Mariska Hargitay
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 · 74
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999 · Olivia Benson
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009 · Self - Guest
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014 · Self
Law & Order
1990 · Olivia Benson
The Daily Show
1996 · Self - Guest
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015 · Self - Guest
Late Night with Seth Meyers
2014 · Self - Guest
Late Show with David Letterman
1993 · Self - Guest
Chicago P.D.
2014 · Olivia Benson
Chicago Fire
2012 · Olivia Benson
Sesame Street
1969
The Kelly Clarkson Show
2019 · Self
Seinfeld
1989 · Melissa (Elaine)
Saturday Night Live
1975 · Self - Cameo (uncredit...
ER
1994 · Cynthia Hooper
The View
1997 · Self
Falcon Crest
1981 · Carly Fixx
Baywatch
1989 · Lisa Peters
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
1993 · Self - Guest
The Merv Griffin Show
1962 · Self
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992 · Self
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
2003 · Self
Law & Order: Organized Crime
2021 · Captain Olivia Benson
Ellen
1994 · Dara
The Drew Barrymore Show
2020 · Self
Wiseguy
1987
thirtysomething
1987
Today
1952 · Self
Freddy's Nightmares
1988 · Marsha
Law & Order: Trial by Jury
2005 · Olivia Benson
The Single Guy
1995 · Kate Conklin
Leaving Las Vegas
1995 · Hooker At Bar
Good Hang with Amy Poehler
2025 · Self - Guest
Variety & CNN Actors on Actors
2025 · Self
Gutsy
2022 · Self
Booker
1989 · Michelle Larkin
JoJo's Circus
2003 · Queen Regina (voice)
Lake Placid
1999 · Myra Okubo
All-American Girl
1994 · Jane
How To with John Wilson
2020 · Self
The Love Guru
2008 · Mariska Hargitay (uncr...
My Mom Jayne
2025 · Self
Cracker
1997
Can't Hurry Love
1995 · Didi Edelstein
The Emmy Awards
1949 · Self - Nominee
Hotel Room
1993 · Tina
Taylor Swift: The 1989 World Tour - Live
2015 · Self - Special Guest
Perfume
2001 · Darcy
Downtown
1986 · Jesse Smith
Ghoulies
1985 · Donna
The Perfect Weapon
1991 · Jennifer
Tequila and Bonetti
1992 · Angela Garcia
Grapevine
1992 · Katie
E! True Hollywood Story
1996 · Self
The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU
2020 · Self
30 Rock: A One-Time Special
2020 · Mariska Hargitay
Winona Ryder: The Ghosts She Called
2022 · Actress on the Stage (...
Mr. Universe
1988 · Self
Bank Robber
1993 · Marisa Benoit
Blind Side
1993 · Melanie
The Gambler: Playing for Keeps
1994 · Etta Place
Jayne Mansfield: The Tragedy of a Blonde
2015 · Self (archive footage)
F--k
2010 · Mariska
Welcome to 18
1986 · Joey
Night Sins
1997 · Paige Price
Jocks
1986 · Nicole
The Advocate's Devil
1997 · Rendi
Strawberry Road
1991 · Jill Banner
Finish Line
1989 · Lisa Karsh
I Am Evidence
2017 · Self
Come the Morning
1993 · Church Woman
Plain Truth
2004 · Ellie Harrison
Stuck
2013 · Narrator
BLKBX: wht r u hding?
2021 · Dr. Hart