Mariska Hargitay made headlines when she revealed that her organic father was not Mickey Hargitay — however was, as an alternative, Nelson Sardelli.
Mariska was born in 1964 to late actress Jayne Mansfield, who died in a June 1967 automotive crash. The incident left the Legislation & Order: SVU star, who was 3 on the time, with extreme accidents.
The 2025 documentary My Mother Jayne explores Jayne’s life earlier than and after the automotive accident, together with Mariska’s mother’s cut up from Mickey and temporary romance with Nelson. Jayne referred to as it quits with Mickey and reunited with Nelson earlier than Mariska’s beginning in 1964. The pair divorced that yr.
Mickey raised Mariska and siblings Mickey Jr. and Zoltán, uncovering the reality about her organic father’s identification in her 20s when she noticed an image of Nelson. When she introduced it as much as Mickey, he denied it. (Jayne was mother to daughter Jayne Marie, born in 1950 with first husband Paul Mansfield and son Tony, born in 1965 with third husband Matt Cimber.)
Mariska went on to satisfy Nelson when she was 30 years previous and claimed she went “full Olivia Benson on him,” referring to her beloved character. “I used to be like, ‘I don’t need something, I don’t want something from you … I’ve a dad,’” Mariska recalled. “There was one thing about loyalty. I wished to be loyal to Mickey.”
Mariska in the end modified her thoughts, deciding that she “grew up the place [she] was presupposed to.” She added, “I do know that everybody made your best option for me. I’m Mickey Hargitay’s daughter — that isn’t a lie.”
So who’s Nelson? Scroll all the way down to be taught extra about Mariska’s organic father:
Nelson Sardelli Night Commonplace/Hulton Archive/Getty Photos
Nelson Has Different Daughters
Mariska advised Vanity Fair in 2025 that she and Nelson’s two different daughters, who appeared within the documentary My Mother Jayne, had a personal screening for My Mother Jayne.
“They only wept and wept and wept,” Hargitay advised the outlet whereas turning into emotional. “These two ladies that I like a lot — I made them secrets and techniques! It’s so heartbreaking to me.”
Mariska defined that she referred to her sisters as “household associates,” including, “I’m not good with lies. So I additionally made this film to unburden all of us.”
Nelson Served within the Military
Norm Clarke’s Vegas Diary reported that Nelson served within the Military for many of 1965 and till 1958. He went on to work in building earlier than touchdown a gig singing at an open mic place and pursuing a profession within the leisure business.
When Mariska was 30, she went to look at Nelson carry out in Atlantic Metropolis. She claimed to Vainness Honest in 2025 that he turned emotional, telling her, “I’ve been ready 30 years for this second.”
Mariska Hargitay revealed the identification of her organic father after “dwelling a lie” for 30 years. The Legislation & Order: Particular Victims Unit star, 61, confirmed to Vainness Honest in an interview revealed on Saturday, Might 17, that her organic father is Italian singer and comic Nelson Sardelli — not bodybuilder and actor, Mickey Hargitay, […]
Nelson Resides in Las Vegas
Norm Clarke’s Vegas Diary reported in 2019 that Nelson has been in Las Vegas since 1965, almost one decade after immigrating from Brazil. “I got here to the US in 1956, to Pontiac, Michigan, as a result of in Brazil I labored for Normal Motors, however they have been shedding folks throughout Michigan,” he defined to the outlet.
Nelson Pursued Appearing
Nelson appeared in movies together with 1970’s Myra Breckinridge, 1982’s Faux Out and 2001’s Chilly Canine.
Nelson Is Energetic In Philanthropy
The Las Vegas Sun reported in 1998 that Nelson organized “Star Shine” fundraisers, with celebrities shining footwear in return for charity donations.