Mariska Hargitay Reveals Heartbreaking Family Secret in New Documentary

Mariska Hargitay Uncovers Family Tragedy in Documentary

Mariska Hargitay, the acclaimed star of Law & Order: SVU, has recently uncovered a shocking revelation about the tragic car accident that claimed the life of her mother, Jayne Mansfield. The actress, now 61 years old, shared this intimate detail while filming her new documentary, My Mom Jayne.

In a poignant conversation with her brother, Zoltan Hargitay, Mariska discovered that she had been unintentionally left behind at the horrifying scene of the 1967 accident that not only took her mother’s life, but also claimed the lives of her mother’s boyfriend, Sam Brody, and driver, Ronald B. Harrison.

During the fateful ride, Mansfield, Brody, and Harrison occupied the front seat of the vehicle, while Mariska, Zoltan, and their older brother, Mickey Hargitay Jr., slept in the back. Zoltan recounted how their mother had moved to the front seat amid an argument with Brody, a detail shared in the documentary.

Reflecting on the tragic event, Zoltan asked, ‘I often think about why she didn’t just stay in the backseat with us?’ This question highlights the emotional turmoil surrounding that fateful moment.

Before the crash, the family was traveling from Biloxi, Mississippi, to New Orleans, Louisiana. Mansfield was scheduled to make a television appearance. Unfortunately, the vehicle collided with an 18-wheeler that had slowed down just south of the Mississippi border. The highways were enveloped in dense fog caused by a nearby anti-mosquito spray truck, making visibility a significant issue, as reported by the New York Times.

The collision resulted in the instant deaths of the adults in the front seat while the children in the backseat endured injuries but survived. Mickey, who was eight years old at the time, recounted waking up post-collision and initially mistaking another woman in the front seat for his mother.

‘It felt like my skin didn’t move because I was bloody all over,’ he recalled. His disbelief turned to horror when he realized that the woman was not Mansfield but rather a stranger who assisted in rescuing the children.

Meanwhile, Zoltan awoke to find that Mariska was missing. Concerned, he immediately asked the adults where she was, prompting them to realize they had overlooked a third child at the scene. The adults returned to the accident site where they found Mariska, who had been pulled to safety.

In the documentary, Hargitay’s stepmother, Ellen Hargitay, noted that the adults initially did not find Mariska because she had become lodged under the passenger seat and suffered a head injury.

‘Thank God Zolie woke up,’ Ellen expressed, emphasizing the importance of Zoltan’s awareness in a tragic situation.

The Impact of Family Tragedy

My Mom Jayne premiered during the Tribeca Festival in June at Carnegie Hall in New York City, having first debuted in May at the Cannes Film Festival. In a conversation with Vanity Fair, Mariska emphasized that directing this documentary offered her a way to confront and process the profound loss of her mother.

‘I don’t remember the accident,’ she admitted. ‘I don’t even remember being told that my mom had died. I looked at photos, and I don’t really remember anything until I was 5.’

Alongside discussing her mother’s tragic legacy, Mariska revealed she always suspected that Mickey Hargitay was not her biological father. These suspicions were confirmed in her twenties when she encountered a photograph of her biological father, Nelson Sardelli, a former Las Vegas entertainer.

The actress first met Sardelli when she was 30 years old while attending one of his performances in Atlantic City. Through this reunion, she formed a relationship with him and his daughters, Giovanna and Pietra.

Hargitay’s journey to understanding her background included navigating her relationship with her mother, who divorced Mickey Hargitay in 1963 and had a high-profile romance with Sardelli. Despite their tumultuous past, she reconciled with Mickey shortly before Mariska’s birth in 1964.

Revisiting Jayne Mansfield’s Legacy

Mansfield, born Vera Jayne Palmer, was an ambitious actress known for her beauty and talents, including speaking multiple languages and playing musical instruments. A casting director urged her to adopt a new persona—a blonde bombshell reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe. This persona propelled her into Hollywood stardom, but she struggled to gain respect as a serious actress.

Mariska reflected on her mother’s struggle with this image, lamenting the portrayal of her mother as a ‘dumb blonde.’ She recalled her father’s reassurances that her mother was much more than that. He described her as funny, irreverent, and fearless—qualities that Mariska sees in herself.

My Mom Jayne is set to premiere on June 27 on HBO and HBO Max, offering viewers a deeper look into the life and legacy of Jayne Mansfield through the eyes of her beloved daughter.

This report includes contributions from Stephanie Nolasco of Fox News Digital.