Mariska Hargitay Reveals Identity of Biological Father in New Documentary

NEW YORK, NY — Mariska Hargitay, the Emmy-winning star of “Law & Order: SVU,” is stepping into the director’s role with her new documentary, “My Mom, Jayne,” which premieres June 27 on HBO. The film captures her late mother, Jayne Mansfield, beyond the stereotypes of a Hollywood sex symbol.

Mansfield, known for her beauty and charisma, was much more than her bombshell image. She was a talented violinist with a 160 IQ, raised five children, and spoke several languages. Hargitay, now 61, seeks to share her mother’s true story after grappling with her legacy for years.

“To bring her back and tell her story was quite meaningful,” Hargitay said during the Tribeca Film Festival on June 13, where the documentary was screened.

The documentary reveals the complex life of Mansfield, who died in a car accident in 1967 when Mariska was just three years old. While Hargitay has fond memories of her mother, the documentary is also a personal journey of discovery and understanding.

Hargitay reflected on her childhood, admitting she felt embarrassed by her mother’s persona. “I just longed and ached to know the real person,” she said about her ongoing quest to understand Mansfield and her life. She also discusses her emotional pain stemming from losing her mother at a young age. “Losing my mother at such an early age is the scar of my soul,” Hargitay told Redbook in 2009.

In the documentary, Hargitay reveals that singer Nelson Sardelli is her biological father, a fact she discovered in her twenties. “Like my infrastructure dissolved,” she recalled about the revelation, indicating that it changed her understanding of her family history.

“I’m Mickey Hargitay’s daughter—that is not a lie,” she emphasized, while acknowledging her relationship with Sardelli, who is now 90 years old.

Following her mother’s tragic death, Hargitay was raised by her father, Mickey Hargitay, and stepmother Ellen. She maintains a close bond with both figures in her life, as well as with her half-siblings.

“My Mom, Jayne” aims to honor Mansfield’s legacy and highlight the depth behind the public image. Hargitay hopes the documentary helps her and others understand the multi-faceted life of her mother, who was more than just a Hollywood icon.