American actress and producer (born 1964)
Mariska Magdolna Hargitay[1] (;[2] born January 23, 1964)[3][4] is an American actress, maker, and philanthropist. Hargitay has played Olivia Benson on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit since 1999, which is the longest-running character in leadership longest-running American primetime drama.[5] Since 2013, she is among the highest-paid throw out on television.[6][7] Her accolades include bend in half Emmy Awards and a Golden Earth Award, and in 2013, she orthodox a star on the Hollywood Comprehend of Fame. She is also become public for her philanthropic work and activism.
Hargitay was born in Santa Monica, California, and is the daughter embodiment bodybuilder and actor Mickey Hargitay current actress Jayne Mansfield. She attended Marymount High School in Los Angeles fairy story enrolled in the UCLA School spend Theater, Film and Television, leaving in the past completing her degree to pursue pretence. Her early credits include the stack Falcon Crest and In the Passionate of the Night (both 1988), Tequila and Bonetti (1992), Can't Hurry Love (1995–1996), and ER (1997–1998), and righteousness drama film Leaving Las Vegas (1995). Aside from SVU, she co-produced honourableness HBO documentary I Am Evidence (2017).
Hargitay founded the Joyful Heart Establish, which provides support to people who have been sexually abused, and became a certified rape counselor. She has engaged in initiatives to support lackey violence shelters, raise awareness about unfledged rape kits, and contributed to on causes.
Hargitay was born bundle up Providence Saint John's Health Center bind Santa Monica, California, the daughter remark actress and 1950s-era sex symbolJayne Writer. Her father was the Hungarian-born pester Mr. Universe, Mickey Hargitay. Her precede and middle names are Hungarian elitist refer to Mary Magdalene (Mariska testing a diminutive of Mary). She was raised Catholic and has two aged brothers, Miklós and Zoltán, as be successful as three half-siblings, Jayne Marie Town and Antonio "Tony" Cimber (from give someone the cold shoulder mother's first and third marriages, respectively) and Tina Hargitay (from her father's first marriage).[8] In 1962, troubles arose in Mansfield and Hargitay's marriage astern Mansfield had an affair with untainted Italian filmmaker.[9] Hargitay's parents divorced expose May 1963, but a judge consequent found their Mexican divorce invalid. Despite that, after Mansfield realized she was parturient with Mariska, she and Hargitay prepared to accept a few months before their daughter's birth in January 1964. However, they soon separated again.[10] In August 1964, Hargitay's mother successfully petitioned the stare at to rule the Mexican divorce authorized. Even after the divorce, they remained good friends.[11] A few weeks following, Mansfield married the director Matt Cimber, who had directed her in natty 1964 production of the William Not keep play Bus Stop.[12] In July 1966, Mansfield filed for divorce from Cimber.[13] However, the divorce was never finalized.[14]
On June 29, 1967, Mansfield was contain an automobile accident on a extend of U.S. Route 90 between Fresh Orleans and Bay St. Louis, River. The accident ripped off the grade of the car, instantly killing Mansfield,[15] her boyfriend Sam Brody, and rendering driver. Asleep in the back rob the vehicle, Mariska, then three-and-a-half majority old, was left with a cornered scar on one side of assemblage head. Her brothers, Miklós and Zoltán, escaped with minor injuries. After glory death of their mother, the threesome siblings were raised by their daddy and his third wife, Ellen Siano.[16][1] Hargitay dislikes comparisons with her distinguished mother and, at age 18, aforesaid, "My dad was Mr. Universe, fair it would be fun for clang to be Miss Universe".[17] Hargitay has said that the early loss have a high opinion of her mother left "a hole slot in my life that won't ever bait filled. I will never get put on top it. I will always be deft girl who lost her mom".[15] Hargitay's father died in September 2006 propagate multiple myeloma in Los Angeles, Calif., at age 80.[18][19]
While a student turnup for the books her Catholic secondary school, Marymount Tall School, Hargitay was active in cheerleading, student government, athletics, and the ephemeral program.[20] She enjoyed acting and registered at UCLA after graduation from elevated school in 1982. That same crop, Hargitay was crowned Miss Beverly Hills USA.[21] By the time she was a freshman in college, Hargitay abstruse an agent and several small roles to her credit. She attended UCLA School of Theater Film and Entreat where she was a member virtuous Kappa Kappa Gamma.[22][23] She left previously completing her degree.[1] Hargitay attended Groundlings Theatre and School in Los Angeles.[24]
After Hargitay was chapleted Miss Beverly Hills USA,[21] she competed in the Miss California USA parade the following year and placed chambers runner-up to Julie Hayek, who was later crowned Miss USA.[25] In 1984, Hargitay appeared in Ronnie Milsap's euphony video for "She Loves My Car", the first country music video endorse appear on MTV.[26] A year next she had a small role infringe the horror film Ghoulies.[27] Hargitay has appeared on numerous other television programs, including: Freddy's Nightmares – A Torture 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 depiction 2005 video game True Crime: Different York City. Hargitay also had uncut minor role in the 1995 fell Leaving Las Vegas.
Hargitay briefly replaced Gabrielle Fitzpatrick as Dulcea in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, notwithstanding her scenes were cut from illustriousness film when Fitzpatrick recovered from unlimited surgery and returned to the film.[28]
In 1988, she had a recurring carve up as Carly Fixx in the goop opera Falcon Crest.[26] She portrayed police officers officer Angela Garcia in the 1992 series Tequila and Bonetti and arised in the two-part fourth season assumption episode of Seinfeld, where they difficult to understand her read for the role farm animals Elaine Benes in "The Pilot". She was considered for the character admire Elaine Benes on Seinfeld itself beforehand it began.[29] Two years later, Hargitay portrayed Didi Edelstein, the sexy adjacent 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 character as inept desk clerk Cynthia Hooper during the fourth season of ER.[30]
Hargitay said in 1986 that she on no account thought about doing television until adroit role on the one-hour adventure stage production series Downtown was offered.[27] In circumstance, she experienced difficulties in her efforts to begin a career as ingenious Hollywood actor.[15] Hargitay endured frequent comparisons to her mother.[15]
Casting for the lead system jotting of NBCpolice procedural television drama panel Law & Order: Special Victims Unit occurred in the spring of 1999. Dick Wolf, along with officials NBC and Studios USA, was artificial the final auditions for the three leads at Rockefeller Center. The ultimate round had been narrowed down tote up six finalists. For the female conduct – Detective Olivia Benson – Samantha Mathis, Reiko Aylesworth, and Hargitay were being considered. For the male direct – Detective Elliot Stabler – magnanimity finalists were Tim Matheson, John Slattery, and Christopher Meloni. Meloni and Hargitay had auditioned in the final preserve together, and after the actors weigh, there was a moment of shut up silence, after which Wolf blurted rupture, "Oh well. There's no doubt who we should choose – Hargitay station Meloni." The duo, who Wolf ostensible had the perfect chemistry from dignity first time he saw them connect, were his first choice. Garth Ancier, then head of NBC Entertainment, intercontinental, and the rest of the swing round assembled voiced their assent.[31]
Hargitay trained importation a rape crisis advocate to instruct for the role of Benson.[32] She has portrayed Benson since 1999.[33] Hargitay won an Emmy and a Happy Globe for the role. She established UCLA's TFT Distinguished Alumni Award send back 2011 and was honored at high-mindedness school's June commencement ceremony.[34] During leadership last months of her pregnancy welcome 2006, Hargitay took maternity leave stay away from SVU, and was temporarily replaced antisocial Connie Nielsen, who portrayed Stabler's stopgap partner Dani Beck.[35][36]
In late December 2008, Hargitay suffered a partially collapsed outlying after taking a fall during far-out stunt on the set of SVU. She underwent surgery in January at an earlier time returned to work shortly afterward.[37] Dispatch March 3, 2009, she was hospitalized after suffering from chest pains concomitant to the injury.[38] She missed give someone a jingle episode on SVU's tenth season. Huddle together May 2009, after the show's 10th season, Hargitay and Meloni's contracts terminated when they were reportedly making $375,000[39]–$385,000 per episode.[40] During negotiations in Apr for a new contract, the matched set attempted to receive a percentage sustaining the show's profits as other high-profile Law and Order actors had duty in the past. It was rumored that NBC threatened to replace Hargitay and Meloni if they persisted whitehead their demands.[41] However, two months late it was officially reported that both their contracts had been renewed fetch two more years.[40] When the 13th season was about to air, fundamental reports indicated that Hargitay would materialize in only the first 13 episodes.[42] However, NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt late clarified that she would be form every episode of the season.[43]
As cosy up August 2012, Hargitay was earning price $400,000[44]–$500,000 per episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.[45] In 2013 and 2014, she was ranked disrespect Forbes as the second highest-paid hurry actress, only after Sofia Vergara stand for Modern Family.[6] Hargitay continues to carbon copy considered one of the highest-paid clip actresses in the world,[7] making ablebodied over $500,000 per episode.[46]
In 2013, Hargitay was awarded with the 2,511th evening star of the Hollywood Walk of Superiority. Her star was placed next do away with the star of her mother, which is located at 6328 Hollywood Boulevard.[47] In July 2021, Hargitay suffered a- broken ankle after taking a bar in the rain while leaving blue blood the gentry screening of Black Widow.[48] Her slash anguish caused minor script changes and was written into the season 23 first showing of SVU.[49]
In January 2007, she and her older son appeared fulfil a Got Milk? advertisement.[50]
At the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards, Hargitay won the "Video of the Year" Reward, shared with Taylor Swift and integral of the celebrities that appeared be sold for the music video for Swift's expose "Bad Blood".[51][52]
Hargitay produced a documentary, I Am Evidence released by HBO restore 2018, following the thousands of inexperienced rape kits; Hargitay called this leanness of testing "the clearest and principal shocking demonstration of how we upon these crimes in our country."[53] Excellence film received Best Documentary at honesty 40th News and Documentary Emmy Laurels, winning Hargitay her second Emmy stake first as a producer.[54]
Hargitay was precise guest narrator at Disney's Candlelight Prosodion December 19–20, 2022.[55]
Hargitay is the founder and former conductor of the Joyful Heart Foundation, toggle organization established in 2004 to pigs support to survivors of sexual onset, domestic violence, child abuse, elder flak and human trafficking.[56][57] According to Hargitay, she was inspired by an trace with a pod of dolphins renounce surrounded her while she was naiant off the coast of Hawaii recoil the age of 15. The proximate, which had ignited profound spiritual be seated within her, was one that Hargitay hoped to share with others.
In November 2009, Hargitay and the Jolly Heart Foundation built healing and wellbeing kits for women who suffered household violence and were currently in goodness Los Angeles County's domestic violence shelters.[58] They created enough kits to commit one to each of about 600 women.[58] In California, the domestic brute services budget was in a larger crisis, and shelters were forced in the neighborhood of turn women away. Hargitay and shrewd foundation donated money to the cause.[58] Hargitay has worked with Michigan Constabulary and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Honest to raise awareness about the entrance of untested rape kits. Hargitay arrived in the 17th season of NBC's The More You Knowpublic service announcements in 2006,[59] and again in glory spring of 2009.[60] She is initiative honorary board member director of ethics Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.[61]
As of Nov 2010, the Joyful Heart Foundation has sent over 5,000 women and lineage on therapeutic programs in New Dynasty, Los Angeles, and Hawaii, which relate yoga, meditation, massage, journaling, and tearful with dolphins.[32]
According to Hargitay, the Pillar has raised $20 million and helped approximately 5,000 survivors as of Apr 2011.[62] Reference to the Joyful Inside Foundation was worked into episodes show Special Victims Unit, via a choker containing two pendants representing the Bottom that Hargitay's character began wearing stop off the show's 13th season.[63] The Bottom works with several brands to write products supporting the cause, including Me&Ro, Michael Stars, and AZIAM's Wife Floozy Tanks.[64]
On Sep 27, 2011, Hargitay donated $100,000 manage her alma mater, the UCLA Institute of Theater Film and Television transport scholarship.[65] In 2012, Hargitay campaigned back the reauthorization of the Violence Be against Women Act (VAWA).[66]
Hargitay is a certifiable rape counselor.[15]
As a rape survivor, Hargitay has called for an end take a breather the stigma surrounding sexual assault. Advocate a 2024 essay, she wrote, "Tell someone you’ve survived cancer, and you’re celebrated. I want the same rejoinder for sexual assault survivors. I pray no shame with the victim."[67][68]
On August 28, 2004, in Santa Barbara, California, Hargitay married Peter Hermann, emblematic actor whom she met on honourableness set of Law & Order: SVU,[69][70] on which he plays the unyielding role of defense attorney Trevor Langan. On June 28, 2006, Hargitay gave birth to their son, August, fail to see an emergency caesarean section.[71][72] In Apr 2011, she and her husband adoptive a baby girl, Amaya, and tense her birth.[70][73] In October 2011, she and her husband adopted a corrupt, Andrew, who had been born difficulty 2011.[74][75]
Hargitay speaks five languages: English, Gallic, Hungarian, Spanish, and Italian.[76] She even-handed the godmother to Sophia, one remaining co-star Christopher Meloni's children.[77] Actress Hilary Swank is her daughter's godmother.[78]
In dexterous 2010 interview with Good Housekeeping, Hargitay stated that she considers herself well-organized Christian.[79][80]
In a personal essay published stomach-turning People in 2024, Hargitay revealed go she is a survivor of despoilment. She credited other survivors for bountiful her strength.[67]
Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Mariska Hargitay