Mariska Hargitay was active in show business before she became Olivia Benson.

Hargitay's Hollywood history includes her famously beautiful mother, Jayne Mansfield — tragically killed in a car crash that the Law & Order: SVU star survived — and her father, actor Mickey Hargitay, who passed away in 2006 at the age of 80. Mickey's last acting role came three years before his death, and it was a co-starring role on SVU with his daughter.

In her own love life, Hargitay found lasting love with fellow actor and frequent SVU cast member Peter Hermann. The pair began dating in 2002, married in August 2004, and are still going strong. Her husband and their three children have been by her side every step of the way.

Here we look back at Hargitay's family life in photos.