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Mariska Hargitay | |
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 Hargitay in 2011 | |
| Born | Mariska Magdolna Hargitay January 23, 1964 Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of California, Los Angeles |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1984–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3[a] |
| Parents |
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| Relatives | Jayne Marie Mansfield (half-sister) |
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Mariska Magdolna Hargitay[1] (/məˈrɪʃkə ˈhɑːrɡɪteɪ/;[2] born January 23, 1964)[3][4] is an American actress and producer. She is known for playing Olivia Benson on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999–present), which became the longest-running drama in American prime-time television in 2019. Her portrayal of Olivia Benson is the longest-running character in a prime-time American TV drama,[5] and since 2013, she is among the highest-paid actresses on television.[6][7] Her accolades for the role include a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and two People's Choice Awards. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013.
The daughter of bodybuilder and actor Mickey Hargitay and actress Jayne Mansfield, Hargitay's interest in acting began while attending Marymount High School in Los Angeles. She enrolled in the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. In 1982, she was crowned Miss Beverly Hills USA. She left UCLA before completing her degree to pursue an acting career. Her early credits include appearing on the television series Falcon Crest (1988), Tequila and Bonetti (1992), Can't Hurry Love (1995–1996), and ER (1997–1998), and the drama film Leaving Las Vegas (1995). Asides from her SVU role, she co-produced the HBO documentary film I Am Evidence, which won the 2017 News & Documentary Emmy Award for Best Documentary.
Hargitay is also known for her philanthropic work and activism. She founded the Joyful Heart Foundation, which provides support to people who have been sexually abused, and became a certified rape counselor. She has engaged in initiatives to support domestic violence shelters, raise awareness about untested rape kits, and contributed to other causes.
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).
- ^ Gelt, Jessica (November 10, 2013). "Mariska Hargitay". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
Born Mariska Magdolna Hargitay on Jan. 23, 1964 in Santa Monica, CA ... .
- ^ "Say How: H". National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. Archived from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
- ^ "Focus Forum". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans, LA. October 1, 1995. p. T14.
- ^ Inside the Actors Studio: Mariska Hargitay (television production). The Actors Studio. September 22, 2014. Mariska says her own first name and the name of her father; the interviewer, James Lipton, also says her full name near the start of the show.
- ^ Kaplan, Ilana (September 25, 2019). "As 'SVU' Makes History, Mariska Hargitay Makes Olivia Benson's Mission Her Own". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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