Mariska Hargitay (1962 - ), the star of the U.S.TV drama show "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit (SVU)", is the daughter of Hollywood film personality Jayne Mansfield (1933 - 1967). Mansfield was her mother; the popular bodybuilder and actor Mickey Hargitay (1926 - 2006) was her father.

Jayne Mansfield was born Vera Jayne Palmer in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. She made it to Hollywood, CA as a young wife and mother in 1954. She was determined to be an actress. From the beginning, she wasn’t afraid to use her personal (physical) assets. She had flowing platinum blonde hair and a dazzling smile. Cast in the Broadway comedy “Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?”, she turned heads when people saw her show. As a blonde film star, she famously appeared nude in the 1963 comedy “Promises! Promises!”. Her best performance was generally believed to have been in “The Wayward Bus” (1957). While her screen career included some less-than-memorable films, off-screen she played the movie star role to perfection. She was one of the most visible glamour girls of her era. Her death was an untimely one.

Her daughter is now working on a TV show in its 20th season. As a performing artist like her mother, Mariska Hargitay debuted in a big screen film. It was "Ghoulies" (1985). Now, she is best known for her role as Olivia Benson on "Law and Order: SVU". It is a role that has led to her founding the Joyful Heart Foundation, which provides support to women and men who have been sexually abused.

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