Mariska Hargitay
Known for
Mariska Hargitay is an American actress born in Los Angeles, daughter of actress Jayne Mansfield, celebrated for her long-running, Emmy-winning role as Captain Olivia Benson on 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit', television's longest-running live-action prime-time series. She has crossed over into the 'One Chicago' universe, reprising Benson on both 'Chicago P.D.' and 'Chicago Fire'. Off-screen, she founded the Joyful Heart Foundation to support survivors of sexual assault. She remains one of the most recognizable and influential actresses in American television history.
Mariska Hargitay
13 Movies
18 Series
Mariska Hargitay is an American actress born in Los Angeles, daughter of actress Jayne Mansfield, celebrated for her long-running, Emmy-winning role as Captain Olivia Benson on 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit', television's longest-running live-action prime-time series. She has crossed over into the 'One Chicago' universe, reprising Benson on both 'Chicago P.D.' and 'Chicago Fire'. Off-screen, she founded the Joyful Heart Foundation to support survivors of sexual assault. She remains one of the most recognizable and influential actresses in American television history.
Movies
Plays Myra Okubo
Lake Placid
1999
Plays Hooker At Bar
Leaving Las Vegas
1995
Plays Darcy
Perfume
2001
Plays Paige Price
Night Sins
1997
Plays Jennifer
The Perfect Weapon
1991
Plays Donna
Ghoulies
1984
Plays Mariska
F--k
2010
Plays Nicole
Jocks
1986
Plays Marisa Benoit
Bank Robber
1993
Plays Joey
Welcome to 18
1986
Plays Church Woman
Come the Morning
1993
TV Shows
Director
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999
Plays Didi Edelstein
Can't Hurry Love
1995
Plays Olivia Benson
Law & Order: Organized Crime
2021
Plays Jesse Smith
Downtown
1986
Plays Cynthia Hooper
ER
1994
Plays Angela Garcia
Tequila and Bonetti
1992
Plays Olivia Benson
Law & Order
1990
Plays Tina
Hotel Room
1993
Plays Kate Conklin
The Single Guy
1995
Plays Olivia Benson
Chicago P.D.
2014
Plays Melissa (Elaine)
Seinfeld
1989
Plays Katie
Grapevine
1992
Plays Marsha
Freddy's Nightmares
1988
Plays Lisa Peters
Baywatch
1989
Plays Olivia Benson
Chicago Fire
2012
Plays Olivia Benson
Law & Order: Trial by Jury
2005
Plays Jane
All-American Girl
1994
Plays Queen Regina (voice)
JoJo's Circus
2003
Plays Michelle Larkin
Booker
1989
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
My Mom Jayne
Full Filmography
Law & Order: Organized Crime
Olivia Benson · 14 episodes
2021–
TV
Chicago P.D.
Olivia Benson · 3 episodes
2014–
TV
Stuck
Narrator
2013
Film
Chicago Fire
Olivia Benson · 1 episode
2012–
TV
F--k
Mariska
2010
Film
The Love Guru
Mariska Hargitay (uncredited)
2008
Film
Law & Order: Trial by Jury
Olivia Benson · 1 episode
2005–
TV
JoJo's Circus
Queen Regina (voice) · 1 episode
2003–
TV
Perfume
Darcy
2001
Film
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Mariska Hargitay and where are they from?
Mariska Hargitay is 62 years old, born on January 23, 1964 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
What are the most famous roles of Mariska Hargitay?
Mariska Hargitay is best known for roles in Leaving Las Vegas, Lake Placid, The Love Guru.
How many movies has Mariska Hargitay been in?
Over a 42-year career (since 1984), Mariska Hargitay has appeared in 12 movies and 18 TV shows.
What was Mariska Hargitay's first movie?
The career of Mariska Hargitay began with Ghoulies (1984).
What is Mariska Hargitay's most recent movie or series?
Mariska Hargitay's most recent release is Variety & CNN Actors on Actors, which premiered on December 5, 2025.
What TV shows has Mariska Hargitay appeared in?
On television, Mariska Hargitay has appeared in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Chicago P.D., Seinfeld, Chicago Fire.
Mariska Hargitay
1964-01-23 · Los Angeles, California, USA
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.