Profile Text
Hargitay in 2011, Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Mariska Magdolna Hargitay
Place of Birth: Santa Monica, Los Angeles, California, United States
Date of Birth: January 23, 1964
Ethnicity: * biological father – Italian [including Sicilian] * mother – English, Cornish, one eighth German
Mariska Hargitay is an American actress. She is known for her role as Det. Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit .
Mariska’s mother was 1950s sex symbol, actress, nightclub entertainer, and singer Jayne Mansfield (born Vera Jayne Palmer). Jayne was of seven eighths British Isles (English and Cornish), and one eighth German, descent. Mariska’s legal father, Mickey Hargitay (Miklós Károly Hargitay), was a Hungarian actor, acrobat, and Mr. Universe 1955. Her biological father was Las Vegas entertainer Nelson Sardelli. This was only confirmed publicly in 2025.
Mariska is married to actor, producer, and writer Peter Hermann , with whom she has three children.
Mariska’s biological paternal grandfather was Giovanni Battista “João Batista” Sardelli (the son of Giovanni Antonio “João” Sardelli and Maria Giovanna Caporuscio). Mariska’s grandfather Giovanni was born in Italy. Mariska’s great-grandfather Giovanni was born in Pontecorvo, Lazio, the son of Nicola Sardelli and Elisabetta Di Folco.
Mariska’s biological paternal grandmother was Maria “Mariquinha” Cafesso/Cafisso (the daughter of Salvatore “Salvador” Cafesso/Cafisso and Francesca “Francisca” Guastaferro). Maria was born in Brazil, to Italian parents. Salvatore was born in Niscemi, Sicily, the son of Pasquale Cafisso and Eusapia Bellina. Francesca was born in Naples, the daughter of Archangelo Guastaferro and Maria Grazia Amirada/Misata.
Mariska’s maternal grandfather was Herbert William Palmer (the son of Elmer E. Palmer and Alice J. Jackson). Herbert was born in Pennsylvania. Elmer was born in Pennsylvania, to parents from England, with Cornish origins, Thomas Palmer and Mary J. Alice was born in Pennsylvania, to an English father, from Cornwall, William H. Jackson, and a mother of German origin, Amanda Whitzman or Custer.
Mariska’s maternal grandmother was Vera Jeffrey Palmer (the daughter of Thomas Henry Palmer and Beatrice Mary Jeffery/Jeffrey). Vera was born in Pennsylvania. Thomas was born in Pennsylvania, the son of Henry Palmer and Melissa, and was of Cornish/English origin. Beatrice was English, of Cornish origin, and was born in St. Teath, Cornwall, the daughter of Henry Jeffery/Jeffrey and Eliza Jane Cowling.
Sources: https://www.vanityfair.com https://people.com
Genealogy of Mariska Hargitay – https://www.geni.com
Genealogy of Mariska’s biological father (focusing on his own father’s side) – https://gw.geneanet.org
Death record of Mariska’s biological paternal grandfather, Giovanni Battista “João Batista” Sardelli – https://www.familysearch.org
Death record of Mariska’s biological paternal great-grandmother, Francesca “Francisca” Guastaferro Cafesso – https://www.familysearch.org
Genealogies of Mariska’s mother – https://www.wikitree.com http://freepages.rootsweb.com
Mariska’s maternal grandfather, Herbert William Palmer, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org