Mariska Hargitay

Mariska Hargitay

Acting
Born 1964-01-23 Los Angeles, California, USA

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.

Movies (29)

Leaving Las Vegas
7.2

Leaving Las Vegas

1995Movie7.2
The Love Guru
4.1

The Love Guru

2008Movie4.1
Lake Placid
5.9

Lake Placid

1999Movie5.9
My Mom Jayne
8.0

My Mom Jayne

2025Movie8.0
Perfume
4.8

Perfume

2001Movie4.8
Ghoulies
4.9

Ghoulies

1984Movie4.9
Taylor Swift: The 1989 World Tour - Live
8.4

Taylor Swift: The 1989 World Tour - Live

2015Movie8.4
Winona Ryder: The Ghosts She Called
7.5

Winona Ryder: The Ghosts She Called

2022Movie7.5
Jayne Mansfield: The Tragedy of a Blonde
6.4

Jayne Mansfield: The Tragedy of a Blonde

2015Movie6.4
30 Rock: A One-Time Special
6.3

30 Rock: A One-Time Special

2020Movie6.3
The Perfect Weapon
6.4

The Perfect Weapon

1991Movie6.4
Blind Side
5.4

Blind Side

1993Movie5.4
Mr. Universe
8.0

Mr. Universe

1988Movie8.0
Bank Robber
4.4

Bank Robber

1993Movie4.4
The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU
9.7

The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU

2020Movie9.7
Night Sins
5.6

Night Sins

1997Movie5.6
The Gambler: Playing for Keeps
6.4

The Gambler: Playing for Keeps

1994Movie6.4
Strawberry Road
9.5

Strawberry Road

1991Movie9.5
F--k
5.8

F--k

2010Movie5.8
Welcome to 18
3.3

Welcome to 18

1986Movie3.3
The Advocate's Devil
5.9

The Advocate's Devil

1997Movie5.9
Finish Line
5.8

Finish Line

1989Movie5.8
Jocks
4.3

Jocks

1986Movie4.3
BLKBX: wht r u hding?

BLKBX: wht r u hding?

2021Movie
I Am Evidence
6.4

I Am Evidence

2017Movie6.4
Plain Truth
6.1

Plain Truth

2004Movie6.1
Come the Morning
5.0

Come the Morning

1993Movie5.0
Stuck
5.4

Stuck

2013Movie5.4
Hard Time Romance
6.0

Hard Time Romance

1991Movie6.0

TV Shows (48)

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
4.9

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

2009Series4.9
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
8.0

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

1999Series8.0
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
5.8

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

2014Series5.8
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
6.1

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

2015Series6.1
Law & Order
7.3

Law & Order

1990Series7.3
Sesame Street
7.1

Sesame Street

1969Series7.1
The Daily Show
6.4

The Daily Show

1996Series6.4
The Kelly Clarkson Show
6.3

The Kelly Clarkson Show

2019Series6.3
Chicago Fire
8.4

Chicago Fire

2012Series8.4
Late Night with Seth Meyers
5.1

Late Night with Seth Meyers

2014Series5.1
Late Show with David Letterman
6.4

Late Show with David Letterman

1993Series6.4
Chicago P.D.
8.4

Chicago P.D.

2014Series8.4
Saturday Night Live
6.9

Saturday Night Live

1975Series6.9
Seinfeld
8.3

Seinfeld

1989Series8.3
The View
4.3

The View

1997Series4.3
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
7.3

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

1993Series7.3
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
5.4

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

1992Series5.4
ER
7.8

ER

1994Series7.8
Falcon Crest
5.5

Falcon Crest

1981Series5.5
Baywatch
6.0

Baywatch

1989Series6.0
The Merv Griffin Show
6.8

The Merv Griffin Show

1962Series6.8
The Drew Barrymore Show
5.8

The Drew Barrymore Show

2020Series5.8
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
5.6

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

2003Series5.6
Ellen
6.1

Ellen

1994Series6.1
Law & Order: Organized Crime
7.9

Law & Order: Organized Crime

2021Series7.9
Wiseguy
6.6

Wiseguy

1987Series6.6
thirtysomething
6.3

thirtysomething

1987Series6.3
Today
5.6

Today

1952Series5.6
Freddy's Nightmares
7.2

Freddy's Nightmares

1988Series7.2
Law & Order: Trial by Jury
8.1

Law & Order: Trial by Jury

2005Series8.1
Good Hang with Amy Poehler
10.0

Good Hang with Amy Poehler

2025Series10.0
The Single Guy
5.8

The Single Guy

1995Series5.8
Booker
5.3

Booker

1989Series5.3
JoJo's Circus
6.9

JoJo's Circus

2003Series6.9
Variety & CNN Actors on Actors
5.5

Variety & CNN Actors on Actors

2025Series5.5
All-American Girl
8.0

All-American Girl

1994Series8.0
Cracker
7.2

Cracker

1997Series7.2
Can't Hurry Love
6.5

Can't Hurry Love

1995Series6.5
Tequila and Bonetti
6.6

Tequila and Bonetti

1992Series6.6
Downtown
7.0

Downtown

1986Series7.0
How To with John Wilson
8.1

How To with John Wilson

2020Series8.1
Gutsy
3.5

Gutsy

2022Series3.5
The Emmy Awards
7.9

The Emmy Awards

1949Series7.9
Hotel Room
6.2

Hotel Room

1993Series6.2
E! True Hollywood Story
8.1

E! True Hollywood Story

1996Series8.1
Prince Street
8.7

Prince Street

1997Series8.7
Grapevine
7.3

Grapevine

1992Series7.3
Night Sins

Night Sins

1997Series