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Mariska Magdolna Hargitay is an American actress best known for her role as New York Police Department Captain Olivia Benson on the NBC drama series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Hargitay has starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit since 1999. For her role on the show, Hargitay has received multiple awards and nominations, including a Primetime Emmy and a Golden Globe.
The daughter of bodybuilder and actor Mickey Hargitay and actress Jayne Mansfield, Hargitay 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 on television throughout the late 1980s and 1990s before being cast on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Hargitay’s work on that show led her to found the Joyful Heart Foundation, an organization that provides support to people who have been sexually abused.
Birth Name
Mariska Magdolna Hargitay
Born
Thursday, 23 January 1964
Links
Actress Filmography
| Title | Character | Year |
|---|
| Gutsy | Self | 2022 |
| Law & Order: Organized Crime | Captain Olivia Benson | 2021 |
| How to with John Wilson | Self | 2020 |
| The Drew Barrymore Show | Self - Guest | 2020 |
| 30 Rock: A One-Time Special | Self / Mariska Hargitay | 2020 |
| The Kelly Clarkson Show | Self | 2019 |
| I Am Evidence | Self | 2017 |
| Nightcap | Mariska Hargitay | 2016 |
| Harry | Self | 2016 |
| Taylor Swift: The 1989 World Tour Live | Self | 2015 |
Actress Filmography
| Title | Character | Year |
|---|
| Gutsy | Self | 2022 |
| Law & Order: Organized Crime | Captain Olivia Benson | 2021 |
| How to with John Wilson | Self | 2020 |
| The Drew Barrymore Show | Self - Guest | 2020 |
| 30 Rock: A One-Time Special | Self / Mariska Hargitay | 2020 |
| The Kelly Clarkson Show | Self | 2019 |
| I Am Evidence | Self | 2017 |
| Nightcap | Mariska Hargitay | 2016 |
| Harry | Self | 2016 |
| Taylor Swift: The 1989 World Tour Live | Self | 2015 |
| The Late Show with Stephen Colbert | Self | 2015 |
| Ice & Coco | Self | 2015 |
| The Jim Gaffigan Show | Self | 2015 |
| The Late Late Show with James Corden | Self | 2015 |
| The Meredith Vieira Show | Self | 2014 |
| Last Week Tonight with John Oliver | Self | 2014 |
| Late Night with Seth Meyers | Self | 2014 |
| The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | Self | 2014 |
| Chicago P.D. | Sergeant Olivia Benson / Lieutenant Olivia Benson | 2014 |
| Celebrity Page | Self | 2013 |
| Stuck | Narrator / Self - Narrator | 2013 |
| The Broadway.com Show | Self | 2013 |
| Chicago Fire | Olivia Benson | 2012 |
| Katie | Self | 2012 |
| The Chew | Self - Guest | 2011 |
| The Talk | Self - Guest | 2010 |
| Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy | Self / Self (archive footage) | 2010 |
| Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen | Self - Guest | 2009 |
| Late Night with Jimmy Fallon | Herself - Guest | 2009 |
| The Love Guru | Self | 2008 |
| Chelsea Lately | Herself - Guest | 2007 |
| 30 Rock | Detective Olivia Benson | 2006 |
| Rachael Ray | Self | 2006 |
| America Rebuilds II: Return to Ground Zero | Self - Narrator | 2006 |
| Tales from Earthsea | Tenar | 2006 |
| Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List | Self | 2005 |
| Law & Order: Trial by Jury | Detective Olivia Benson | 2005 |
| Plain Truth | Ellie Harrison | 2004 |
| TV Land Moguls | Self | 2004 |
| The Ellen DeGeneres Show | Herself | 2003 |
| Barefoot Contessa | Self | 2002 |
| Perfume | Darcy | 2001 |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Detective Olivia Benson / Olivia Benson / Lieutenant Olivia Benson / Captain Olivia Benson / Sergeant Olivia Benson | 1999 |
| Lake Placid | Myra Okubo | 1999 |
| The Advocate's Devil | Rendi | 1997 |
| Cracker: Mind Over Murder | Detective Penny Hatfield | 1997 |
| The View | Herself / Self | 1997 |
| Prince Street | Detective Nina Echeverria / Nina Echeverria | 1997 |
| Night Sins | Paige Price | 1997 |
| Access Hollywood | Self | 1996 |
| The Daily Show | Self | 1996 |
| The Lazarus Man | Sara Henderson / Dawson | 1996 |
| Leaving Las Vegas | Hooker at Bar | 1995 |
| The Single Guy | Kate Conklin the Mounted Cop | 1995 |
| Can't Hurry Love | Didi Edelstein | 1995 |
| Gambler V: Playing for Keeps | Etta Place | 1994 |
| ER | Cynthia Hooper | 1994 |
| All-American Girl | Jane | 1994 |
| Extra | Self | 1994 |
| Inside the Actors Studio | Self | 1994 |
| Ellen | Dara | 1994 |
| Bank Robber | Marisa Benoit | 1993 |
| Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Self - Guest / Herself | 1993 |
| Late Show with David Letterman | Herself | 1993 |
| Come the Morning | Church Woman | 1993 |
| Blind Side | Melanie | 1993 |
| Key West | Laurel | 1993 |
| Hotel Room | Tina | 1993 |
| Grapevine | Katie | 1992 |
| Tequila and Bonetti | Officer Angela Garcia / Angela Garcia | 1992 |
| FBI: The Untold Stories | Agent Michele Evans | 1991 |
| The Perfect Weapon | Jennifer | 1991 |
| Hard Time Romance | Anita | 1991 |
| Law & Order | Detective Olivia Benson | 1990 |
| Gabriel's Fire | Carmen | 1990 |
| The New Adam-12 | Michelle Brown | 1990 |
| Booker | Michelle Larkin | 1989 |
| Baywatch | Lisa Peters | 1989 |
| Finish Line | Lisa Karsh | 1989 |
| Freddy's Nightmares | Marsha | 1988 |
| Mr. Universe | 1988 | |
| In the Heat of the Night | Audine Higgs | 1988 |
| Thirtysomething | Courtney Dunn | 1987 |
| Wiseguy | Debbie Vitale | 1987 |
| Welcome to 18 | Joey | 1986 |
| Jocks | Nicole | 1986 |
| Downtown | Jesse Smith | 1986 |
| Ghoulies | Donna | 1985 |
| Falcon Crest | Carly Fixx | 1981 |
| Entertainment Tonight | Self / Herself | 1981 |
| CBS News Sunday Morning with Jane Pauley | Self | 1979 |
| Saturday Night Live | Olivia Benson | 1975 |
Director Filmography
| Title | Year |
|---|
Producer Filmography
| Title | Year |
|---|
| My Beautiful Stutter | 2021 |
| My Beautiful Stutter | 2019 |
| Emanuel | 2019 |
| I Am Evidence | 2017 |
| Santorini Blue | 2013 |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | 1999 |
| Year | Type | Category | Won |
|---|
| 2011 | Emmy | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated |
| 2010 | Emmy | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated |
| 2009 | Golden Globe | Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama | Nominated |
| 2009 | Emmy | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated |
| 2008 | Emmy | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated |
| 2007 | Emmy | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated |
| 2006 | Emmy | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Won |
| 2005 | Golden Globe | Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama | Won |
| 2005 | Emmy | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated |
| 2004 | Emmy | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated |
