Who were Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay’s parents Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay? Her dad was a former Mr Universe – and her mum a former Playboy Playmate and film star
Mickey Hargitay and Jayne Mansfield were married for 6 years and welcomed 3 children, including Mariska, but Mansfield died in a car crash when Mariska was just 3 years old
“I lost my mother when I was three years old,” the 60-year-old actress shared during her speech, per Mirror US. “I grew up in a house of people dealing with the tragedy in their own way because there was so much grief, there wasn’t room to prioritise anyone.” She also revealed she endured sexual trauma later in life, which took years to process.
These experiences, along with stories from other survivors, inspired her to create the Joyful Heart Foundation. “I built a whole foundation that responded to trauma and survivors the way that I wanted to be responded to,” she said.
Curious about Mariska Hargitay’s roots? Here’s a closer look at her parents, Mickey Hargitay and Jayne Mansfield.
Mickey Hargitay was Mr Universe in 1955
Mariska’s father, Mickey Hargitay, was born Miklós Hargitay in Budapest and immigrated to the US in 1947. He rose to fame as 1955’s Mr Universe before transitioning to acting, starring in over a dozen films, including four with his wife Jayne Mansfield, including The Loves of Hercules and Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? Mickey died in 2006 at 80 after battling cancer.
Jayne Mansfield was an actress and Playboy Playmate
