“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” may not be a romantic show, but it is where Mariska Hargitay and Peter Hermann fell in love!
Hargitay and Hermann met on the set of “SVU” in 2001, when the “Younger” actor guest starred as defense attorney Trevor Langan. After three years of dating, the couple married in August 2004 at a Santa Barbara chapel at a 200-guest wedding. They now reside in New York with their three adorable children – sons August and Andrew and daughter Amaya.
Hargitay, who plays the lead character Olivia Benson on the long-running show, recalled the first time she met Hermann on the set during a January 2022 interview with Drew Barrymore. “I was nervous, and I heard [Hermann] was German, and I didn’t know what to do, so I said – this is so embarrassing – I said, ‘So you’re a kraut.’ And he goes like this, ‘That’s funny.'”
That first sweet – and funny – moment led to 19 years and counting of marriage, which Hargitay celebrated with a sweet Instagram tribute on Aug. 29. Over the past decade, the pair have experienced many beautiful relationship milestones, from welcoming their children to celebrating Hargitay’s 500th episode on “Law & Order: SVU,” and everything in between. And because we love them so much, we’ve broken down each of this aspirational couple’s major relationship moments ahead.
Related: Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni Have an Iconic Friendship On and Off Screen
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November 2001: Mariska Hargitay and Peter Hermann Meet on Set
Hargitay first met Hermann in 2001 when he was cast in the recurring guest-starring role of Trevor Langan on “Law & Order: SVU.” After filming wrapped, and following a conversation about religion, Hermann asked Hargitay on a church date. Hargitay told InStyle that date was when she knew Hermann was the one. “I thought, ‘That’s my husband.'”
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April 2011: Mariska Hargitay and Peter Hermann Adopt Their Daughter, Amaya
The couple officially adopted their daughter, Amaya, in April 2011. In an interview with People that year, Hargitay revealed the pair was contemplating both international and domestic adoption and were ultimately just happy that they were able to welcome Amaya into their family. “From the minute she was born, she was just surprisingly alert and so full of love,” shared Hargitay.
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August 2020: Mariska Hargitay and Peter Hermann Celebrate Their 16th Wedding Anniversary
Hargitay celebrated her and Hermann’s 16th wedding anniversary with a throwback photo on Instagram. “Thank you for all your beautiful wishes for our 16th wedding anniversary,” the actress wrote. “In this time of so much uncertainty, this sure feels good. #Sweet16.”
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Oct. 21, 2021: Mariska Hargitay Celebrates 500 "Law & Order: SVU" Episodes
When Hargitay celebrated her 500th episode as Olivia Benson on “Law & Order: SVU,” Hermann congratulated her publicly. “You’re at 500 episodes tonight,” he wrote on Twitter. “You astonish me. We met in episode 54. Best 447 episodes of my life. Congratulations, you beautiful life force. I love you. #SVU.”
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Nov. 9, 2021: Mariska Hargitay Accepts the Women of the Year Award With Peter Hermann's Support
The couple rarely attends red carpet events, but Hermann attended the 2021 Glamour Women of the Year Awards in support of his wife! Hargitay was among the handful of 2021 inductees, an honor she shared with fellow celebrity Megan Thee Stallion. During her feature interview with Glamour, she spoke about her legendary role as Olivia Benson in “Law & Order: SVU.” “My personality is very different from Olivia Benson,” she said. “I like to laugh…. I like to make my kids laugh. And comedy has a real currency in our household.”
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Aug. 29, 2022: Mariska Hargitay and Peter Hermann Celebrate Their 18th Wedding Anniversary
In honor of their 18th wedding anniversary, Hargitay shared an old black-and-white photo on Instagram of the couple all smiles at their ceremony. “Eighteen years. Grateful. In love. Together,” she wrote in a caption. In her post, the “Law & Order: SVU” star also included a more current black-and-white photo of the couple cozied up on a boat.
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July 29, 2023: Mariska Hargitay and Peter Hermann Picket Together During the SAG-AFTRA Strike
On July 29, Hargitay and Hermann were spotted picketing in New York City during the SAG-AFTRA strike. Hargitay wrote on Instagram, “I’m breaking out my DVDs instead of streaming, in honor of the strike. Everyone deserves a fair wage. A liveable wage. I’m standing with you all.”
Getty / Jamie McCarthy
Aug. 29, 2022: Mariska Hargitay and Peter Hermann Celebrate Their 19th Wedding Anniversary
Hargitay posted a sweet tribute to Hermann for the 19th wedding anniversary, writing on Instagram alongside a photo of their first dance from their wedding, “19 years. Best dance of my life. Only dance of my life.”
