History of Mariska Hargitay in Timeline
Mariska Hargitay is an acclaimed American actress, producer, director, and philanthropist. She is best known for her role as Olivia Benson on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit since 1999. This role has made her the longest-running character in American primetime drama history. She has received numerous accolades for her performance, including an Emmy and a Golden Globe Award. In 2013, she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1962: Troubles in Marriage
In 1962, troubles arose in Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay's marriage after Mansfield had an affair with an Italian filmmaker.
May 1963: Divorce
In May 1963, Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay divorced, but a judge later found their Mexican divorce invalid.
1963: Jayne Mansfield's Relationship with Nelson Sardelli
In 1963, Jayne Mansfield was involved with Nelson Sardelli, who was later revealed to be Mariska Hargitay's biological father.
January 1964: Reconciliation
In January 1964, after Jayne Mansfield realized she was pregnant with Mariska, she and Mickey Hargitay reconciled, but soon separated again.
January 23, 1964: Mariska Hargitay's Birth
On January 23, 1964, Mariska Magdolna Hargitay was born. She is an American actress, philanthropist, producer, and director.
August 1964: Divorce Legal Ruling
In August 1964, Jayne Mansfield successfully petitioned the court to rule the Mexican divorce legal.
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, resulting in the deaths of Mansfield, Brody, and the driver. Mariska and her brothers escaped with minor injuries.
1982: Miss Beverly Hills USA
In 1982, Mariska Hargitay graduated from high school, enrolled at UCLA, and was crowned Miss Beverly Hills USA.
1984: Appearance in Music Video
In 1984, Mariska Hargitay appeared in Ronnie Milsap's music video for "She Loves My Car".
1986: Role in Downtown
In 1986, Mariska Hargitay said she never thought about doing television until she was offered a role on the one-hour adventure drama series Downtown.
1988: Role in Falcon Crest
In 1988, Mariska Hargitay had a recurring role as Carly Fixx in the soap opera Falcon Crest.
1991: Role in Strawberry Road
In 1991, Mariska Hargitay played Jill Banner in the Japanese-American co-production Strawberry Road.
1992: Mansfield Biography
In 1992, Jayne Mansfield's publicist Raymond Strait claimed in his biography "Here They Are, Jayne Mansfield" that Nelson Sardelli was her biological father.
1992: Role in Tequila and Bonetti
In 1992, Mariska Hargitay appeared in the series Tequila and Bonetti.
1995: Can't Hurry Love Role
From 1995 to 1996, Mariska Hargitay starred in Can't Hurry Love.
1995: Role in Can't Hurry Love
In 1995, Mariska Hargitay portrayed Didi Edelstein in the sitcom Can't Hurry Love.
1996: Can't Hurry Love Role
From 1995 to 1996, Mariska Hargitay starred in Can't Hurry Love.
1997: Roles in Prince Street and ER
In 1997, Mariska Hargitay played detective Nina Echeverria on the drama series Prince Street and had a recurring role in ER.
1999: Starring in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
In 1999, Mariska Hargitay began starring as Olivia Benson on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
1999: Portrayal of Olivia Benson begins
Since 1999, Mariska Hargitay has portrayed Olivia Benson in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
August 28, 2004: Marriage to Peter Hermann
On August 28, 2004, Mariska Hargitay married Peter Hermann in Santa Barbara, California. They met on the set of Law & Order: SVU.
2004: Establishment of Joyful Heart Foundation
In 2004, Mariska Hargitay founded the Joyful Heart Foundation to support survivors of various forms of abuse.
2004: Certified Rape Counselor
In 2004, it was reported that Mariska Hargitay is a certified rape counselor.
2005: Voice Acting in True Crime: New York City
In 2005, Mariska Hargitay's voice was featured on the video game True Crime: New York City.
June 28, 2006: Birth of Son
On June 28, 2006, Mariska Hargitay gave birth to her son via an emergency caesarean section.
2006: Public Service Announcements
In 2006, Mariska Hargitay appeared in the 17th season of NBC's The More You Know public service announcements.
2006: Maternity Leave from SVU
In 2006, during the last months of her pregnancy, Mariska Hargitay took maternity leave from SVU and was temporarily replaced by Connie Nielsen.
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 taking a fall during a stunt on the set of SVU.
March 3, 2009: Hospitalization for Chest Pains
On March 3, 2009, Mariska Hargitay was hospitalized after suffering from chest pains related to the lung injury. She missed one episode of SVU's tenth season.
May 2009: Contract Expiration
In May 2009, after the show's tenth season, Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni's contracts expired.
November 2009: Building Wellness Kits
In November 2009, Mariska Hargitay and the Joyful Heart Foundation built healing and wellness kits for women in domestic violence shelters in Los Angeles County.
November 2010: Therapeutic Programs
As of November 2010, the Joyful Heart Foundation had sent over 5,000 women and children on therapeutic programs.
2010: Christian Beliefs
In a 2010 interview with Good Housekeeping, Mariska Hargitay stated that she considers herself a Christian.
April 2011: Foundation Funding
According to Hargitay, as of April 2011, the Joyful Heart Foundation had raised $20 million.
April 2011: Adoption of Daughter
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 June commencement ceremony.
August 2012: Earnings Per Episode
As of August 2012, Mariska Hargitay was earning approximately $400,000–$500,000 per episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
2012: Campaign for VAWA Reauthorization
In 2012, Mariska Hargitay campaigned for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
2013: Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
In 2013, Mariska Hargitay received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2013: Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
In 2013, Mariska Hargitay was awarded with the 2,511th star of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, placed next to her mother's star.
2014: Highest-Paid Television Actress Ranking
In 2014, Forbes ranked Mariska Hargitay as the second-highest-paid television actress.
2015: MTV Video Music Award
At the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards, Mariska Hargitay shared the "Video of the Year" Award with Taylor Swift and other celebrities for appearing in Swift's song "Bad Blood".
2017: Co-Production of 'I Am Evidence'
In 2017, Mariska Hargitay co-produced the HBO documentary 'I Am Evidence', which later won a News and Documentary Emmy.
2018: Release of I Am Evidence Documentary
In 2018, Mariska Hargitay produced a documentary, I Am Evidence, which discusses untested rape kits and won Best Documentary at the 40th News and Documentary Emmy Awards.
July 2021: Broken Ankle
In July 2021, Mariska Hargitay suffered a broken ankle after falling in the rain while leaving the screening of Black Widow.
2022: Guest Narrator at Disney's Candlelight Processional
On December 19 and 20, 2022, Mariska Hargitay was a guest narrator at Disney's Candlelight Processional.
2024: Forbes Ranking
In 2025, Forbes named Mariska Hargitay as the 11th highest-paid actor of 2024, the 2nd highest-paid actress, and the highest-paid actor on television, earning an estimated $750,000 per episode.
2024: Essay in People
In a 2024 essay for People, Mariska Hargitay advocated for ending the stigma surrounding sexual assault survivors, calling for the same celebration given to cancer survivors.
June 2025: Release of My Mom Jayne
In June 2025, Mariska Hargitay's feature film directorial debut, My Mom Jayne, was released in the United States.
2025: Forbes Ranking
In 2025, Forbes named Mariska Hargitay as the 11th highest-paid actor of 2024, the 2nd highest-paid actress, and the highest-paid actor on television, earning an estimated $750,000 per episode.
2025: Launch of Mighty Entertainment
In 2025, Mariska Hargitay launched the production company Mighty Entertainment and directed the documentary My Mom Jayne under the company.
2025: Disclosure of Biological Father
In 2025, Mariska Hargitay publicly disclosed that Nelson Sardelli, who had been involved with her mother Jayne Mansfield in 1963, was her biological father.
2025: TIME100 Philanthropy List Inclusion
In 2025, Mariska Hargitay was included on the inaugural TIME100 Philanthropy list for her philanthropic work.
Mentioned in this timeline
Taylor Swift is a highly successful American singer-songwriter recognized for...
Home Box Office HBO is an American pay television service...
California is a U S state on the Pacific Coast...
The National Broadcasting Company NBC is a major American commercial...
Las Vegas Nevada's most populous city and the seat of...
Los Angeles L A is the most populous city in...
Trending
Clinton Portis is a former NFL running back who played for nine seasons most notably with the Washington Redskins He...
Aidan Hutchinson is a standout American football defensive end for the Detroit Lions His exceptional performance as a unanimous All-American...
Logan Cooley is an American professional ice hockey center currently playing for the Utah Mammoth in the NHL He was...
31 minutes ago Marcedes Lewis, 41, Signs with Broncos' Practice Squad for 20th NFL Season
DeSean Jackson is an American college football coach and former NFL player currently the head football coach at Delaware State...
3 days ago Sinner and Zverev Set to Clash in Vienna Open 2025 Final.
Popular
Gavin Newsom is an American politician and businessman currently serving...
The White House located at Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington...
George Soros is a Hungarian-American investor and philanthropist with a...
Doug Ford is a Canadian politician and businessman currently serving...
XXXTentacion born Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy was a controversial yet...
Bernie Sanders is a prominent American politician currently serving as...