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Mariska Hargitay

Mariska Hargitay

Actor · Born January 23, 1964 · Los Angeles, California, USA

IMDb

Biography

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.

Acted in 47

2020s

  1. 2024

    Blind Channel: After Dark Side

    Melanie · 5 episodes

  2. 2022

    Winona Ryder: The Ghosts She Called

    Actress on the Stage (archive footage) (uncredited)

  3. 2021

    BLKBX: wht r u hding?

    Dr. Hart

  4. Law & Order: Organized Crime

    Olivia Benson · 14 episodes

    78
  5. 2020

    30 Rock: A One-Time Special

    Mariska Hargitay

1990s

  1. 1999

    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

    Olivia Benson · 602 episodes

    81

  2. Lake Placid

    Myra Okubo

    51
  3. 1997

    The Advocate's Devil

    Rendi

  4. Night Sins

    Paige Price

  5. Cracker

    TV

  6. 1995

    Leaving Las Vegas

    Hooker At Bar

    79

  7. The Single Guy

    Kate Conklin · 3 episodes

  8. Can't Hurry Love

    Didi Edelstein · 19 episodes

  9. 1994

    Gambler: Playing for Keeps

    Etta Place

  10. ER

    Cynthia Hooper · 13 episodes

    79

  11. All-American Girl

    Jane · 1 episode

  12. Ellen

    Dara · 1 episode

    61
  13. 1993

    Bank Robber

    Marisa Benoit

    44

  14. Come the Morning

    Church Woman

  15. Blind Side

    Melanie

  16. Hotel Room

    Tina · 3 episodes

  17. 1992

    Grapevine

    Katie · 1 episode

  18. Tequila and Bonetti

    Angela Garcia · 12 episodes

  19. 1991

    Strawberry Road

    Jill Banner

  20. The Perfect Weapon

    Jennifer

    50
  21. 1990

    Law & Order

    Olivia Benson · 7 episodes

    77

Produced 11

2020s

  1. 2026

    The Gymnasts of Fisherman Colony

    Executive Producer

  2. 2025

    Nuns vs. The Vatican

    Executive Producer

  3. My Mom Jayne

    Producer

    84
  4. 2021

    BLKBX: wht r u hding?

    Executive Producer

1940s

  1. 1949

    The Emmy Awards

    Executive Producer

Directed 2

Appearances29

1980s

  1. 1988

    Mr. Universe

    Self

1940s

  1. 1949

    The Emmy Awards

    Self - Nominee, Self, Self - Host · 1 episode

Thanked in the credits1