Mariska Hargitay

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

71

Gender

Female

Birthday

1964-01-23 (61 years old)

Place of Birth

Los Angeles, California, USA

Mariska Hargitay

Biography

Mariska 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 & Order: Special Victims Unit

    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

  • Law & Order

    Law & Order

  • The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

    The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

  • Chicago Fire

    Chicago Fire

  • Chicago P.D.

    Chicago P.D.

  • Late Night with Seth Meyers

    Late Night with Seth Meyers

  • Seinfeld

    Seinfeld

  • Sesame Street

    Sesame Street

  • Saturday Night Live

    Saturday Night Live

  • Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

    Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

    The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

  • ER

    ER

  • The Drew Barrymore Show

    The Drew Barrymore Show

  • Law & Order: Organized Crime

    Law & Order: Organized Crime

  • The Merv Griffin Show

    The Merv Griffin Show

  • Falcon Crest

    Falcon Crest

  • The View

    The View

  • Baywatch

    Baywatch

  • Late Night with Conan O'Brien

    Late Night with Conan O'Brien

  • The Ellen DeGeneres Show

    The Ellen DeGeneres Show

  • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

    The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

  • Pacific Blue

    Pacific Blue

  • thirtysomething

    thirtysomething

  • Ellen

    Ellen

  • Wiseguy

    Wiseguy

  • Freddy's Nightmares

    Freddy's Nightmares

  • Today

    Today

  • Law & Order: Trial by Jury

    Law & Order: Trial by Jury

  • The Single Guy

    The Single Guy

  • Leaving Las Vegas

    Leaving Las Vegas

  • The Love Guru

    The Love Guru

  • Hard Time Romance

    Hard Time Romance

  • How To with John Wilson

    How To with John Wilson

  • Lake Placid

    Lake Placid

  • Cracker

    Cracker

  • Blind Side

    Blind Side

  • The Perfect Weapon

    The Perfect Weapon

  • The Gambler: Playing for Keeps

    The Gambler: Playing for Keeps

  • Can't Hurry Love

    Can't Hurry Love

  • All-American Girl

    All-American Girl

  • JoJo's Circus

    JoJo's Circus

  • The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU

    The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU

  • My Mom Jayne

    My Mom Jayne

  • The Emmy Awards

    The Emmy Awards

  • The Emmy Awards

    The Emmy Awards

  • Gutsy

    Gutsy

  • Mr. Universe

    Mr. Universe

  • Perfume

    Perfume

  • I Am Evidence

    I Am Evidence

  • Grapevine

    Grapevine

  • Come the Morning

    Come the Morning

  • Hotel Room

    Hotel Room

  • Tequila and Bonetti

    Tequila and Bonetti

  • Prince Street

    Prince Street

  • Downtown

    Downtown

  • The Advocate's Devil

    The Advocate's Devil

  • E! True Hollywood Story

    E! True Hollywood Story

  • Plain Truth

    Plain Truth

  • Jocks

    Jocks

  • Finish Line

    Finish Line

  • Ghoulies

    Ghoulies

  • BLKBX: wht r u hding?

    BLKBX: wht r u hding?

  • 30 Rock: A One-Time Special

    30 Rock: A One-Time Special

  • Night Sins

    Night Sins

  • F--k

    F--k

  • Taylor Swift: The 1989 World Tour - Live

    Taylor Swift: The 1989 World Tour - Live

  • Welcome to 18

    Welcome to 18

  • Winona Ryder: The Ghosts She Called

    Winona Ryder: The Ghosts She Called

  • Bank Robber

    Bank Robber

  • Strawberry Road

    Strawberry Road

  • Stuck

    Stuck