Mariska Hargitay Headlines when she revealed that her biological father was not Mickey Hargitay – But it was, however, Nelson Sardelli.
Mariska was born in 1964 to the late actress Jayne Mansfieldwho died in a car accident in June 1967. The incident left the Law and Order: Svu Star, who was 3 years old at that time, with serious injuries.
The 2025 documentary My mom Jayne Explore Jayne’s life before and after the car accident, including the separation of Mickey’s mother of Mickey and Letter Romance with Nelson. Jayne stopped smoking with Mickey and gathered with Nelson before Mariska’s birth in 1964. The couple divorced that year.
Mickey raised Mariska and his brothers Mickey Jr. and Zoltán, discovering the truth about the identity of his biological father in his 20 years when he saw a photo of Nelson. When she mentioned Mickey, he has denied it. (Jayne was the mother of her daughter Jayne Marie, born in 1950 with the first husband Paul Mansfield and son Tony, born in 1965 with third husband Matt Cimber.
Mariska met Nelson when he was 30 years old and said he was “full of Olivia Benson about him”, referring to Hered’s character. “I thought:” I don’t want anything, I don’t need anything about you … I have a dad, “Mariska recalled.” There was something about loyalty. I wanted to be loyal to Mickey. “
Mariska finally changed her mind, deciding that “grew where [she] He was supposed to do it. “She added:” I know everyone took the best option for me. I am the daughter of Mickey Hargitay, that is not a lie. “
So who is Nelson? Move up to more information about Mariska’s biological father:

Nelson Sardelli
Night standard/Hulton Archive/Getty imagesNelson has other daughters
Mariska told him Vanity Fair In 2025 that she and the other two daughters of Nelson, who appeared in the documentary My mom JayneHe had a private projection for my mother Jayne.
“They simply cried and Wepft and cried,” Hargitay told The Outlet as he got excited. “These two women that I love so much: I made them secrets! It is so heartbreaking for me.”
Mariska explained that he referred to his sisters as “Friends of the Family”, and added: “I’m not good with lies. So I also made this movie to vent all of us.”
Nelson served in the army
Clarke’s Vegas standard newspaper He informed that Nelson served in the Army for most of 1965 and until 1958. He gets used to working in construction before landing a concert that sings in an open microphone and following a career in the entertainment industry.
When Mariska was 30 years old, he went to see Nelson act in Atlantic City. She affirmed Vanity Fair in 2025 that he was excited, he said: “I have been waiting for 30 years for this moment.”
Nelson resides in Las Vegas
Clarke’s Vegas standard newspaper He reported in 2019 that Nelson has been in Las Vegas since 1965, almost a decade after emigrating from Brazil. “I came to the United States in 1956, to Pontiac, Michigan, because in Brazil I worked for General Motors, but fired people about Michigan,” he explained at the exit.
Nelson pursued the performance
Nelson appeared in films, including the 1970s. Myra Breckinridge, 1982 Pretend and 2001s Cold dogs.
Nelson is active in philanthropy
Las Vegas Sun reported that Nelson organized “Star Shine” fund collectors, with celebrities shining shoes in exchange for charity donations.

