About
Mariska Magdolna Hargitay (born January 23, 1964) is an American actress, producer, director and activist, best known for her role as New York City sex crimes Detective Olivia Benson on on the NBC television drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, a role that has earned her multiple awards and nominations, including an Emmy and Golden Globe. The daughter of actress Jayne Mansfield and actor/bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay, Hargitay is a former beauty queen who made her film debut in the 1985 horror-comedy film Ghoulies, and her major television debut in the 1986 adventure drama series, Downtown. She appeared in numerous roles in film and television shows throughout the late 1980s and 1990s before being cast as Olivia Benson, a role that led to her founding the Joyful Heart Foundation, which provides support to women who have been sexually abused.
Known for
Law & OrderSeries • 1990
Law & Order: Special Victims UnitSeries • 1999
Chicago FireSeries • 2012
Chicago P.D.Series • 2014
Sesame StreetSeries • 1969
SeinfeldSeries • 1989
ERSeries • 1994
Falcon CrestSeries • 1981
BaywatchSeries • 1989
Law & Order: Organized CrimeSeries • 2021
EllenSeries • 1994
WiseguySeries • 1987
thirtysomethingSeries • 1987
The Single GuySeries • 1995
Law & Order: Trial by JurySeries • 2005
Freddy's NightmaresSeries • 1988
JoJo's CircusSeries • 2003
BookerSeries • 1989
Leaving Las VegasMovie • 1995
Lake PlacidMovie • 1999
All-American GirlSeries • 1994
CrackerSeries • 1997
The Love GuruMovie • 2008
My Mom JayneMovie • 2025