Mariska Hargitay

Acting

Born: 1964-01-23 in Los Angeles, California, USA

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.

Mariska Hargitay

Biography

Known For

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Chicago P.D.

Seinfeld

Chicago Fire

Leaving Las Vegas

Lake Placid

ER

The Love Guru

Law & Order

The Daily Show

Baywatch

Saturday Night Live

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Law & Order: Organized Crime

Ghoulies

Sesame Street

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Freddy's Nightmares

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Late Show with David Letterman

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

Taylor Swift: The 1989 World Tour - Live

How To with John Wilson

The Perfect Weapon

Late Night with Seth Meyers

The View

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

E! True Hollywood Story

The Kelly Clarkson Show

Falcon Crest

Ellen

My Mom Jayne

Hotel Room

Blind Side

Wiseguy

thirtysomething

Today

Perfume