Archive · 26 Jun 2025
Mariska Hargitay Reveals Truth About Father in Upcoming Documentary
Mariska Hargitay, the actress from Law & Order: SVU, found out that the man she thought was her dad, Mickey Hargitay, wasn't actually her biological father.
She learned this during a difficult conversation while her dad was building her a house.
She later realized that Nelson Sardelli was her biological father.
This discovery is a main focus in an upcoming documentary about her family.
The documentary also looks at her mother Jayne Mansfield's divorce from Mickey Hargitay.
Mariska Hargitay revealed Mickey Hargitay wasn't her biological father.
Hargitay learned the truth during a confrontation with Mickey while he was building her a house.
She identified Nelson Sardelli as her biological father after a visit to a memorabilia collector.
The discovery is explored in the upcoming HBO documentary, "My Mom Jayne".
Jayne Mansfield divorced Mickey Hargitay in 1964, after initially delaying the divorce.
- Who
- Mariska Hargitay discovered that Nelson Sardelli is her biological father.
- What
- Mariska Hargitay revealed that Mickey Hargitay was not her biological father.
- When
- The revelation was shared recently.
- Where
- The revelation was shared in a "Call Her Daddy" podcast and with Vanity Fair.
- Why
- The discovery was based on a gut feeling and led to a family secret being revealed.
- Subject
- Mariska Hargitay
- Revelation
- Mickey Hargitay not biological father
- Biological Father
- Nelson Sardelli
- Source
- Call Her Daddy Podcast, Vanity Fair
- Upcoming Documentary
- "My Mom Jayne"