Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay just wished her brother a big “Happy Birthday” on instagram. Hargitay has starred as Olivia Benson on the hit procedural since 1999.
Both of Hargitay’s parents were famous, and her siblings also work in the industry. Her father was bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay and her mother was actress Jayne Mansfield. Mickey and Jayne had a total of three children. The Law & Order: SVU star also has three half-siblings.
Mariska and her brothers experienced great tragedy when their mother was killed in a car crash along with her boyfriend and their driver. Mariska and her two older brothers were also in the car but survived the crash. In an interview with People, Hargitay talked about how she and her brothers got through that afterward.
“The way I’ve lived with loss is to lean into it,” Mariska told the publication. “As the saying goes, the only way out is through. In my life, certainly, I’ve tried to avoid pain, loss, feeling things. But I’ve learned instead to really lean into it, because sooner or later you have to pay the piper. I’m not saying it’s easy, and it certainly hasn’t been for me. There’s been a lot of darkness. But on the other side things can be so bright.”
One of those bright spots is in the act of celebration like the Law & Order: SVU actress had today with Zoltan’s birthday.
“Happy Birthday to my kind, loving and open and huge-hearted brother. Who like Ted lasso, is a relentless optimist. Happy birthday, lion man. I love you,” the actress wrote. Zoltan also spent some time in the entertainment industry. He was a carpenter for multiple films in the 90s.
You can definitely see the resemblance. Hargitay’s fans wished Zoltan a happy birthday in the comments. Many of Hargitay’s siblings have made an impression on the entertainment industry, but none have done quite what Hargitay has with Law & Order: SVU.
Mariska Hargitay Holds an Entertainment Industry Record For Her Work on ‘Law & Order: SVU’
Mariska Hargitay holds the record for the person who has played a television character for the longest. Her work as Olivia Benson has awed fans over the past couple of decades and continues to do so. Now, Law & Order: SVU is heading into season 23.
Hargitay recently suffered a leg injury that put her in a cast, but in her typical fashion, she is pulling through with humor and grace. Now she’s back on set filming the next season of Law & Order: SVU in spite of her injury. For many fans, Hargitay is the life and soul of the series.
Law & Order: SVU season 23 will air on September 23rd. Law & Order: Organized Crime will also air the first episode of its second season that night, in a back-to-back special.
