television for scholarship. In 2012, Hargitay campaigned for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). In 2025, Hargitay was included on the inaugural TIME100 Philanthropy list for her work.

Rape counseling

Hargitay is a certified rape counselor, as reported in 2004. As a rape survivor, she has called for an end to the stigma surrounding sexual assault. In a 2024 essay for People, she wrote, "Tell someone you've survived cancer, and you're celebrated. I want the same response for sexual assault survivors. I want no shame with the victim."

Personal life

On August 28, 2004, in Santa Barbara, California, Hargitay married Peter Hermann, an actor she met on the set of Law & Order: SVU. Hermann plays the recurring role of defense attorney Trevor Langan on Law & Order: SVU. On June 28, 2006, Hargitay gave birth to their son by an emergency caesarean section. In April 2011, she and her husband adopted a baby girl. In October 2011, she and her husband adopted a son.

Mickey Hargitay died in September 2006 from multiple myeloma in Los Angeles, California, at age 80.

In December 2008, Hargitay suffered a partially collapsed lung after falling on the set of SVU. She underwent surgery in January 2009 and was hospitalized on March 3, 2009 after suffering from chest pains related to the injury.

Hargitay speaks five languages: English, French, Hungarian, Spanish, and Italian. She is the godmother to SVU co-star Christopher Meloni's daughter, Sophia. Actress Hilary Swank is the godmother of Hargitay's daughter. In a 2010 interview with Good Housekeeping, Hargitay stated that she considers herself a Christian.

In 2024, Hargitay publicly disclosed that she is a rape survivor.

In 2025, Hargitay publicly disclosed that her biological father was not Mickey Hargitay, but Nelson Sardelli. Hargitay met Sardelli for the first time at the age of 30.

Filmography

Television

Film

Video games

Music videos

Awards and nominations

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Mariska Hargitay

References

Citations

Bibliography

References

1. Gelt, Jessica. (November 10, 2013). "Mariska Hargitay". [[Los Angeles Times]].
2. (September 22, 2014). "Inside the Actors Studio: Mariska Hargitay". [[The Actors Studio]].
3. "Say How: H". National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled.
4. (October 1, 1995). "Focus Forum". [[The Times-Picayune]].
5. "Birth of Mariska Hargitay". [[Los Angeles Public Library]].
6. (January 1996). "California 's Conclusive Presumption of Paternity and the Expansion of Unwed Fathers' Rights". Golden Gate University Law Review.
7. "Parenting Rights in California: Marriage v. Biology". University of San Francisco Law Review.
8. "The Presumption of Legitimacy". [[Louisiana State University]].
9. "Michael H. v. Gerald D., 491 U.S. 110 (1989)". [[Justia]].
10. Press, Joy. (May 17, 2025). "Mariska Hargitay Was "Living a Lie" for 30 Years. Now She's Embracing Her Mother, Jayne Mansfield—and Her Biological Father".
11. (June 20, 2025). "''[[My Mom Jayne]]''". [[HBO]].
12. (June 9, 2024). "Jayne Mansfield's 5 Children: All About the Late Actress' Daughters and Sons".
13. (January 23, 2019). "Inside Mariska Hargitay's Unique Journey: Surviving a Hollywood Tragedy, Speaking Up and Scoring the Best Gig on TV".
14. Coyne, Kate. (October 2004). "Surviving the past".
15. Eidell, Lynsey. (June 29, 2025). "Jayne Mansfield's Death: Revisiting the Fatal Car Accident and Her Hollywood Legacy, 58 Years Later".
16. Finn, Natalie. (June 14, 2025). "Inside the Tragic True Story of Mariska Hargitay's Mother Jayne Mansfield".
17. Josh Lezmi. (April 1, 2020). "How 'SVU' Star Mariska Hargitay Describes Her Stepmom, Ellen Hargitay".
18. (1983). "Bruin Life 1983, The Yearbook at UCLA". Internet Archive.
19. "NOTABLE ALUMNI ACTORS". UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.
20. Virtel, Louis. (March 4, 2010). "Was Kathy Griffin's Censored SVU Scene Payback from an Injured Mariska Hargitay?".
21. Graydon, Carter E.. (June 7, 1982). "People: Jun. 7, 1982".
22. Gladstone, Mark. (January 10, 1983). "New Rules Make Runner-up in Beauty Contest a Winner". [[Los Angeles Times]].
23. Buck, Jerry. (January 7, 1988). "Mariska Hargitay Joins 'Falcon Crest' Cast". Tribune Company.
24. Mills, Bart. (August 12, 1986). "Hargitay goes 'Downtown'". [[Daily Breeze]].
25. (August 25, 2010). "Interview with David Yost Part 2".
26. (January 1, 2022). "Seinfeld: The Actresses Who Almost Played Elaine Benes".
27. (April 2, 2018). "11 'E.R.' Characters Who Deserve Way More Love, From Cynthia Hooper To Lucy Knight".
28. (January 23, 2024). "Mariska Hargitay turns 60: look back at her Hollywood upbringing, 20-year love story, and life as Olivia Benson".
29. (July 25, 2022). "Fans Beg Mariska Hargitay To Be Careful After Seeing Her 'Terrifying' IG".
30. Kaplan, Ilana. (September 25, 2019). "As 'SVU' Makes History, Mariska Hargitay Makes Olivia Benson's Mission Her Own". The New York Times.
31. (2009). "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Unofficial Companion". [[BenBella Books]].
32. Oglethorpe, Alice. (November 2010). "Real American Heroes".
33. Vivinetto, Gina. (March 29, 2019). "'Law & Order: SVU' just made TV history — here's what Mariska Hargitay said".
34. Goldberg, Lesley. (September 27, 2011). "'Law & Order: SVU's' Mariska Hargitay Donates $100,000 to UCLA". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
35. Silverman, Stephen. (January 25, 2006). "Maternity Leave Looms for Mariska Hargitay".
36. (February 1, 2006). "SVU "Replaces" Benson". [[TV Guide]].
37. (May 19, 2009). "Mariska Hargitay Says "Stunt" Led to Partially Collapsed Lung". [[TV Guide]].
38. Schneider, Michael. (June 29, 2009). "Meloni, Hargitay seal deal with 'SVU'".
39. Martin, Denise. (June 29, 2009). "'Law & Order: SVU' stars Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay sign on for two more years". [[Los Angeles Times]].
40. Ausiello, Michael. (April 8, 2009). "'SVU' exclusive: NBC to replace Chris and Mariska?!".
41. Andreeva, Nellie. (May 14, 2011). "Law & Order: SVU Scoop: Hargitay Inks New Deal, Jennifer Love Hewitt May Succeed Her". [[TVLine]].
42. Porter, Rick. (August 1, 2011). "'Law & Order: SVU': Mariska Hargitay isn't going anywhere, NBC chief says". [[Zap2it]].
43. (August 26, 2013). "What They Earn".
44. Goldberg, Lesley. (April 20, 2012). "'Law & Order: SVU' Star Mariska Hargitay Inks New Deal With Universal Television (Exclusive)".
45. (November 1, 2013). "Mariska Hargitay to join mum on Hollywood Walk of Fame". Hollywood.com.
46. (May 12, 2015). "No. 2: Mariska Hargitay – 2015-05-12 – The Highest-Paid TV Actresses Of 2014".
47. Berg, Madeline. (September 14, 2016). "The World's Highest-Paid TV Actresses 2016: Sofia Vergara Stays The Queen Of The Small Screen With $43 Million".
48. (January 17, 2023). "You're Not Prepared for Mariska Hargitay's Net Worth Thanks to 'Law & Order: SVU'".
49. Etienne, Vanessa. (July 6, 2021). "Mariska Hargitay Reveals She Broke Her Right Ankle: 'Summer Look'".
50. Roots, Kimberly. (August 4, 2021). "SVU: Will Mariska Hargitay's Recent Injury Affect Benson's Season 23?".
51. Craig, Matt. (February 28, 2025). "The Highest-Paid Actors Of 2024".
52. (January 1, 2007). "The hottest mom in Hollywood". [[Condé Nast Publications]].
53. (November 17, 2015). "Mariska Hargitay on Instagram: Wish I could be with you and the rest of the #GirlSquad @TaylorSwift. So #honored and #thankful to have been part of this #masterful project. And though I have a #MoonMan of my own, that video was all you, baby. #MadLove for #BadBlood.".
54. (March 16, 2009). "Exclusive! SVU Boss: Mariska Hargitay Will Be Back This Season". [[Comcast]].
55. Williams, Corey. (March 10, 2014). "Mariska Hargitay: How the SVU star is fighting real-life sex crimes".
56. "I Am Evidence".
57. (March 2023). "Candlelight Narrators". Walt Disney}}{{failed verification.
58. Longeretta, Emily. (May 28, 2025). "Mariska Hargitay Launches Mighty Entertainment Production Company With 'My Mom Jayne' as First Project (EXCLUSIVE)".
59. Carey, Matthew. (August 6, 2025). "TIFF Documentary Lineup Revealed: Films On Canceled Paula Deen, Daring Aeronauts, "Modern Whores" And More".
60. Martin, Crystal. (September 29, 2011). "Behind the Scenes with Mariska Hargitay". [[Redbook]].
61. (July 5, 2010). "The Guide: What's Worth Watching".
62. Weller, Sheila. (May 2012). "My FAITH Pulled Me Through".
63. (December 16, 2005). "NBC Universal's "The More You Know" Launches Its 17th Season of Public Service Announcements with new Theme, New Look and New Faces". [[NBC Universal]].
64. "The More You Know". The [[National Domestic Violence Hotline]].
65. (2007). "MMRF Honorary Board of Directors".
66. (April 2011). "Ladies Who Give Back".
67. Keck, William. (November 7, 2011). "Ask Keck".
68. Jarema, Kerri. (February 25, 2011). "The Wife Lover".
69. Goldberg, Lesley. (September 27, 2011). "'Law & Order: SVU's' Mariska Hargitay Donates $100,000 to UCLA". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
70. Hargitay, Mariska. (April 26, 2012). "Violence Against Women Act Helps Restore Lives".
71. Booth, Harry. (May 20, 2025). "TIME100 Philanthropy: Mariska Hargitay".
72. Hargitay, Mariska. (January 10, 2024). "Mariska Hargitay Shares Her Experience in Her Own Words: A Rape. A Reckoning. A Renewal (Exclusive)".
73. (September 2, 2004). "Law & Order's Mariska Hargitay Gets Married".
74. Ravitz, Justin. (October 19, 2011). "Mariska Hargitay Adopts for Second Time in Six Months: New Details". [[Us Weekly]].
75. Masterson, Lawrie. (September 17, 2007). "Mum's the word for Mariska". [[The Herald and Weekly Times]].
76. Kimpton, Roger. (Summer 2010). "Hollywood on the Palisades".
77. Triggs, Charlotte. (April 6, 2011). "Mariska Hargitay Adopts a Baby". People.
78. Hubbard, Amy. (October 19, 2011). "Mariska Hargitay adopts second baby in 6 months: Give 'em an 'A'". [[Los Angeles Times]].
79. Triggs, Charlotte. (October 19, 2011). "Mariska Hargitay Adopts Son Andrew Nicolas".
80. Bonawitz, Amy. (September 19, 2006). "Actor Mickey Hargitay Dead At 80". [[CBS Corporation]].
81. McLellan, Dennis. (September 20, 2006). "Bodybuilder-actor Mickey Hargitay dies". [[Bangor Daily News]].
82. (May 19, 2009). "Mariska Hargitay Says "Stunt" Led to Partially Collapsed Lung". [[TV Guide]].
83. (March 4, 2009). "Mariska Hargitay hospitalized for chest pains". [[Access Hollywood]].
84. Diaz, Johnny. (November 13, 2005). "Speaking volumes: Use of Spanish booms on network programs". [[The Boston Globe]].
85. Showell, Brooke. (April 20, 2022). "A Guide to All of Hollywood's Celebrity Godparents".
86. Horgan, Richard. (May 31, 2017). "Hilary Swank, Mariska Hargitay and Heaps of Hamptons Love".
87. (January 23, 2019). "Inside Mariska Hargitay's Unique Journey: Surviving a Hollywood Tragedy, Speaking Up and Scoring the Best Gig on TV".
88. Keeps, David A.. (August 9, 2010). "Mariska Off-Duty".
89. Heller, Corinne. (May 18, 2025). "Mariska Hargitay Reveals Identity of Biological Father After 30-Year Family Secret". E!.
90. (May 18, 2025). "Mariska Hargitay reveals her biological father's identity: 'Living a lie my entire life'". [[USA Today]].
91. Surette, Tim. (September 19, 2005). "True Crime: NYC cuffs voice talent".
92. (March 6, 2013). "The surreal music-video masterpiece in Mariska Hargitay's past". the Bleader.
93. "Taylor Swift's 'Bad Blood' Video: Cindy Crawford, Mariska Hargitay, Ellen Pompeo Posters REVEALED [SEE PICS]". Fashion & Style.