{"id":7412,"date":"2025-05-19T06:02:10","date_gmt":"2025-05-19T06:02:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/umyonews.site\/index.php\/2025\/05\/19\/who-is-mariska-hargitays-biological-father-nelson-sardelli\/"},"modified":"2025-05-19T06:02:10","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T06:02:10","slug":"who-is-mariska-hargitays-biological-father-nelson-sardelli","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/umyonews.site\/index.php\/2025\/05\/19\/who-is-mariska-hargitays-biological-father-nelson-sardelli\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Is Mariska Hargitay’s Biological Father Nelson Sardelli?"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

Mariska Hargitay<\/strong><\/a> made headlines when she revealed that her biological father was not Mickey Hargitay<\/strong> \u2014 but was, instead, Nelson Sardelli<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Mariska was born in 1964 to late actress Jayne Mansfield<\/strong>, who died in a June 1967 car crash. The incident left the Law & Order: SVU<\/em> star<\/a>, who was 3 at the time, with severe injuries.<\/p>\n

The 2025 documentary My Mom Jayne<\/em> explores Jayne\u2019s life before and after the car accident, including Mariska\u2019s mom\u2019s split from Mickey and brief romance with Nelson. Jayne called it quits with Mickey and reunited with Nelson before Mariska\u2019s birth in 1964. The pair divorced that year.<\/p>\n

Mickey raised Mariska and siblings Mickey Jr. and Zolt\u00e1n, uncovering the truth about her biological father\u2019s identity<\/a> in her 20s when she saw a picture of Nelson. When she brought it up to Mickey, he denied it. (Jayne was mom to daughter Jayne Marie, born in 1950 with first husband Paul Mansfield<\/strong> and son Tony, born in 1965 with third husband Matt Cimber<\/strong>.)<\/p>\n

Mariska went on to meet Nelson when she was 30 years old and claimed she went \u201cfull Olivia Benson on him,\u201d referring to her beloved character. \u201cI was like, \u2018I don\u2019t want anything, I don\u2019t need anything from you \u2026 I have a dad,\u2019\u201d Mariska recalled. \u201cThere was something about loyalty. I wanted to be loyal to Mickey.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mariska ultimately changed her mind, deciding that she \u201cgrew up where [she] was supposed to.\u201d She added, \u201cI do know that everyone made the best choice for me. I\u2019m Mickey Hargitay\u2019s daughter<\/a> \u2014 that is not a lie.\u201d<\/p>\n

So who is Nelson? Scroll down to learn more about Mariska\u2019s biological father:<\/p>\n

\n
\"Who<\/div>

\n Nelson Sardelli<\/span> Evening Standard\/Hulton Archive\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nelson Has Other Daughters<\/h3>\n

Mariska told Vanity Fair<\/em><\/a> in 2025 that she and Nelson\u2019s two other daughters, who appeared in the documentary My Mom Jayne<\/em>, had a private screening for My Mom Jayne.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey just wept and wept and wept,\u201d Hargitay told the outlet while becoming emotional. \u201cThese two women that I love so much \u2014 I made them secrets! It\u2019s so heartbreaking to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mariska explained that she referred to her sisters as \u201cfamily friends,\u201d adding, \u201cI\u2019m not good with lies. So I also made this movie to unburden all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nelson Served in the Army<\/h3>\n

Norm Clarke\u2019s Vegas Diary<\/a><\/em> reported that Nelson served in the Army for most of 1965 and until 1958. He went on to work in construction before landing a gig singing at an open mic place and pursuing a career in the entertainment industry.<\/p>\n

When Mariska was 30, she went to watch Nelson perform in Atlantic City. She claimed to Vanity Fair in 2025 that he became emotional, telling her, \u201cI\u2019ve been waiting 30 years for this moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\n