Mariska Hargitay should thank Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for more than just decades of work. The hit NBC drama also introduced her to husband Peter Hermann.
The couple, who tied the knot in August 2004, began their lasting relationship after his 2002 guest appearance. Hermann has continued his role as Trevor Langan to Hargitay’s Olivia Benson throughout the series’ run, popping in from time-to-time as their offscreen romance thrived. Two years after their wedding, the pair welcomed son August in June 2006 and later adopted daughter Amaya and son Andrew in 2011.
Not only do fans admire Hargitay’s marriage to Hermann, but they also ship her SVU character with Christopher Meloni’s alter ego Elliot Stabler, who is Benson’s former partner.
After the trio were jokingly referred to as one of the most “progressive marriages in Hollywood,” the Blue Bloods star noted on E! News’ Daily Pop in May 2021, “We make it work.”
In fact, the actors are all friends off screen. “Sometimes Chris and I have some things to negotiate, but we’ve gotten really good at communicating with each other,” Hermann said. “There’s a lot of give and take. In the end, all three of us are really happy.”
Scroll to relive the duo’s relationship timeline:
2001
Hargitay met her future husband in November 2021 when he guest-starred as Trevor Langan in the Law & Order: SVU season 3 episode “Monogamy,” which aired in 2002. The actor continued to appear throughout the long-running drama.
2004
The couple tied the knot in August in Santa Barbara, California, after two years of dating.
2006
Hargitay welcomed her first child, son August, with Hermann on June 28.
April 2011
The pair adopted daughter Amaya in April 2011. “I basically pulled Amaya out,” the actress told Good Housekeeping in May 2012 of being involved with the 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.”
October 2011
Months after adding their second child to the family, Hargitay and Hermann adopted son Andrew. “It was one of those things that we were not expecting at all and my husband and I looked at each other and have never been more sure about anything,” she said during an April 2012 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
2012
The Joyful Heart founder raved about her home life in June 2012. “I get very excited about my double stroller,” she told Us at the time. “Every time I look at it, I get a shot of adrenaline and joy because I think, ‘This is real!’ I have everything I need. Our house is very joyful.”
2015
Hargitay and Hermann showed off their brood in October 2015 when they sported family Halloween costumes inspired by Inside Out. The actor was a spot-on Fear, while the ER alum perfectly embodied Joy.
2018
Hermann said “there is no secret” to his successful marriage with Hargitay. “We’re all just working through it — whether it’s a relationship that exists in the public eye to some degree or doesn’t,” he told Entertainment Tonight. “Our son plays basketball and his coach says, ‘Fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals,’ and I think when it comes to relationships, the fundamentals, in the end, are not that complicated.”
Hargitay gushed about Hermann while discussing her work-life balance. “I have an incredible support system with my husband. He’s an actor so he also understands,” she told Us in June 2018. “I try to keep it organic. The kids come to set all the time. I have worked out my schedule a bit that I have a little more flexibility. I have a great time behind me.”
2019
On Today With Hoda & Jenna, Hargitay opened up about why she got emotional after her first date with Hermann.
“I cried because I was feeling something that I’d never felt before, but I kind of knew what it was and I always say people, well, you know, when you’re a little girl, your parents and your grandparents and everyone goes, ‘When you’re in love, you’ll know.’ And I did,” she explained. “And before I did I’d never felt that. And so when I was sitting in church, it was so hilarious, because Peter was like, ‘Oh, my god, she’s so moved.’”
2020
The two celebrated their anniversary amid the coronavirus pandemic. “Thank you for all your beautiful wishes for our 16th wedding anniversary,” Hargitay wrote via Instagram that August. “In this time of so much uncertainty this sure feels good. #Sweet16.”
In the fall, Hermann raved over Hargitay as a new season of Law & Order: SVU debuted. “Here’s looking at you @mariska! Congrats on tonight’s premiere of Season 22—TWENTY-TWO!!!!—of @nbcsvu,” he tweeted. “You’re the enduring backbone, determined heart and bright, shining spirit who makes it all possible. I love you, I’m so proud of you…. and your smile just slays me. #SVU.”
Later that month, she posted a cuddly Instagram photo of them for Thanksgiving, gushing: “Grateful.”
2021
Hermann celebrated his wife after she reached 500 episodes on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. “You astonish me. We met in episode 54. Best 447 episodes of my life,” he tweeted in October 2021. “Congratulations, you beautiful life force. I love you. #SVU.”
One month later, the duo made a rare red carpet appearance at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards, where Hargitay was honored alongside Megan Thee Stallion, Amanda Gorman and others.
2022
“He’s so funny and so different than anyone I ever met and we had such a sort of beautiful [period of] getting to know each other and learning how to see each other and beautiful courtship. And here we are 17 years married, 19 years in and still learning about each other every day,” Hargitay gushed about her husband during a January 2022 appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show before noting she knew she would marry him after their first date.
She recalled: “Do you know where our first date was? It’s a little too good to be true. Our first date he asked me to go to church with him. And I was moving and I said, ‘Peter, I would love to but not today I am moving today.’ He was like, ‘Oh, come on, it’s an hour. It’s an hour.’ It was so funny, I just couldn’t resist so I went to church. And it was that day — I remember we went to church, and I am crying and he thinks I am so moved by the sermon and I am crying because I am like, ‘I know I am going to marry him. I found my husband. I love him.’”
2023
The duo hit the picket line together in July amid the SAG-AFTRA strike. “#AFamilyThatStrikesTogether” was among the hashtags Hargitay used to caption photos of her and her husband arm-in-arm outside studio offices.
One month later, Hargitay commemorated the couple’s 19th wedding anniversary by sharing a throwback photo from their nuptials. “Best dance of my life,” she wrote via Instagram. “Only dance of my life.”
2024
During a January 2024 appearance on Today With Hoda & Jenna, Hargitay said her relationship with Hermann “just keeps getting better” with time. “And marriage is not always like this, or any relationship that is deep in matters, but I have learned so much,” she continued. “Peter always says this beautiful quote about … breaking through marriage into marriage. And that is what I think we’ve lived because at this time in my life, I feel very different than I have for the last maybe 15 or 18 [years] — and I feel [assured] up in our love.”
2025
Hargitay and Hermann posed with their family for a rare outing at the Cannes Film Festival in May. Hargitay had her husband by her side as she showcased her directorial debut My Mom Jayne at the film festival.
“Thank you for being by my side. Now and always,” Hargitay captioned an Instagram post with her husband. “I love you.”
February 2026
Hargitay and Hermann celebrated Valentine’s Day by taking in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina.
“I love you Peter Hermann ♥️,” the actress captioned a cozy selfie of the pair.
June 2026
Hargitay went viral for her reactions after the New York Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals — but her comment about her marriage was even better.
“I love my husband, and our wedding night was great and all, but I think it might have been the greatest night of my life,” she told The Hollywood Reporter, referring to the Knicks’ 107-106 win in the final seconds of the June 10 game.
July 2026
Hermann made a surprise appearance during the final show of Hargitay’s Broadway run, starring in Every Brilliant Thing.
He appeared as Sam in the play, shared via the show’s official Instagram account, and proposed to Hargitay’s character on stage. The two even shared a sweet kiss, which elicited cheers from the audience.
“A very special Sam, for Mariska’s final show,” the video’s caption read.
