Mariska Hargitay Reveals Her Most Memorable SVU Visitor Stars

There have been tons of of notable Law & Order: Special Victims Unit visitor stars over the present’s practically three decade historical past — from Hayden Panettiere to Bradley Cooper and numerous extra celebrities — however two individuals deliver again lasting recollections for Mariska Hargitay. 

In an August 2026 interview with Variety shared, the longtime Law & Order: SVU star revealed her prime two most memorable visitor stars. After all, who would have a greater grasp of who’s made essentially the most affect on Olivia Benson than the actress who has portrayed the enduring character since 1999.

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Mariska Hargitay calls Robin Williams the “most memorable” SVU visitor star

“The most memorable Law & Order cameo for me was Robin Williams,” she informed Variety. “We had so much fun, and there was so much joy, and he was such a light.”

Robin Williams appeared within the Season 9 episode “Authority” as a crazed audio engineer named Merritt Rook, who used his expertise to wreck havoc on New York City, from impersonating law enforcement officials to creating — and utilizing — selfmade weapons on the general public at giant. The deranged character even kidnapped Benson herself, including to the drama.

The late actor went towards his normal character archetype and flexed his sinister muscle tissues in a approach he not often did in his movie and TV roles.

RELATED: Mariska Hargitay Tears Up Over Robin Williams’ SVU Cameo: “He Made All of Us Feel…”

During a 2024 Variety Fair interview, Hargitay defined how she was in awe of Williams on set.

“To watch somebody in utter flow, to watch flow happening — that which is invisible, and he was the personification of — it was magnificent,” Hargitay defined, earlier than including that each take Williams did was “different every time, funny every time, and truthful and believable.”

Williams’ efficiency was so highly effective that her earned a 2008 Emmy nomination for it. 

“What is happening? How am I so lucky that I get to witness it?” Hargitay recalled considering whereas they filmed the episode. “It was magic. Everything was electric with him. There was no line between sort of acting and who he was as a person. [He was] the most fun person and the most generous, and it was pure joy, and he made all of us feel so special.”

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Mariska Hargitay says it was a “gift” to have her father Mickey on SVU in 2003

Hargitay additionally defined that one different particular person stands out as “most memorable” — her father. 

“The other most memorable Law & Order cameo was my dad, who came and did a little part on the show, and that was so happy and joyful — a gift,” Hargitay stated by means of a giant smile.

Mickey Hargitay famously guest-starred in SVU‘s milestone one hundredth episode, Season 5’s “Control,” all the best way again in 2003. He had a small however significant position within the episode, showing within the chilly open as a grandfather who encounters a person in a subway station bleeding and in want of assist. After the injured man falls and dies, the grandfather offers a press release to none aside from Olivia Benson.

The position was notable for being Mickey’s final earlier than his loss of life in September 2006 on the age of 80.

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Law & Order: SVU Season 28 premieres Thursday, October 8 at 10 p.m. ET on NBC and the subsequent day on Peacock.