Latest news with #Law&Order:SpecialVictimsUnit
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Mariska Hargitay reveals shocking discovery in new documentary about her mom
Mariska Hargitay's new documentary tells her story just as much as it tells her mom's story. The 61-year-old Emmy-winning actress, best known for her role in NBC's 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,' is making her feature film directorial debut with her new doc titled, 'My Mom Jayne.' The film tells the legacy of Hargitay's mother, Jayne Mansfield, nearly six decades after her death. On June 13, Hargitay was joined by her husband, Peter Hermann, and their three kids at Carnegie Hall for a special screening of the film at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. And one scene, in particular, is going viral. In the documentary, Hargitay is talking to her brother, Zoltan, about the day they (along with their other brother, Mickey) survived a 1967 car crash that killed their mother, her then-boyfriend Sam Brody, and the driver. The three kids, all under 8 years old, were in the backseat of the car at the time of the crash. While recalling the accident, Zoltan remembered 'waking up in a car with a blonde-haired woman who had helped rescue the children' after the crash, according to People. At first, Zoltan thought the woman was his mother before realizing it wasn't. After being pulled from the wreckage, Zoltan remembers looking around and noticing that his sister, then 3-year-old Mariska, wasn't among them. When he asked where his sister was, the adults in the vehicle realized she was left at the scene, still inside the mangled car. Hargitay was found lodged under the passenger seat with a head injury, according to People. A 1967 New York Times article further revealed that Hargitay had 'head cuts and may require plastic surgery.' Zoltan had reportedly suffered a broken arm and cuts, while Mickey had cuts and bruises. 'Thank God Zolie woke up,' Hargitay's stepmom, Ellen, said of Zoltan in the documentary. According to Zoltan, Mansfield was originally in the backseat with her three kids, but moved to the front seat to continue the argument she was having with Brody, People reported. 'I often think about why she didn't just stay in the backseat with us,' Zoltan wonders, per HuffPost. 'But I remember her comforting me, telling me I was going to be fine. Twenty minutes later, half an hour, I heard her scream so loud, and that was it,' he recalled. Hargitay's new documentary premiered May 17 at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in France. It was there that Hargitay revealed that Mickey Hargitay, the only father she had ever known, wasn't her biological father. Instead, her real father was Brazilian-born Italian singer Nelson Sardelli, 90. Hargitay said she first learned the news when she was 30 years old. Upon meeting, Sardelli told Hargitay that he had 'been waiting 30 years for this moment.' While Hargitay struggled with the realization that she had been 'living a lie' her entire life, the revelation didn't change who she was — or where she came from. 'I grew up where I was supposed to, and I do know that everyone made the best choice for me,' she told Vanity Fair. 'I'm Mickey Hargitay's daughter — that is not a lie.' At the Tribeca Film Festival, Hargitay opened up about what it means to finally tell her story. 'This is my story to tell,' Mariska told People at the event. 'I had a rough time with the fact that somebody else told it before I did, and that was the impetus of the movie — that I wanted to tell my story.' She goes on to say that her story felt 'protected' until she was ready to tell it. 'I encourage a lot of women, and men, to tell their stories,' she told People, further describing it as 'empowering' before adding that it 'gives ourselves back parts of ourselves.' 'My Mom Jayne' is scheduled to make its official premiere June 27 on HBO and Max.
New York Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Mariska Hargitay was accidentally left at the scene of the car crash that killed her mother: doc
At age three, a wounded Mariska Hargitay was nearly abandoned at the scene of the car crash that killed her famous mother Jayne Mansfield, a new documentary reveals. In 'My Mom Jayne,' Hargitay's personal project that had its US premiere Friday at Carnegie Hall as part of the Tribeca Film Festival, the 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' star, 61, sheds new light on the tragic night of June 29, 1967. 'I often think about why she didn't just sit in the backseat with us,' Mariska's brother Zoltan Hargitay says of their late mother in the doc. Advertisement 4 Mariska Hargitay attends the premiere of her new documentary 'My Mom Jayne.' WireImage Mansfield, the 34-year-old Hollywood star of the movie 'Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?,' was traveling from Biloxi, Mississippi, where she had been performing at a club, to New Orleans, Louisiana. Also in the Buick Electra were driver Ronald Harrison, Mansfield's boyfriend and lawyer Samuel Brody and her three children with ex-husband Mickey Hargitay: three-year-old Mariska (then nicknamed Maria), six-year-old Zoltan and eight-year-old Mickey. Advertisement The adults were seated up front, while the children were asleep in the back. As they were driving on US Route 90, the Buick slammed into the back of a trailer truck, killing Mansfield, Brody and Stevens. The three young siblings were injured and unconscious. 4 The New York Post's late edition front page the day Jayne Mansfield died. After the survivors were picked up by authorities and driven away to the hospital, Zoltan cracked open his eyes. Advertisement 'Where's Maria?,' the boy said of his little sister. Mariska wasn't in the car with them. The toddler was so small that officers at first didn't see her in the wreckage, and left the site without her. 'You were lodged underneath the passenger seat with a head injury,' Mariska's stepmother Ellen Hargitay tells her in the film. Advertisement 'Thank God Zoli woke up.' 4 Actress Jayne Mansfield with a six-week-old Mariska Hargitay. Getty Images 4 Mansfield was the star of the film 'Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?,' among others. Getty Images In 'My Mom Jayne,' Hargitay explores the life of Mansfield, who's often only remembered as a glamorous bombshell. The Emmy Award winner also opens up about her long-held secret: that her biological father is not Mickey Hargitay, but 90-year-old Brazilian-Italian entertainer Nelson Sardelli. 'I just wanted to find out what happened, and sort of what happened is so meaningful,' Mariska said onstage at Carnegie Hall Friday of learning more about her mother's past with Sardelli. 'Was it hard? Yeah. Has it been an incredibly bumpy road? Yes! And guess what? It's f–king glorious now.' 'My Mom Jayne' streams on Max starting June 27.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mariska Hargitay Joined by Cher, Jamie Lee Curtis and ‘Law & Order' Co-Stars at Tribeca Festival's ‘My Mom Jayne' Premiere
The stars turn out for Mariska Hargitay. Not only did many of her 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' co-stars join her at the Tribeca Festival premiere of her feature film directorial debut, 'My Mom Jayne,' but so did Cher, Jamie Lee Curtis and Liam Neeson, among others. More from Variety 'Kites' Review: Set in the Streets of Rio de Janeiro, Tribeca Discovery Offers a Sweet Leap Into Fantasy 'Yanuni' Review: A Thrilling, Romantic Documentary About Brazil's Fight for Indigenous Land 'Showgirls' Star Elizabeth Berkley Says Cult Classic Was 'Way Ahead of Its Time,' Thanks LGBTQ Fans for Embracing the Film: 'You Rescued It' Cher and Mariska Hargitay at the Friday night premiere of "My Mom Jayne" at Tribeca Festival — Variety (@Variety) June 14, 2025 Taking place at Carnegie Hall, the evening also included a Q&A with Hargitay moderated by Griffin Dunne. The documentary tells the story of Hargitay's mother, Hollywood bombshell Jayne Mansfield. Mansfield died in a car accident when Hargitay, who was a passenger in the vehicle with her brothers, was three years old. While Hargitay and Curtis are both children of celebrities, the 'Freakier Friday' star told Variety, 'We also share being women in our 60s in show business where we are active bosses, where we are active philanthropic women, where we are advocating. And we do it with a lot of joy and spirit.' Hargitay recently announced the launch of Mighty Entertainment, a production company with both scripted and unscripted divisions. My Mom Jayne is the company's first project. 'Oh, you're giving me ideas, I didn't even think about it,' Hargitay told Variety when asked if she has plans to adapt 'My Mom Jayne' as a scripted feature or television series. The Friday night premiere's 'Law & Order' guest list included Chris Meloni, Peter Scanavino, Ice-T and Kelli Giddish. Attendees also included Tribeca Festival co-founder Jane Rosenthal, Edie Falco, Amy Schumer, Katie Couric, Claire Danes, Hugh Dancy, Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka, Diane Sawyer, Debra Messing, Ellen Burstyn, Joely Fisher, George Stephanopoulos, Julianne Hough and Liza Colón-Zayas. Hargitay's biological father, singer Nelson Sardelli, also made an appearance. 'My Mom Jayne' reveals that Sardelli, not Mickey Hargitay, the Hungarian bodybuilder who was her mother's second husband, is her father. Mansfield had a romantic relationship with Sardelli during a time when she and Hargitay were having marital problems. 'This story had not gotten out there and it was mine to tell,' Hargitay said during the Q&A. Mariska Hargitay and Jamie Lee Curtis at the Friday night premiere of "My Mom Jayne" at Tribeca Festival — Variety (@Variety) June 14, 2025 Summing up to Dunne about directing a film that helped unburden her emotional pain by sharing her story publicly, Hargitay declared loudly into her microphone, 'Has it been a bumpy road? Yes! And it's fucking glorious now.' 'My Mom Jayne' had its world premiere in May at the Cannes Film Festival. It is set for a limited theatrical release on June 20 followed by its HBO premiere on June 27. See more photos from the Tribeca Festival premiere of 'My Mom Jayne' below. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar
Newsweek
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Christopher Meloni Gives Cryptic Update on 'Law & Order: Organized Crime'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors "Law & Order" icon Christopher Meloni has just issued a cryptic update about the future of "Law & Order: Organized Crime." More Entertainment: 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Canceled Currently, the sixth season of the "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" spinoff series has yet to be announced by Peacock. While the latest season ended with a gut-wrenching loss for Detective Elliot Stabler, it's unclear if we'll see the veteran detective cope with this loss in Season 6, as it seems even Meloni is uncertain of the show's fate. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 16: Christopher Meloni attends the "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" 25th anniversary celebration at Edge at Hudson Yards on January 16, 2024 in New York City. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 16: Christopher Meloni attends the "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" 25th anniversary celebration at Edge at Hudson Yards on January 16, 2024 in New York City. Arturo Holmes/WireImage/Getty Images Meloni took to Instagram on Thursday following the Season 5 finale to issue a big thank you to fans, all while hinting that "Organized Crime" Season 6 may be in jeopardy. "Season 5 of 'Organized Crime' just ended, and I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you– any of you– who watched," Meloni said. "Here's to a Season 6, hope it happens. In the meantime, if you have not watched it, give it a watch. 'Organized Crime.'" "To all the fans, to all my fellow actors, Peacock, NBC, [Dick] Wolf, everybody involved, cast and crew. Alright guys, enjoy your Summer. Bye." More Entertainment: Best Netflix Original Films to Watch June 2025 As fans of the show know, Meloni has a long history with the "Law & Order" franchise, having first picked up Stabler's gun and badge on "Special Victim's Unit" back in 1999. Meloni memorably played Detective Stabler opposite Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson while also working with Ice-T as Odafin Tutuola and the late Richard Baszler as John Munch for 12 seasons before departing in 2011. More Entertainment: Dept. Q Ending Explained: Who Shot Morck? However, Meloni made his grand return to the franchise with his "Organized Crime" spinoff in 2021. The series saw Stabler leading a new task force after his wife's murder. In addition to Meloni, "Organized Crime" stars Danielle Moné Truitt as Sergeant Ayanna Bell, Ainsley Seiger as Detective Jet Slootmaekers, and Rick Gonzalez as Detective Bobby Reyes. You can catch up on all seasons of "Law & Order: Organized Crime" on Peacock now. More Entertainment: Best Films to Stream in Summer 2025 on Netflix, Paramount+, Prime Video Bryan Cranston Reveals Why Original Dewey is Not Returning for 'Malcolm in the Middle' Revival 'A Minecraft Movie' Hits HBO Max for Free Streaming in June: What to Know 'How To Train Your Dragon' Director Defends Live-Action Remake Changes For more television and entertainment news, head on over to Newsweek Entertainment.
USA Today
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Mariska Hargitay will reveal past secrets, new family at 'My Mom Jayne' premiere
Mariska Hargitay will reveal past secrets, new family at 'My Mom Jayne' premiere Mariska Hargitay will introduce her extended family and "My Mom Jayne" at Tribeca Film Festival on June 13. And it's going to be big. The "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" star makes her directing debut with the powerful and poignant documentary about her late mother, actress and bombshell Jayne Mansfield. "My Mom Jayne" airs June 27 on HBO after making its world premiere at May's Cannes Film Festival in France to acclaim and global headlines. Hargitay and her siblings, who speak about their mother for the first time on camera in the documentary, will attend the premiere at Carnegie Hall, which will conclude with a discussion featuring Hargitay. Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox "I'm so excited to share this story and share my gorgeous family, these hearts and souls, with the world," Hargitay tells USA TODAY in an interview for an upcoming profile. "My family is coming in and I can't wait to hold them. Because we have been through something together." Which family members appear in Mariska Hargitay's documentary 'My Mom Jayne'? Hargitay goes on a journey to rediscover her famous mother, who died in 1967 at age 34 in a car crash that has become the tragic fodder of Hollywood legend. Hargitay, 3 at the time, survived the horrific crash along with her two brothers, but has no memories of her mother. In "My Mom Jayne," Hargitay speaks with her older brothers from Mansfield's marriage to bodybuilder and actor Mickey Hargitay − Mickey Jr. and Zoltan − as well as older half-sister Jayne Marie Mansfield (from Jayne's first marriage to Paul Mansfield). The family discusses memories of their mother and life in Mansfield's famed Pink Palace home on Sunset Boulevard, which featured a heart-shaped pool and exotic animals. To complete one family circle, the documentary features Hargitay's youngest half-sibling, Anthony Cimber, from Mansfield's brief marriage to her third husband, Italian director Matt Cimber. Just speaking with the famous family for the first time on camera about the life and death of the complex and misunderstood Mansfield, as well as discussing devoted father Hargitay, would make for a compelling documentary. But there's much more to "My Mom Jayne." 'My Mom Jayne' reveals a secret about Jayne Mansfield that Mariska Hargitay kept for 30 years Most headlines surrounding the documentary have centered on the revelation about Hargitay's biological father, which the actress kept secret for more than three decades. In 1963, Mansfield became romantically involved with singer Nelson Sardelli amid her divorce from Mickey Hargitay. Mansfield and Hargitay reconciled late in 1963, and Mariska was born in January 1964. The actress has always called Hargitay, who lovingly raised her after Mansfield's death, "my rock." (Mickey Hargitay, who died in 2006, even guest-starred on a Season 5 episode of "SVU" with his famous daughter.) However, in the documentary, Hargitay discusses her life-altering discovery that Sardelli was her biological father and recounts her decision to dramatically confront the singer in Atlantic City 30 years ago. There were Hollywood whispers that Sardelli was Hargitay's father, including a mention in a tell-all book about Mansfield written by her former publicist, Rusty Strait (who is also interviewed). But Hargitay and Sardelli came to terms and agreed to keep silent. Until now. Hargitay has remained quietly close to Sardelli and his daughters Giovanna and Pietra, from his marriage to Fledia, his wife of 47 years. Sardelli and Hargitay's newly revealed half-sisters all appear in "My Mom Jayne" and are expected to attend the Tribeca premiere. The revelation of these relationships has been freeing to Hargitay. The "SVU" veteran concedes it was a sometimes "bumpy road to get here. But it has paid off. Once you open the door and shed a bit of light on something, the beauty that comes from the scariest places is extraordinary." Even before heading to the premiere with her family, Hargitay feels relieved that the secret is out. "I feel like this 1,000-pound weight has been lifted," she says. "There's this sense of integration and peace about it. There are all these beautiful heartstrings that connect our hearts together. I'm just taking in the moment now." Who else will attend the Tribeca premiere of 'My Mom Jayne'? Hargitay's husband of more than two decades, actor Peter Hermann, will attend. The couple met on the set of "Law & Order: SVU" and have three children: Miklós Friedrich, Amaya Josephine and Andrew Nicolas. "SVU" stars Ice-T and Christopher Meloni will also support their co-star, along with celebrities including Jon Hamm, Carrie-Anne Moss and Brooke Shields. Where can I stream 'My Mom Jayne'? "My Mom Jayne" airs June 27 on HBO (8 EST/PST) and will stream on HBO Max.
