Mariska Hargitay Reveals Identity of Her Biological Father, Says She Was “Living a Lie My Entire Life”

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Mariska Hargitay has revealed a long-held family secret: the truth about her biological father.

For many years, it was thought by the actress that her father was Mickey Hargitay – a renowned Hungarian bodybuilder turned actor, who was actually married to Jayne Mansfield in 1956 (her mother).

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The actress had long assumed that Mickey Hargitay, the former Hungarian bodybuilding champion and later actor, was her father. Interestingly, he was the one who tied the knot with Jayne Mansfield in 1956 – her mother.

At the tender age of just 3, Mariska found herself and her mother caught up in a heart-wrenching car collision that claimed Mansfield’s life immediately. Subsequently, it was Mickey who took on the responsibility of rearing their three offspring following Mansfield’s untimely demise.

She confided in Vanity Fair that he was her everything, her role model. His affection for her was clear, and she acknowledged this. Yet, there was another truth she grasped, but the specifics remained unclear to her.

It wasn’t until she turned 20 that she learned the real truth. Back in 1963-64, Mansfield filed for divorce from Mickey but soon after, they reconciled just before Mariska was born, despite her briefly dating Italian entertainer Nelson Sardelli during that period.

Mariska had long felt there was something distinct about her relationship with her siblings (Jayne Marie, Zoltan, and Mickey Jr.), and in her 20s, a picture of Sardelli brought clarity to those feelings. She openly admits that the moment she saw this photo, she recognized him as her biological father. However, when she posed this revelation to Mickey, he flatly denied it, and the topic was never broached again.

At age thirty, Mariska went to Atlantic City specifically to witness Sardelli’s performance. Upon meeting him, she introduced herself, and he responded with emotion, saying, “I’ve been anticipating this encounter for the past thirty years.

She expressed her response by saying, “I took on the character of Olivia Benson,” referring to her tough stance. She continued, “I told him, ‘I don’t want or need anything from you… I already have a father.’ My actions were motivated by loyalty towards Mickey.” (Mickey passed away in 2006.)

She added that she struggled with “knowing I’m living a lie my entire life.”

Over time, Mariska developed a strong bond with Sardelli and his girls. Additionally, it dawned on her that her mother had returned to Mickey, as she believed that their relationship would be more advantageous for her child.

She stated, ‘I was raised as expected, and I acknowledge that everyone acted in my best interest. Let me clarify, I am indeed Mickey Hargitay’s daughter, and that statement holds truth.’

In a candid discussion, the main cast member of “Law & Order: SVU” shares insights about this disclosure in her fresh documentary titled “My Mom Jayne,” which had its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday and will air starting June 27 on HBO/HBO Max.

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2025-05-19 03:54