Mariska Hargitay: the story of famous parents and the path to success
18 may 2025 в 19:13
Mariska Hargitay has become a television icon, playing detective Olivia Benson in the series «Law & Order: Special Victims Unit» since 1999. Her tough portrayal in police procedure even earned her an Emmy award in 2006 for outstanding actress. Before becoming famous thanks to her beloved series, Mariska worked her way up the Hollywood career ladder with small roles in horror films and a few recurring roles in shows such as «Falcon Crest» and «Downtown».
However, Mariska’s Hollywood roots don’t end there, as she is the daughter of famous parents. Her mother, Jayne Mansfield, was one of the first blonde bombshells to conquer the big screen, while her father, Mickey Hargitay, turned his fame as a former Mr. Universe into a successful acting career. The couple married in 1958 and welcomed three children: sons Miklós and Zoltán, and daughter Mariska. In 1963 they divorced and quickly reconciled, only to officially separate a year later. In May 2025, Mariska revealed that Mickey is not her biological father. It turns out that during her parents' separation, Jayne had a brief relationship with singer and comedian Nelson Sardelli, who is Mariska’s biological father, as the actress told Vanity Fair magazine.
Learn more about Mariska’s parents below.
Born in Hungary in January 1926, Mickey began performing in an acrobatic act with his four brothers at a young age, eventually leading the act to the largest opera house in Budapest, according to NBC. He eventually made his way to America and settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where his dreams of bodybuilding began to come true. «Mickey trained hard throughout the 1950s, winning several local 'Mr. Beautiful Body' contests», - the publication reports. By 1955, Mickey was ready to take the title of Mr. Universe.
The bodybuilding championship inspired a whole generation to engage in this sport. «Bodybuilding was dominated by American champions; there was no hope for anyone else», - Arnold Schwarzenegger said in an interview with the L.A. Times. «The fact that someone from central Europe became Mr. Universe gave hope to me and others to dream».
«In those days, bodybuilding was considered a strange, unusual activity that was not popular among the public», - said bodybuilding historian Gene Mozee to the publication. «At that time, sports coaches discouraged weightlifting, believing that you would become muscular. And then came Mickey Hargitay, a great athlete».
Mickey then found work as a bodybuilder at the May West nightclub, May West Revue, in 1956. According to the L.A. Times, Jayne saw his performance at a New York club and when asked what she wanted that evening, she reportedly replied, «I'll take a steak and the man on the left!» Mickey and Jayne married two years later.
The couple continued to work together in films such as «Hercules» and «Promises! Promises!» and «Wild Love». «I liked my career», - Mickey once said. «I never wanted to be more than I was, and I had fun doing it». He died at the age of 80 on September 14, 2006 from multiple myeloma.
«I draw inspiration and information from anywhere, whether it’s from my character, my husband, or my father, who always said, 'Mariska, you can learn from everyone and from everyone,'» Mariska told Good Housekeeping magazine in 2012. The actress also has a stepsister, Tina, from her father’s relationship with Mary Birge.
Jayne was a girl from the Midwest, born in Pennsylvania on April 19, 1933. After gaining fame through photo shoots for Playboy, Jayne soon became a sex symbol on the big screen with films such as «The Girl Can’t Help It» (1956), «The Wayward Bus» (1957), and «Too Hot to Handle» (1960).
As for the incredible fame that followed, and fans eager to learn more about her, Jayne seemed level-headed about it. In a 1960 interview, Jayne explained, «I feel that a star owes it to her public to bring the public into her life, because fans feel they own you»
However, Mariska’s Hollywood roots don’t end there, as she is the daughter of famous parents. Her mother, Jayne Mansfield, was one of the first blonde bombshells to conquer the big screen, while her father, Mickey Hargitay, turned his fame as a former Mr. Universe into a successful acting career. The couple married in 1958 and welcomed three children: sons Miklós and Zoltán, and daughter Mariska. In 1963 they divorced and quickly reconciled, only to officially separate a year later. In May 2025, Mariska revealed that Mickey is not her biological father. It turns out that during her parents' separation, Jayne had a brief relationship with singer and comedian Nelson Sardelli, who is Mariska’s biological father, as the actress told Vanity Fair magazine.
Learn more about Mariska’s parents below.
Born in Hungary in January 1926, Mickey began performing in an acrobatic act with his four brothers at a young age, eventually leading the act to the largest opera house in Budapest, according to NBC. He eventually made his way to America and settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where his dreams of bodybuilding began to come true. «Mickey trained hard throughout the 1950s, winning several local 'Mr. Beautiful Body' contests», - the publication reports. By 1955, Mickey was ready to take the title of Mr. Universe.
The bodybuilding championship inspired a whole generation to engage in this sport. «Bodybuilding was dominated by American champions; there was no hope for anyone else», - Arnold Schwarzenegger said in an interview with the L.A. Times. «The fact that someone from central Europe became Mr. Universe gave hope to me and others to dream».
«In those days, bodybuilding was considered a strange, unusual activity that was not popular among the public», - said bodybuilding historian Gene Mozee to the publication. «At that time, sports coaches discouraged weightlifting, believing that you would become muscular. And then came Mickey Hargitay, a great athlete».
Mickey then found work as a bodybuilder at the May West nightclub, May West Revue, in 1956. According to the L.A. Times, Jayne saw his performance at a New York club and when asked what she wanted that evening, she reportedly replied, «I'll take a steak and the man on the left!» Mickey and Jayne married two years later.
The couple continued to work together in films such as «Hercules» and «Promises! Promises!» and «Wild Love». «I liked my career», - Mickey once said. «I never wanted to be more than I was, and I had fun doing it». He died at the age of 80 on September 14, 2006 from multiple myeloma.
«I draw inspiration and information from anywhere, whether it’s from my character, my husband, or my father, who always said, 'Mariska, you can learn from everyone and from everyone,'» Mariska told Good Housekeeping magazine in 2012. The actress also has a stepsister, Tina, from her father’s relationship with Mary Birge.
Jayne was a girl from the Midwest, born in Pennsylvania on April 19, 1933. After gaining fame through photo shoots for Playboy, Jayne soon became a sex symbol on the big screen with films such as «The Girl Can’t Help It» (1956), «The Wayward Bus» (1957), and «Too Hot to Handle» (1960).
As for the incredible fame that followed, and fans eager to learn more about her, Jayne seemed level-headed about it. In a 1960 interview, Jayne explained, «I feel that a star owes it to her public to bring the public into her life, because fans feel they own you»
© Artemenko Olga
