Mariska Hargitay
Acting
1964-01-23 · Los Angeles, California, USA
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
TheatersThe Gymnasts of Fisherman Colony
2026 · Movie
Variety & CNN Actors on Actors
2025 · Series
Nuns vs. The Vatican
2025 · Movie
My Mom Jayne
2025 · Movie
Good Hang with Amy Poehler
2025 · Series
The Alabama Solution
2025 · Movie
Gutsy
2022 · Series
Winona Ryder: The Ghosts She Called
2022 · Movie
BLKBX: wht r u hding?
2021 · Movie
Law & Order: Organized Crime
2021 · Series
How To with John Wilson
2020 · Series
The Drew Barrymore Show
2020 · Series
30 Rock: A One-Time Special
2020 · Movie
The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU
2020 · Movie
The Planters
2019 · Movie
The Kelly Clarkson Show
2019 · Series
My Beautiful Stutter
2019 · Movie
Emanuel
2019 · Movie
I Am Evidence
2017 · Movie
Taylor Swift: The 1989 World Tour - Live
2015 · Movie
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015 · Series
Jayne Mansfield: The Tragedy of a Blonde
2015 · Movie
Late Night with Seth Meyers
2014 · Series
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014 · Series
Chicago P.D.
2014 · Series
Santorini Blue
2013 · Movie
Stuck
2013 · Movie
Chicago Fire
2012 · Series
F--k
2010 · Movie
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009 · Series
The Love Guru
2008 · Movie
Law & Order: Trial by Jury
2005 · Series
Plain Truth
2004 · Movie
JoJo's Circus
2003 · Series
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
2003 · Series
Perfume
2001 · Movie
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999 · Series
Lake Placid
1999 · Movie
The Advocate's Devil
1997 · Movie
Night Sins
1997 · Movie
Cracker
1997 · Series
The View
1997 · Series
Prince Street
1997 · Series
Night Sins
1997 · Series
E! True Hollywood Story
1996 · Series
The Daily Show
1996 · Series
Leaving Las Vegas
1995 · Movie
The Single Guy
1995 · Series
Can't Hurry Love
1995 · Series
The Gambler: Playing for Keeps
1994 · Movie
ER
1994 · Series
All-American Girl
1994 · Series
Ellen
1994 · Series
Bank Robber
1993 · Movie
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
1993 · Series
Late Show with David Letterman
1993 · Series
Come the Morning
1993 · Movie
Blind Side
1993 · Movie
Hotel Room
1993 · Series
Grapevine
1992 · Series
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992 · Series
Tequila and Bonetti
1992 · Series
Hard Time Romance
1991 · Movie
Strawberry Road
1991 · Movie
The Perfect Weapon
1991 · Movie
Law & Order
1990 · Series
Booker
1989 · Series
Seinfeld
1989 · Series
Baywatch
1989 · Series
Finish Line
1989 · Movie
Freddy's Nightmares
1988 · Series
Mr. Universe
1988 · Movie
thirtysomething
1987 · Series
Wiseguy
1987 · Series
Jocks
1986 · Movie
Downtown
1986 · Series
Welcome to 18
1986 · Movie
Ghoulies
1985 · Movie
Falcon Crest
1981 · Series
Saturday Night Live
1975 · Series
Sesame Street
1969 · Series
The Merv Griffin Show
1962 · Series
Today
1952 · Series
The Emmy Awards
1949 · Series