Mariska Hargitey Playing Detective Olivia Benson made him a TV icon Law and Order: SVU Since 1999. A gritty performance in police proceedings won her 2006 standout actress Emmy. Before hitting it big in the beloved series, Mariska climbed the ladder of Tinseltown in small roles in horror films and several recurring roles in the show Falcon Crest and Downtown.
But Mariska’s Hollywood roots are not to stop there, as she is the daughter of famous people. Her mother, Jane Mansfieldone of the first blonde bombs to take over the big screen, but his father Mickey Hargitaywhich made his fame as a former Universe a successful acting career. The couple married in 1958 and welcomed three children: son Nicholas and Zoltanand her daughter Mariska. In 1963 they divorced and quickly settled, but formally split a year later. In May 2025, Mariska revealed that Mickey is not her biological father. It turns out that during the split between her parents, Jane had a short relationship with singers and comedians Nelson Saldelliand he is Mariska’s biological father, the actress said. Vanity Fair.
Find out more about Mariska’s parents below.
Mickey Hargitay
Born in Hungary in January 1926, Mickey began acrobatic acts with four brothers at a young age, eventually going to Budapest’s biggest opera house. NBC. He eventually headed to America and settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where his bodybuilding dream began to take shape. “Mickey was trained hard throughout the 50s and won several local “Body Beautiful” competitions,” the outlet said. By 1955, Mickey was ready to acquire the title of Mr. Universe.
Bodybuilder’s championships encouraged generations to incorporate sports. “Bodybuilding was dominated by American champions. No one else had any hope.” Arnold Schwarzenegger I said LA Times. “When someone from Central Europe became Mr. Universe, I wanted people like me and others to dream of.”
“Bodybuilding was considered a strange and unusual activity at the time that was not popular with the public.” Jean Moseya bodybuilding historian told the outlet. “At the time, athletic coaches discouraged you from lifting weight and thought you were bound by your muscles.
Mickey then found work as Muskulman in May West’s nightclub act in 1956. According to the LA Times, Jane caught the act at a New York club and when asked what she wanted that night, she reportedly replied, “I have a steak and a guy on my left!” Mickey and Jane got married two years later.
Couples will continue to work together in movies like Hercules’ love, promise! promise! And primitive love. “I enjoyed my career,” Mickey once said by the outlet. “I didn’t want to be anything more than I was and I enjoyed it.” He died of multiple myeloma on September 14, 2006, at the age of 80.
“Whether it’s from my character, from my husband, or from my dad who said, ‘Mariska, you can learn from anyone,’ I get inspiration and information from where I can get it,” Mariska said. Good housekeeping 2012. The actress also has a half sister. Tina, From her relationship with her dad Mary Berge.
Jane Mansfield
Jane was a Midwest girl born in Pennsylvania on April 19, 1933. After finding fame in Playboy photo shoots, Jane quickly became a sex symbol on the big screen as well. Girls can’t help it (1956), A whimsical bus (1957) and It’s too hot to handle (1960).
As for the incredible fame that followed and what fans were saying they wanted to know more about her, Jane seemed to be based on everything about it. In a 1960 interview, Jane explained: “If the fans feel like they own you and if you keep your life completely secret, then it’s not fair to them, so it feels like the stars owes it to her masses in her life.
Her romance with Mickey seemed to be the only/repeat thing. In 1963, Jane attended a five-minute divorce hearing with Mickey in a Mexican court. The era. The divorce was found to be invalid in California. After a brief settlement and subsequent split, Jayne won in 1964, suing for a Mexican divorce to be granted.
In 1967, Jane was killed in a car accident along with her boyfriend and her driver. Mariska and her brother were also in the car at the time, but they survived. Mariska was only three years old at the time, and Jane was 34 years old.
Nelson Saldelli
Mariska revealed in May 2025 that Nelson is her biological father, but she claimed that he was Mickey’s daughter since he raised her. The actress will delve into her upbringing and her parents in a 2025 documentary My mother Jane.
Nelson was born in Brazil on September 30, 1934, and he is of Italian descent. He worked as a performer in Las Vegas, but reportedly still lives there. Nelson is also the father of two other daughters (Mariska’s half sister) who participated in the HBO documentary.
