Mariska Hargitay

Acting

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

Biography

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.

Mariska Hargitay

Biography

Known For

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Law & Order

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Sesame Street

Late Show with David Letterman

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The Daily Show

Late Night with Seth Meyers

Chicago Fire

Chicago P.D.

The Kelly Clarkson Show

Saturday Night Live

Seinfeld

The View

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

ER

The Merv Griffin Show

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

Baywatch

Falcon Crest

The Drew Barrymore Show

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Law & Order: Organized Crime

Ellen

Wiseguy

thirtysomething

Today

Freddy's Nightmares

The Single Guy

Good Hang with Amy Poehler

Booker

Variety & CNN Actors on Actors

JoJo's Circus

Leaving Las Vegas

Lake Placid

Law & Order: Trial by Jury

All-American Girl

The Love Guru