Mariska Hargitay attends Knicks opener courtside with son August, 20
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The gist
Actress Mariska Hargitay, 62, brought her 20-year-old son August to the Knicks' season opener at Madison Square Garden.
The rare joint outing puts her family life back in view.
Background
Mariska Hargitay is the 62-year-old actress who has played detective-turned-Captain Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit since the show began, and she also directed the Emmy-winning documentary My Mom Jayne about her late mother, Jayne Mansfield. She shares three children — August, 20, Amaya, 15, and Andrew, 14 — with her husband Peter Hermann, whom she married in 2004. The courtside appearance drew coverage because the mother-son pair rarely step out together publicly; they had previously attended a Knicks game together during last season's NBA Finals.
How it unfolded
- 2004Hargitay and actor Peter Hermann married.
- 2025Her Emmy Award-winning documentary My Mom Jayne, about her late mother Jayne Mansfield, premiered.
- Jun 13, 2026Hargitay ran from her Broadway show Every Brilliant Thing to Madison Square Garden for the final game, when the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs to win the NBA Championship.
- Sep 14, 2026Her whole family joined her on the red carpet at the 78th Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, which she hosted.
- Oct 8, 2026Season 28 of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit premiered on NBC, with new episodes airing Thursdays and streaming on Peacock the next day.
- Oct 20, 2026Hargitay, 62, attended the Knicks' first game of the season at Madison Square Garden with her 20-year-old son August, sitting courtside alongside Tracy Morgan, Ben Stiller, Christine Taylor and Fat Joe.
- Oct 23, 2026Hello! published its report on the rare joint appearance.
Who’s saying what
- Public
- Coverage focused on August, described as 'strikingly tall,' towering over his mother at the rare joint outing.
- Expert
- Hargitay said she is 'so grateful that I'm an older mom,' adding that she was less present when younger but now wants to 'savor this moment.'
- Support
- Hargitay said she wants Law & Order: SVU to reach Season 30.