Acting
Mariska Hargitay
Born 1964-01-23
Los Angeles, California, USA
Department: Acting
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.
Known For
Prominent works featuring Mariska Hargitay
TV
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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999
TMDB4.0
TV
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Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009
TMDB2.5
TV
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Sesame Street
1969
TMDB3.5
TV
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The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014
TMDB2.9
TV
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Chicago P.D.
2014
TMDB4.2
TV
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Chicago Fire
2012
TMDB4.2
TV
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Law & Order
1990
TMDB3.6
TV
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Seinfeld
1989
TMDB4.2
TV
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The Daily Show
1996
TMDB3.2
TV
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The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015
TMDB3.0
Filmography & Credits
Complete career catalog (94 titles)
| Poster | Title | Character / Role | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | The Gymnasts of Fisherman Colony | Executive Producer | Movie | 2026 |
 | Variety & CNN Actors on Actors | Self | TV Series | 2025 |
 | Nuns vs. The Vatican | Executive Producer | Movie | 2025 |
 | My Mom Jayne | Self | Movie | 2025 |
| My Mom Jayne | Director | Movie | 2025 |
| My Mom Jayne | Producer | Movie | 2025 |
 | Good Hang with Amy Poehler | Self - Guest | TV Series | 2025 |
 | The Alabama Solution | Thanks | Movie | 2025 |
 | Gutsy | Self | TV Series | 2022 |
 | Winona Ryder: The Ghosts She Called | Actress on the Stage (archive footage) (uncredited) | Movie | 2022 |
 | BLKBX: wht r u hding? | Dr. Hart | Movie | 2021 |
| BLKBX: wht r u hding? | Executive Producer | Movie | 2021 |
 | Law & Order: Organized Crime | Olivia Benson | TV Series | 2021 |
 | How To with John Wilson | Self | TV Series | 2020 |
 | The Drew Barrymore Show | Self | TV Series | 2020 |
 | 30 Rock: A One-Time Special | Mariska Hargitay | Movie | 2020 |
 | The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU | Self | Movie | 2020 |
 | The Planters | Associate Producer | Movie | 2019 |
 | The Kelly Clarkson Show | Self | TV Series | 2019 |
 | My Beautiful Stutter | Executive Producer | Movie | 2019 |
 | Emanuel | Co-Producer | Movie | 2019 |
 | I Am Evidence | Self | Movie | 2017 |
| I Am Evidence | Producer | Movie | 2017 |
 | Taylor Swift: The 1989 World Tour - Live | Self - Special Guest | Movie | 2015 |
 | The Late Show with Stephen Colbert | Self - Guest | TV Series | 2015 |
 | Jayne Mansfield: The Tragedy of a Blonde | Self (archive footage) | Movie | 2015 |
 | Late Night with Seth Meyers | Self - Guest | TV Series | 2014 |
 | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | Self | TV Series | 2014 |
 | Chicago P.D. | Olivia Benson | TV Series | 2014 |
 | Santorini Blue | Associate Producer | Movie | 2013 |
 | Stuck | Narrator | Movie | 2013 |
 | Chicago Fire | Olivia Benson | TV Series | 2012 |
 | F--k | Mariska | Movie | 2010 |
 | Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen | Self - Guest | TV Series | 2009 |
 | The Love Guru | Mariska Hargitay (uncredited) | Movie | 2008 |
 | Law & Order: Trial by Jury | Olivia Benson | TV Series | 2005 |
 | Plain Truth | Ellie Harrison | Movie | 2004 |
 | JoJo's Circus | Queen Regina (voice) | TV Series | 2003 |
 | The Ellen DeGeneres Show | Self | TV Series | 2003 |
 | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | Self - Guest | TV Series | 2003 |
 | Perfume | Darcy | Movie | 2001 |
 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Olivia Benson | TV Series | 1999 |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Director | TV Series | 1999 |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Producer | TV Series | 1999 |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Executive Producer | TV Series | 1999 |
 | Lake Placid | Myra Okubo | Movie | 1999 |
 | The Advocate's Devil | Rendi | Movie | 1997 |
 | Night Sins | Paige Price | Movie | 1997 |
 | Cracker | Self / Appearance | TV Series | 1997 |
 | The View | Self | TV Series | 1997 |
| Prince Street | Det. Nina Echeverria | TV Series | 1997 | |
| Night Sins | Paige Price | TV Series | 1997 | |
 | E! True Hollywood Story | Self | TV Series | 1996 |
 | The Daily Show | Self - Guest | TV Series | 1996 |
 | Leaving Las Vegas | Hooker At Bar | Movie | 1995 |
 | The Single Guy | Kate Conklin | TV Series | 1995 |
 | Can't Hurry Love | Didi Edelstein | TV Series | 1995 |
 | The Gambler: Playing for Keeps | Etta Place | Movie | 1994 |
 | ER | Cynthia Hooper | TV Series | 1994 |
 | All-American Girl | Jane | TV Series | 1994 |
 | Ellen | Dara | TV Series | 1994 |
 | Bank Robber | Marisa Benoit | Movie | 1993 |
 | Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Self - Guest | TV Series | 1993 |
 | Late Show with David Letterman | Self - Guest | TV Series | 1993 |
 | Come the Morning | Church Woman | Movie | 1993 |
 | Blind Side | Melanie | Movie | 1993 |
 | Hotel Room | Tina | TV Series | 1993 |
 | Grapevine | Katie | TV Series | 1992 |
 | The Tonight Show with Jay Leno | Self | TV Series | 1992 |
 | Tequila and Bonetti | Angela Garcia | TV Series | 1992 |
| Hard Time Romance | Anita | Movie | 1991 | |
 | Strawberry Road | Jill Banner | Movie | 1991 |
 | The Perfect Weapon | Jennifer | Movie | 1991 |
 | Law & Order | Olivia Benson | TV Series | 1990 |
 | Booker | Michelle Larkin | TV Series | 1989 |
 | Seinfeld | Melissa (Elaine) | TV Series | 1989 |
 | Baywatch | Lisa Peters | TV Series | 1989 |
 | Finish Line | Lisa Karsh | Movie | 1989 |
 | Freddy's Nightmares | Marsha | TV Series | 1988 |
 | Mr. Universe | Self | Movie | 1988 |
 | thirtysomething | Self / Appearance | TV Series | 1987 |
 | Wiseguy | Self / Appearance | TV Series | 1987 |
 | Jocks | Nicole | Movie | 1986 |
 | Downtown | Jesse Smith | TV Series | 1986 |
 | Welcome to 18 | Joey | Movie | 1986 |
 | Ghoulies | Donna | Movie | 1984 |
 | Falcon Crest | Carly Fixx | TV Series | 1981 |
 | Saturday Night Live | Self - Cameo (uncredited) | TV Series | 1975 |
 | Sesame Street | Self / Appearance | TV Series | 1969 |
 | The Merv Griffin Show | Self | TV Series | 1962 |
 | Today | Self | TV Series | 1952 |
 | The Emmy Awards | Self - Nominee | TV Series | 1949 |
| The Emmy Awards | Self | TV Series | 1949 |
| The Emmy Awards | Self - Host | TV Series | 1949 |