Mariska Hargitay Reveals Nelson Sardelli as Biological Father

Mariska Hargitay, known for her role on Law & Order: SVU, revealed that her biological father is not Mickey Hargitay, the man who raised her, but Italian entertainer Nelson Sardelli. Her mother, Jayne Mansfield, had a brief relationship with Sardelli during a separation from Mickey, though she reconciled with Mickey before Mariska was born. Mariska discovered the truth in her twenties after seeing a photo of Sardelli and later confronted Mickey, who denied the claim, leading her to keep the secret for decades. At age 30, she met Sardelli and initially rejected forming a bond, citing loyalty to Mickey, who passed away in 2006. Over time, she developed a relationship with Sardelli and her half-sisters, embracing the complex family dynamic while affirming her identity as Mickey Hargitay's daughter. The story is detailed in Mariska's Vanity Fair interview and her documentary "My Mom Jayne," which honors her late mother and explores these family revelations.