politics and governance | January 17, 2026

Does Mariska Hargitay Have A Biological Child? – Celebrity

When did Mariska and Peter adopt their second child?

In October 2011, just a few months after they brought home Amaya, Mariska and Peter adopted a second child, son Andrew Nicholas, who was born two months premature. The couple’s adoption lawyer called them to inform them that a friend of theirs, named Andrew, had died, and also filled them in on a baby that needed a home. “It was like…a miracle. And I don’t use that word lightly,” Mariska told Good Housekeeping of adopting a second child. “I’ve never made a bigger decision so quickly. The whole thing happened in a total of two days. The couple decided to name their second son Andrew, after their friend who had passed.

Mariska and Peter wanted to still expand their family after August’s birth, but were weary considering Mariska’s health issues. So, the couple looked into adoption, and on April 7, 2011, they adopted Amaya Josephine from Africa after attending her birth. “I basically pulled Amaya out,” Mariska told Good Housekeeping in 2012 about Amya’s birth. “Peter and I held her, and then the birth mother and I hugged for a long time. That was profound. That was one of the most meaningful moments I’ve ever had in my life.”

To most people, Mariska Hargitay is known as Olivia Benson, the badass police detective-turned-captain in Law & Order: SVU. But at home, the 57-year-old actress is simply known as “Mom” to her three kids, whom she shares with husband Peter Hermann. Mariska married Peter, who is best known for his role in Younger, in 2004, and not long after they became proud parents to son August Miklos Hermann, 15, daughter Amaya Josephine Hermann, 10, and son Andrew Nicholas Hermann, 9.

She was diagnosed with gestational diabetes in her third semester, due to eating so much to keep up her energy to film SVU. But Mariska eventually gave birth to a healthy baby boy, which she had long been awaiting. “Nobody wanted to be pregnant more than me,” the star told Self Magazine in 2007. “From the minute I found out, I was wearing full-on maternity pants. My stomach was totally flat, mind you, but I was just so excited.”

How old is Mariska Hargitay’s son?

Mariska Hargitay’s eldest and only biological son is 12 and he is a copy of his famous mom. The actress had a tough early life after losing her mother Jayne Mansfield when she was just 4 years old in a car accident which also nearly cost her her own life.

Mariska Hargitay decided early on that she didn’t want to follow in her international-sex-symbol mother’s footsteps. But she carved out a successful acting career for herself nonetheless. Today, Hargitay is known for her roles on ER and Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. Source: Getty images.

Hargitay and Hermann were ecstatic to bring her into their home because they felt that having a mixed race family would realistically represent the microcosm of the world.

By the time Hargitay gave birth to August, she was already 42 years old. Her age made for a difficult pregnancy, and she ended up having to have an emergency c-section, as there were complications as well. Source: Getty images. The result meant she wouldn’t be able to have any more children naturally.

Today, Hargitay is known for her roles on ER and Law and Order: Special Victims Unit.

By the time Hargitay gave birth to August, she was already 42 years old.

AmoMama shares the sweet story of Mariska Hargitay’s family, with her actor husband Peter Hermann, whom she married in 2004, and their three sweet children, biological and adopted! Read more on our Twitter account @amomama_usa. Source: Getty images.

Who is Mariska Hargitay’s mom?

Photo: Andy Kropa/Invision/AP. She may be Detective Olivia Benson to Law & Order fans, but to Mariska Hargitay ‘s kids, she’s just known as mom. Hargitay, who has starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for the past 20-plus years, is the mother of three children with her husband, Peter Hermann. Hermann, who is best known for his role as …

Hargitay wore a pale pink Carolina Herrera gown with her husband’s initials and their wedding date embroidered into the lining. Two years after their wedding, Hargitay and Hermann welcomed their first child and adopted two more kids soon after. Ahead is what we know about Mariska Hargitay’s kids and her family with Peter Hermann.

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Hargitay told Good Housekeeping in 2012 that she chose to adopt because she and Herman always “envisioned” a “big family” but didn’t know if she could become pregnant again. “August wanted siblings, and Peter and I both envisioned this big family because we both come from that.

Soon after Hargitay and Hermann brought home Amaya, they received a call from their adoption lawyer, telling them a baby boy, who was born two months premature, was available for adoption. That baby was their second son Andrew. “I don’t really know what to say about it, other than it was a no-brainer.

August Miklos Friedrich. August, who is Hargitay and Hermann’s first son and their only biological child, was born on June 28, 2006, when the Law & Order actress was 42. According to People , “August” has been a name in Hermann’s family for more than 200 years, while “Miklos” was the name of Hargitay’ s late father.

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