Mariska Hargitay’s fans believed she was the daughter of Hollywood icons Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay. However, in May 2025, the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit actress revealed a major family secret – sharing that her biological father is actually Nelson Sardelli.

Mariska Hargitay says that in her 20s, she discovered that the man who raised her was not her biological father — but she has no regrets: 'I grew up where I was supposed to.'