Early Life and Education of Mariska Hargitay: A Complete Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Mariska Hargitay. A timeline of key moments.

Mariska Hargitay is a highly acclaimed American actress, producer, director, and philanthropist, best known for her role as Olivia Benson on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit since 1999. This role is the longest-running character in American primetime drama history. She has received numerous accolades for her performance, including an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award. Hargitay received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013, solidifying her place as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

May 1963: Mansfield and Hargitay's divorce

In May 1963, Mansfield and Hargitay divorced, though a judge later found the Mexican divorce invalid.

1963: Relationship Between Jayne Mansfield and Nelson Sardelli

In 1963, Jayne Mansfield was involved with Nelson Sardelli, who would later be revealed as Mariska Hargitay's biological father in 2025.

January 1964: Reconciliation of Mansfield and Hargitay

In January 1964, after Mansfield realized she was pregnant with Mariska, she and Hargitay reconciled.

January 23, 1964: Mariska Hargitay's Birth

On January 23, 1964, Mariska Magdolna Hargitay was born in Los Angeles. She is the daughter of actress Jayne Mansfield.

August 1964: Legal ruling on Mexican divorce

In August 1964, Hargitay's mother successfully petitioned the court to rule the Mexican divorce legal, finalizing their separation.

June 29, 1967: Automobile Crash

On June 29, 1967, Mariska, her mother Jayne Mansfield, and Mansfield's boyfriend Sam Brody were in an automobile crash on U.S. Route 90. The accident killed Mansfield, Brody, and the driver. Mariska, who was asleep in the back with her brothers, survived with minor injuries, including a scar on her head.

1982: Graduation from High School and Miss Beverly Hills USA

In 1982, Mariska Hargitay graduated from Marymount High School and was crowned Miss Beverly Hills USA, marking the beginning of her journey into pageantry and entertainment.

1986: Offered a role in Downtown

In 1986, Mariska Hargitay was offered a role on the adventure drama series Downtown, marking a turning point in her approach to television acting.

1992: Raymond Strait's Biography Claim

In 1992, Jayne Mansfield's publicist, Raymond Strait, claimed in his biography 'Here They Are, Jayne Mansfield' that Nelson Sardelli was her biological father.

Here They Are Jayne Mansfield

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August 28, 2004: Marriage to Peter Hermann

On August 28, 2004, Mariska Hargitay married Peter Hermann in Santa Barbara, California. Peter Hermann is an actor she met on the set of Law & Order: SVU.

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2004: Founded Joyful Heart Foundation

In 2004, Mariska Hargitay founded the Joyful Heart Foundation to support survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, and human trafficking.

2004: Certified Rape Counselor

In 2004, it was reported that Mariska Hargitay is a certified rape counselor.

June 28, 2006: Birth of Son

On June 28, 2006, Mariska Hargitay gave birth to her son by an emergency caesarean section.

2006: Maternity Leave from SVU

During her pregnancy in 2006, Mariska Hargitay took maternity leave from SVU, with Connie Nielsen temporarily replacing her as Stabler's partner, Dani Beck.

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2006: Appeared in The More You Know public service announcement

Mariska Hargitay appeared in the 17th season of NBC's The More You Know public service announcements in 2006, to create awareness about issues.

January 2007: Got Milk? advertisement

In January 2007, Mariska Hargitay and her older son appeared in a Got Milk? advertisement.

December 2008: Partially Collapsed Lung

In late December 2008, Mariska Hargitay suffered a partially collapsed lung after a fall during a stunt on the set of SVU.

March 3, 2009: Hospitalized after Chest Pains

On March 3, 2009, Mariska Hargitay was hospitalized after suffering from chest pains related to her previous lung injury, causing her to miss an episode of SVU.

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May 2009: Contract Expiration and Negotiations

In May 2009, Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni's contracts expired after the tenth season of SVU, leading to negotiations for a new contract where they sought a percentage of the show's profits.

November 2009: Wellness kits for domestic violence shelters

In November 2009, Mariska Hargitay and the Joyful Heart Foundation built healing and wellness kits for women in Los Angeles County's domestic violence shelters and donated money due to budget crisis.

November 2010: Therapeutic programs for women and children

As of November 2010, the Joyful Heart Foundation had sent over 5,000 women and children on therapeutic programs in New York, Los Angeles, and Hawaii.

2010: Interview with Good Housekeeping

In a 2010 interview with Good Housekeeping, Mariska Hargitay stated that she considers herself a Christian.

April 2011: Joyful Heart Foundation raised $20 million

According to Mariska Hargitay, as of April 2011, the Joyful Heart Foundation had raised $20 million.

April 2011: Adoption of Baby Girl

In April 2011, Mariska Hargitay and her husband adopted a baby girl.

September 27, 2011: Donation to UCLA

On September 27, 2011, Mariska Hargitay donated $100,000 to the UCLA School of Theater Film and Television for scholarships.

October 2011: Adoption of Son

In October 2011, Mariska Hargitay and her husband adopted a son.

2011: UCLA's TFT Distinguished Alumni Award

In 2011, Mariska Hargitay received UCLA's TFT Distinguished Alumni Award and was honored at the school's commencement ceremony.

August 2012: Earning per episode of SVU

As of August 2012, Mariska Hargitay was earning approximately $400,000–$500,000 per episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

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2012: Campaign for VAWA Reauthorization

In 2012, Mariska Hargitay campaigned for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

July 2021: Broken Ankle

In July 2021, Mariska Hargitay suffered a broken ankle after a fall while leaving a screening of Black Widow, which led to minor script changes in SVU.

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2024: Essay in People Magazine

In 2024, Mariska Hargitay wrote an essay for People magazine, advocating for an end to the stigma surrounding sexual assault survivors, calling for the same respect and celebration given to cancer survivors.

2025: Disclosure of Biological Father

In 2025, Mariska Hargitay publicly disclosed that her biological father was not Mickey Hargitay, but rather Nelson Sardelli, who had been involved with her mother Jayne Mansfield in 1963.