Mariska Hargitay Opens Up About Discovering Her Biological Father in Emotional Interview
Mariska Hargitay is reflecting on a life-altering moment from her past. In a deeply personal conversation on the Call Her Daddy podcast with Alex Cooper, the Law & Order: SVU star revealed the moment she learned that the man who raised her, Mickey Hargitay, was not her biological father.
At 25, Hargitay discovered that her biological father was Nelson Sardelli, a former Las Vegas entertainer — a revelation that left her feeling like her “life was over.” The story is also featured in her upcoming documentary My Mom Jayne, which premieres June 27 on Max.
Hargitay recalled being at the home of Sabin Gray, head of the Jayne Mansfield fan club, when he offered to show her a photo of “Nelson.” The name meant nothing to her at the time, but the moment she saw the picture, she knew — “on a cellular level.”
The discovery sent her into a spiral. “I was totally dissociated and out of my body,” she said. “I thought I was going to crash my car.” After confronting her father Mickey, who denied the claim, she chose to bury the truth to protect the man who had loved and raised her. “I love him, and we’re done here,” she told herself. “We never spoke of it again.”
Now 61, Hargitay said she doesn’t know if Mickey ever truly knew the truth. “I’ll never know,” she said, noting that her own experience as an adoptive mother has helped her understand his possible choice to fully embrace her as his own.
Hargitay shares three children — August, 18, Amaya, 14, and Andrew, 13 — with husband Peter Hermann.
Watch My Mom Jayne when it premieres June 27 on Max.
👉 Stream the documentary here
