Mariska Hargitay

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.

Filmography (71 Appearances)

My Mom Jayne

2025

Gutsy

2022

Winona Ryder: The Ghosts She Called

2022

BLKBX: wht r u hding?

2021

Law & Order: Organized Crime

2021

How To with John Wilson

2020

The Drew Barrymore Show

2020

30 Rock: A One-Time Special

2020

The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU

2020

The Kelly Clarkson Show

2019

I Am Evidence

2017

Taylor Swift: The 1989 World Tour - Live

2015

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

2015

Late Night with Seth Meyers

2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

2014

Chicago P.D.

2014

Stuck

2013

Chicago Fire

2012

F--k

2010

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

2009

The Love Guru

2008

Law & Order: Trial by Jury

2005

Plain Truth

2004

JoJo's Circus

2003

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

2003

Perfume

2001

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

1999

Lake Placid

1999

The Advocate's Devil

1997

Night Sins

1997

Cracker

1997

The View

1997

Prince Street

1997

E! True Hollywood Story

1996

The Daily Show

1996

Pacific Blue

1996

Leaving Las Vegas

1995

The Single Guy

1995

Can't Hurry Love

1995

The Gambler: Playing for Keeps

1994

ER

1994

All-American Girl

1994

Ellen

1994

Bank Robber

1993

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

1993

Late Show with David Letterman

1993

Come the Morning

1993

Blind Side

1993

Hotel Room

1993

Grapevine

1992

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

1992

Tequila and Bonetti

1992

Hard Time Romance

1991

Strawberry Road

1991

The Perfect Weapon

1991

Law & Order

1990

Booker

1989

Seinfeld

1989

Baywatch

1989

Finish Line

1989

Freddy's Nightmares

1988

Mr. Universe

1988

thirtysomething

1987

Wiseguy

1987

Jocks

1986

Downtown

1986

Welcome to 18

1986

Ghoulies

1985 Debut

Falcon Crest

1981

Saturday Night Live

1975

Sesame Street

1969
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