Mariska Hargitay Reveals Biological Father Italian Singer Nelson Sardelli

Mariska Hargitay, star of "Law & Order: SVU," revealed that she discovered in her mid-20s that her biological father is Italian singer and comedian Nelson Sardelli, not Mickey Hargitay, who raised her after her mother Jayne Mansfield's death. She learned the truth during a visit to a Mansfield memorabilia collector, where a photo of Sardelli sparked an immediate realization. Mariska confronted Mickey about the revelation, leading to an emotional exchange, although Mickey denied the claim and Mariska chose to accept his denial to preserve their relationship. Despite the shock, Mariska expressed deep love for Mickey, whom she describes as having raised her and her siblings. Sardelli, born in Brazil and of Italian descent, had a diverse career in entertainment and other fields before gaining recognition as a singer and comedian. Mariska has also spoken candidly about her complex feelings surrounding her mother’s legacy and her own experiences, including her past sexual assault and her identification with her SVU character's empathy and courage.