Mariska Magdolna Hargitay was born in Los Angeles, California, to actress Jayne Mansfield and bodybuilder/actor Mickey Hargitay. Being born into a Hollywood family immediately placed her in the spotlight, although this early fame was tinged with the tragedy that would soon follow.

At the age of three, Mariska survived a car accident that tragically killed her mother, Jayne Mansfield. She and her two brothers, Mickey Jr. and Zoltan, were in the backseat of the car during the accident. This formative experience profoundly impacted Mariska and shaped her later work advocating for victims of trauma.