Mariska Hargitay
Known for: Acting
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
Series
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Olivia Benson
1999
Series
Law & Order
Olivia Benson
1990
Series
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest
2009
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self
2014
Series
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self - Guest
2015
Series
The Daily Show
Self - Guest
1996
Series
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self - Guest
2014
Series
Late Show with David Letterman
Self - Guest
1993
Series
Chicago P.D.
Olivia Benson
2014
Series
Sesame Street
1969
Series
Chicago Fire
Olivia Benson
2012
Series
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self
2019
Series
Seinfeld
Melissa (Elaine)
1989
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self - Cameo (uncredited)
1975
Series
Falcon Crest
Carly Fixx
1981
Series
ER
Cynthia Hooper
1994
Series
The View
Self
1997
Series
Baywatch
Lisa Peters
1989
Series
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
1962
Series
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Self
1992
Series
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest
1993
Series
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self
2003
Series
Law & Order: Organized Crime
Captain Olivia Benson
2021
Series
Ellen
Dara
1994
Series
The Drew Barrymore Show
Self
2020
Series
thirtysomething
1987
Series
Wiseguy
1987
Series
Today
Self
1952
Series
Freddy's Nightmares
Marsha
1988
Series
Law & Order: Trial by Jury
Olivia Benson
2005
Series
The Single Guy
Kate Conklin
1995
Series
Booker
Michelle Larkin
1989
Series
Good Hang with Amy Poehler
Self - Guest
2025
Film
Lake Placid
Myra Okubo
1999
Series
Variety & CNN Actors on Actors
Self
2025
Series
JoJo's Circus
Queen Regina (voice)
2003
Series
All-American Girl
Jane
1994
Film
Leaving Las Vegas
Hooker At Bar
1995
Film
The Love Guru
Mariska Hargitay (uncredited)
2008
Series
How To with John Wilson
Self
2020
Series
Gutsy
Self
2022
Series
Cracker
1997
Series
Can't Hurry Love
Didi Edelstein
1995
Film
My Mom Jayne
Self
2025
Series
The Emmy Awards
Self - Nominee
1949
Series
The Emmy Awards
Self
1949
Series
The Emmy Awards
Self - Host
1949
Film
Ghoulies
Donna
1985
Series
Hotel Room
Tina
1993
Film
Perfume
Darcy
2001
Series
Downtown
Jesse Smith
1986
Prince Street
Det. Nina Echeverria
1997
Film
Taylor Swift: The 1989 World Tour - Live
Self - Special Guest
2015
Series
E! True Hollywood Story
Self
1996
Series
Grapevine
Katie
1992
Series
Tequila and Bonetti
Angela Garcia
1992
Film
The Perfect Weapon
Jennifer
1991
Film
30 Rock: A One-Time Special
Mariska Hargitay
2020
Film
Night Sins
Paige Price
1997
Film
Mr. Universe
Self
1988
Film
Winona Ryder: The Ghosts She Called
Actress on the Stage (archive footage) (uncredited)
2022
Film
The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU
Self
2020
Film
Blind Side
Melanie
1993
Film
F--k
Mariska
2010
Film
Jayne Mansfield: The Tragedy of a Blonde
Self (archive footage)
2015
Film
Bank Robber
Marisa Benoit
1993
Film
The Gambler: Playing for Keeps
Etta Place
1994
Film
Jocks
Nicole
1986
Film
Finish Line
Lisa Karsh
1989
Film
Welcome to 18
Joey
1986
Film
The Advocate's Devil
Rendi
1997
Film
I Am Evidence
Self
2017
Film
Strawberry Road
Jill Banner
1991
Film
Plain Truth
Ellie Harrison
2004
Film
Come the Morning
Church Woman
1993
Hard Time Romance
Anita
1991
Film
Stuck
Narrator
2013
Film
BLKBX: wht r u hding?
Dr. Hart
2021