Cast & creator
Mariska Hargitay
Best known for Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
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.
Also known as: Марішка Маґдолна Гарґітей, Mariska Magdolna Hargitay
40
film credits
54
television credits
80
1949–2026 · acting roles
6.6
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (94)
Showing 94 of 94 credits
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest
2009
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self
2014
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self - Guest
2015
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Olivia Benson
1999Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Director
1999Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Producer
1999Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Executive Producer
1999
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self - Guest
2014
Law & Order
Olivia Benson
1990
The Daily Show
Self - Guest
1996
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self
2019
Late Show with David Letterman
Self - Guest
1993
Saturday Night Live
Self - Cameo (uncredited)
1975
The View
Self
1997
Sesame Street
1969
Chicago P.D.
Olivia Benson
2014
Chicago Fire
Olivia Benson
2012
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self - Guest
2003
Seinfeld
Melissa (Elaine)
1989
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest
1993
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
1962
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Self
1992
ER
Cynthia Hooper
1994
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self
2003
Falcon Crest
Carly Fixx
1981
Baywatch
Lisa Peters
1989
The Drew Barrymore Show
Self
2020
Law & Order: Organized Crime
Olivia Benson
2021
Ellen
Dara
1994
Wiseguy
1987
thirtysomething
1987
Today
Self
1952
The Single Guy
Kate Conklin
1995
Freddy's Nightmares
Marsha
1988
Law & Order: Trial by Jury
Olivia Benson
2005
Booker
Michelle Larkin
1989
Good Hang with Amy Poehler
Self - Guest
2025
JoJo's Circus
Queen Regina (voice)
2003
Can't Hurry Love
Didi Edelstein
1995
Cracker
1997
Lake Placid
Myra Okubo
1999
Variety & CNN Actors on Actors
Self
2025
All-American Girl
Jane
1994
Leaving Las Vegas
Hooker At Bar
1995
How To with John Wilson
Self
2020
Gutsy
Self
2022
The Emmy Awards
Self - Nominee
1949The Emmy Awards
Self
1949The Emmy Awards
Self - Host
1949
The Love Guru
Mariska Hargitay (uncredited)
2008
My Mom Jayne
Self
2025My Mom Jayne
Director
2025My Mom Jayne
Producer
2025
E! True Hollywood Story
Self
1996Prince Street
Det. Nina Echeverria
1997
Downtown
Jesse Smith
1986
The Perfect Weapon
Jennifer
1991
Hotel Room
Tina
1993
Grapevine
Katie
1992Night Sins
Paige Price
1997
Tequila and Bonetti
Angela Garcia
1992
Taylor Swift: The 1989 World Tour - Live
Self - Special Guest
2015
Winona Ryder: The Ghosts She Called
Actress on the Stage (archive footage) (uncredited)
2022
The Planters
Associate Producer
2019
Ghoulies
Donna
1984
The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU
Self
2020
Perfume
Darcy
2001
The Gymnasts of Fisherman Colony
Executive Producer
2026
Emanuel
Co-Producer
2019
Blind Side
Melanie
1993
30 Rock: A One-Time Special
Mariska Hargitay
2020
Bank Robber
Marisa Benoit
1993
Night Sins
Paige Price
1997
The Gambler: Playing for Keeps
Etta Place
1994
Jayne Mansfield: The Tragedy of a Blonde
Self (archive footage)
2015
The Advocate's Devil
Rendi
1997
Mr. Universe
Self
1988
F--k
Mariska
2010
The Alabama Solution
Thanks
2025
Welcome to 18
Joey
1986
Santorini Blue
Associate Producer
2013
Jocks
Nicole
1986
BLKBX: wht r u hding?
Dr. Hart
2021BLKBX: wht r u hding?
Executive Producer
2021
I Am Evidence
Self
2017I Am Evidence
Producer
2017
Come the Morning
Church Woman
1993
Strawberry Road
Jill Banner
1991
My Beautiful Stutter
Executive Producer
2019
Stuck
Narrator
2013
Plain Truth
Ellie Harrison
2004
Finish Line
Lisa Karsh
1989
Nuns vs. The Vatican
Executive Producer
2025Hard Time Romance
Anita
1991