Mariska Hargitay Reveals Biological Father Identity, Confronts Adoptive Dad

Mariska Hargitay revealed on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast the emotional experience of discovering Mickey Hargitay, who raised her and her siblings after their mother Jayne Mansfield's death, was not her biological father. Despite confronting Mickey with this truth, he vehemently denied it, emphasizing that she looked like him and was a "Hargitay to the end." Mariska expressed the pain of losing the identity she had known, stating that moment marked her transition into adulthood. She later found out her biological father is Italian comedian and singer Nelson Sardelli, a discovery triggered by a visit to a collector of her mother's memorabilia. Although Mickey denied the truth until his death in 2006, Mariska respects his choice to embrace her as his daughter, comparing it to her own experience raising adopted children. This personal journey is also explored in her documentary "My Mom Jayne," which delves into her mother's life and legacy.