You can take Mariska Hargitay out of a Law & Order set, but you can’t take Captain Olivia Benson out of Mariska Hargitay. This woman is 5’8” of pure goodness! There are the larger campaigns she champions, like her Joyful Heart Foundation and raising funds to solve thousands of sex crimes, which she was inspired to take on after SVU fans opened up to her about their deeply personal SA survival journeys. Then there are the everyday acts of kindness that she never hesitates to bestow upon strangers. Like this past spring when a little girl lost her mom in a park where SVU was filming and mistook Mariska for a real police officer; Mariska halted production until mother and child were reunited. And now this: Mariska was being interviewed outside for the Today show, when the wheel fell off a man’s electric wheelchair. Mariska didn’t just stop to get the man help — she fixed the wheel herself! Actress. Advocate. Mechanic. Name your need, Mariska will deliver!
“Today” show anchor Willie Geist and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” star Mariska Hargitay provided a helping hand to two disabled pedestrians trying to cross the street in NYC.
We hear the incidents occurred near a Manhattan courthouse where Geist was interviewing the “SVU” star for “Sunday Today” just before Thanksgiving.
An eyewitness described it all as, “like an episode of ‘Law & Order.’”
It all started when Geist was standing on the corner awaiting Hargitay’s arrival.
“A woman with a cane fell in the middle of the crosswalk, and Willie helped her up and walked her,” across the street, the source told Page Six.
Hargitay arrived moments later, only for another pedestrian to fall!
This time, a man in an electric wheelchair, “lost control when the wheel fell off,” according to our spy.
“Mariska and Willie rushed to his aid, and the cameraman, too. Willie and the guy with the camera hoisted the man up in his chair while Mariska fixed the wheel,” the source said.
A “Today” spokesperson confirmed the incident.
The rep further explained that Geist and Hargitay were at the court, a regular location for “SVU,” to conduct an interview airing Jan. 12, 2025.
Season 26 of NBC’s police crime drama premiered in October, and will return on Jan. 16.
Hargitay has portrayed Captain Olivia Benson for all 26 seasons, making her the longest-running live-action character in TV history.
We do not deserve Mariska Hargitay, I swear, but by gosh are we blessed to have her. What a great example to set, especially as we get into the holiday season. Don’t scream blasphemy at me, but with all the talk lately of Kevin Smith’s Dogma, I’m now imagining Mariska as the Bud Cort character: God on earth, quietly smiling and partaking in the best qualities of humanity (and skee ball). As a side note, I also appreciate Mariska showing that us NYC folk can be caring and helpful in a pinch! That’s primarily been my experience after living here for 10+ years: people being responsive to someone who’s fallen down or to a tourist looking for directions, and as a resident I’ve always tried to follow suit. Still, there’s no doubt now that your chances for a swift recovery are best with Mariska nearby, so I will endeavor to have all my future accidents/calamities/scrapes in her vicinity. Thanks, Captain.
Photos credit: Jose Perez/Backgrid and IMAGO/MediaPunch/Avalon
She’s the best. 💜
I binged SVU during election season. I really had no idea about the super hero that is Olivia Benson. You gotta figure after 25 seasons Mariska and Olivia have merged quite a bit.
After hearing about the DOJ’s investigation into NYCPDs f-up of SA cases being fast-tracked to complete before the new Orange administration, this is a timely event.
I’ve heard so many good things about Mariska Hargitay over the years, and it’s great to know she continues to be a national treasure.
Bit off topic, but I couldn’t stop laughing when I noticed the Cologne FC sticker in that one pic shot on the Empire State Building’s observation deck. It’s one of those German soccer clubs with more heart than either success or money. The club’s emblem are a goat — and the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter aka Cologne Cathedral. It’s the tallest twin-spired church in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and construction on it was started in the middle of the 13th century.
MORE MARISKA, PLEASE! She just seems to be such a lovely and kind person, and I love reading about her good deeds 💗
I’ve never watched Law & Order. No idea why, it was never on my radar. I’m out of shows to binge right now, I’m thinking this might be next on my list.
And I have always found NY’rs to be nice. Not friendly, as in they’re not going to smile at a stranger or strike up a conversation on the subway. But, if you’re lost (which I often am in NY) they are always wiling to help.
She is one of our national treasures.
She also has a gorgeous husband, Peter Hermann.