Mariska Hargitay is sharing a family secret—she is not biologically a Hargitay.
The 61-year-old revealed her late dad Mickey Hargitay, who raised her after her mom Jayne Mansfield died in a 1967 car accident that the Law & Order: SVU actress survived as a child, is not her biological father. That would be Brazilian-born Italian singer Nelson Sardelli, 90. When Mariska was 30, she watched him perform in Atlantic City and then introduced herself. In character.
“I went full Olivia Benson on him,” she told Vanity Fair in an interview published May 17, adding. “I was like, ‘I don’t want anything, I don’t need anything from you…I have a dad.'”
Nelson, she said, burst into tears upon meeting her, telling her, “I’ve been waiting 30 years for this moment.”
In 1962, Jayne filed for divorce from the Hungarian-born actor—her costar in films such as The Loves of Hercules—and later become romantically involved with Nelson. She and Mickey reconciled before Mariska was born in 1964, Vanity Fair reported, but finalized their divorce later that year.
Rumors about the identity of her biological father have floated for years. Mariska’s paternal heritage and Jayne’s relationships with both the Hungarian-born actor and Nelson were detailed in the late actress’ former press secretary Raymond Strait‘s 1992 book Here They Are Jayne Mansfield.
And this past April, one of his fans shared a photo of himself with the singer on Instagram, noting that “his daughter is Mariska Hargitay.”
The actress suspected such for a while before meeting him. She said that when she was in her 20s, she made the realization after someone showed her a photo of the longtime Vegas performer.
“It was like the floor fell out from underneath me,” she says in the upcoming documentary My Mom Jayne. “Like my infrastructure dissolved.”
But according to Vanity Fair, when she confronted Mickey about it, he denied it, and she never mentioned Nelson again to her dad. The actor—who also shared with Jayne kids Mickey “Miklos” Jr., now 66, and Zoltan, 64, and helped raise her daughter Jayne Marie, 74, from a previous relationship—died at age 80 in 2006.
Mariska said that after the encounter with Nelson in Atlantic City, she did end up bonding with him and the daughters he raised. And while she struggled for a while “knowing I’m living a lie my entire life,” she ultimately realized something important about her upbringing.
“I grew up where I was supposed to, and I do know that everyone made the best choice for me,” she said. “I’m Mickey Hargitay’s daughter—that is not a lie.”
For more stars who are surprisingly related, read on…
Lena Dunham & Larry David
On an April 2 episode of Finding Your Roots, host Henry Louis Gates Jr., revealed that Lena Dunham had a distant ancestor in common with Larry David on her mother’s side.
Stassi Schroeder & Gypsy Rose Blanchard
Genealogist Dr. Adina Newman, known on Instagram as My Family Genie, revealed Blanchard and the Vanderpump Rules alum are allegedly related on their paternal grandmother’s side dating back all the way to the 1600s.
Schroeder, a self-professed true crime fan, commented on Newman’s post, “Omg I’m unwell.”
Dakota Johnson and Antonio Banderas
The Mask of Zorro star was married to the Fifty Shades of Grey actress’ mother Melanie Griffith for 20 years before they ultimately split in 2015, but that doesn’t mean the stepfather and daughter’s bond has been severed.
Johnson got emotional when she presented an award to Banderas at the 2019 Hollywood Film Awards.
“I come from a family of many a marriage and I got very lucky,” Johnson, whose dad is actor Don Johnson, said. “I got a bonus dad who I realized that, over time, is actually one of the most influential people in my whole life,” she said. “When I was six years old, my mother married a man who brought an unbelievably bright light and a whole new world of creativity and culture—and one remarkably magical little sister into our family.”
Robyn Lively & Blake Lively
The Teen Witch star and the Gossip Girl alum are half-sisters who share the same mom, talent manager Elaine Lively.
Elle King & Rob Schneider
The “Ex’s & Oh’s” singer is the SNL vet’s daughter, born from his relationship with former model London King.
Ludacris & Monica
The Fast & Furious star is cousins with the R&B singer thanks to her stepfather, Reverend Edward Best, who happens to be the rapper’s uncle.
Conan O’Brien & Denis Leary
The late-night host and the Rescue Me creator are third cousins.
Steven Spielberg & Jessica Capshaw
The onetime Grey’s Anatomy doc has called the legendary director stepdad ever since he married her mom Kate Capshaw in 1991.
Yara Shahidi & Nas
The Grown-ish star calls the rapper her second cousin. She was even the flower girl in his 2005 wedding with now ex-wife Kelis!
Lea Thompson & Zoey Deutch
The actress is the daughter of the Back to the Future icon.
Kiefer Sutherland & Sarah Sutherland
Not only did the Veep vet make a name for herself playing a famous daughter on the HBO comedy, but she’s also a famous daughter in real life. The erstwhile Jack Bauer star is her father.
Phil Collins & Lily Collins
Some Emily in Paris viewers were très shocked to discover Lily is the daughter of the English Grammy winner.
Amy Schumer & Chuck Schumer
The comedian and the New York Senator are actually related, as he’s the first cousin of her father.
Kate Middleton, Dakota Fanning & Elle Fanning
According to a 2014 People interview, a family historian from Ancestry.com claimed that the Fannings and the Princess of Wales are all descendants of King Edward III, who ruled England from 1327 to 1377, making them very distant relatives—21st cousins, to be exact.
Jonah Hill & Beanie Feldstein
The actors are actually brother and sister!
Niecy Nash, Danielle Brooks & Sterling K. Brown
Talent runs in this family, as the Reno 911! alum, Orange Is the New Black actress and This Is Us star are all cousins.
“We are blood related!” Nash wrote on Instagram January 2024, sharing a photo of the trio at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Third Annual Fundraising Gala. “REAL cousins!”
Jason Sudeikis & George Wendt
The SNL alum calls the Cheers icon Uncle George whenever he sees him. At least, we assume he does.
Stephen Dillane & Frank Dillane
Yep, Game of Thrones‘ Stannis Baratheon is the real-life dad of Fear the Walking Dead‘s Nick Clark.
Lily Allen & Sam Smith
The brunette beauty and the “Stay With Me” singer are third cousins. During a radio interview, Smith admitted that the pair have never met because their family is “huge.”
Liev Schreiber & Pablo Schreiber
The Salt actor and the memorable Law & Order: SVU guest star are half-brothers.
Melissa McCarthy & Jenny McCarthy
You may not have guessed but the Bridesmaids comedian and the former View co-host are cousins.
Julia Roberts & Emma Roberts
The We’re the Millers actress has the perfect mentor in the Pretty Woman star, who happens to be her auntie.
Lacey Schwimmer & David Schwimmer
Who knew the stunning Dancing With the Stars pro is second cousins with the Friends alum?
Alexander Skarsgård & Stellan Skarsgård
The True Blood vampire caught the acting bug from his dear old dad who stars in both The Avengers and Thor franchises.
Sofia Coppola, Jason Schwartzman, Nicolas Cage & Francis Ford Coppola
The Ghost Rider actor comes from an extremely talented family. One of his cousins directed The Bling Ring, the other starred in Saving Mr. Banks and his uncle directed The Godfather.
Lily Allen & Alfie Allen
The outspoken British singer is the older sister of the Game of Thrones star. She even wrote a song about him titled “Alfie.”
Brooke Shields & Glenn Close
The Damages star and the Lipstick Jungle actress are second cousins.
Shirley MacLaine & Warren Beatty
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty actress originally inspired her baby brother to get into show business.
Rashida Jones & Quincy Jones
The Parks and Recreation actress is the daughter of the legendary music producer.
Tom Cruise & William Mapother
The Lost actor has a very famous cousin in the Mission: Impossible star.
