The Enduring Love Story of Mariska Hargitay and Peter Hermann: A Remarkable Timeline
Mariska Hargitay and Peter Hermann: A Journey of Love and Commitment Explore the enduring relationship of these two talented individuals, who have gracefully balanced their successful careers, expanding family, and cherished moments over the years
Mariska Hargitay owes much more to Law & Order: Special Victims Unit than just her long-standing career. The popular NBC drama not only provided her with years of work, but it also brought her together with her husband, Peter Hermann.
Having tied the knot in August 2004, their enduring relationship began after Hermann made a guest appearance on the show in 2002. Throughout the series, Hermann has consistently portrayed the character Trevor Langan, while Hargitay plays Olivia Benson. As their real-life romance blossomed, Hermann occasionally appeared on the show, maintaining their connection both on and off screen.
August was born in June 2006, two years after their wedding. They later welcomed daughter Amaya and son Andrew through adoption in 2011. Fans not only admire Hargitay's marriage to Hermann but also ship her SVU character with Christopher Meloni's alter ego, Elliot Stabler, who was Benson's former partner.
The trio, humorously labeled as one of Hollywood's most "progressive marriages," as mentioned by the Blue Bloods star on E! News' Daily Pop in May 2021, expressed their ability to make their dynamic work.
In reality, the actors share a friendship outside of their on-screen roles. Hermann stated that while there may be occasions where Chris and she need to negotiate certain matters, they have developed excellent communication skills with each other. There is a significant amount of compromise involved, but ultimately, all three individuals are genuinely content.
Scroll to relive the duo’s relationship timeline!
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Mariska Hargitay and Peter Hermann: A Timeline of Their Lasting Relationship
Mariska Hargitay owes more to Law & Order: Special Victims Unit than just years of employment. The popular NBC show also brought her together with her husband, Peter Hermann.
Having gotten married in August 2004, their enduring relationship blossomed from his guest appearance on the show in 2002. Despite his recurring role as Trevor Langan and Hargitay's character, Olivia Benson, their real-life romance continued to flourish behind the scenes, with Hermann occasionally making appearances throughout the series' duration.
The couple had a son named August in June 2006, two years after their wedding. Additionally, they adopted a daughter named Amaya and a son named Andrew in 2011. Hargitay's marriage to Hermann is highly admired by fans, as well as the on-screen relationship between her SVU character and Christopher Meloni's character, Elliot Stabler, who was Benson's former partner.
The trio was playfully labeled as one of the most "progressive marriages in Hollywood," as mentioned by the Blue Bloods star on E! News' Daily Pop in May 2021. Hermann added that they make it work.
In reality, the actors are friends outside of the set. Hermann stated, "Chris and I occasionally need to negotiate certain things, but we have become adept at communicating with each other. It involves a lot of compromise. Ultimately, all three of us are genuinely content."
Scroll to relive the duo’s relationship timeline!
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2001
Hargitay encountered her eventual spouse, portrayed as Trevor Langan, during the airing of the 2002 Law & Order: SVU episode "Monogamy," which took place in November 2021. Subsequently, the actor made recurring appearances on the enduring drama series.
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2004
The couple tied the knot in August in Santa Barbara, California, after two years of dating.
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2006
Hargitay welcomed her first child, son August, with Hermann on June 28.
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April 2011
The couple welcomed their adopted daughter, Amaya, into their lives in April 2011. "I personally retrieved Amaya," the actress shared with Good Housekeeping in May 2012, reflecting on their involvement in the birth process. "Peter and I cradled her in our arms, and then I shared a heartfelt embrace with the birth mother for an extended period of time. It was a profoundly moving experience, undoubtedly one of the most meaningful moments of my entire life."
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October 2011
Months after welcoming their second child into their family, Hargitay and Hermann made the decision to adopt their son Andrew. "It completely caught us off guard, but in that moment, my husband and I exchanged a knowing look and we have never been more certain about anything," she revealed during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in April 2012.
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2012
In June 2012, The Joyful Heart founder enthusiastically shared her satisfaction with her family life. She expressed her delight in owning a double stroller, describing how just looking at it would fill her with excitement and a surge of happiness, validating that her dreams had come true. She emphasized the profound contentment she experienced within her home, as it exuded a truly joyful atmosphere.
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2015
Hargitay and Hermann paraded their offspring in October 2015 as they flaunted family Halloween costumes modeled after Inside Out. The actor flawlessly portrayed Fear, while the ER alum flawlessly embodied Joy.
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2016
The duo, who often give fans a peek at their worldwide travels, cuddled up while on a vacation to Hawaii. “#JoyfulWeekend,” she captioned the sweet Instagram pic.
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2018
Hermann emphasized that there is no secret to his successful marriage with Hargitay. He believes that all couples, whether their relationship is public or private, are simply working through it. He compared the fundamentals of relationships to the fundamentals of basketball, stating that they are not overly complicated in the end.
Hargitay expressed her admiration for Hermann when discussing how she balances her work and personal life. She praised him as an incredible support system and highlighted that being an actor himself, he truly understands the demands of her career. Hargitay shared that she tries to keep things natural and brings their children to set often. She has also managed to create a flexible schedule that allows her to have a great balance in her life.
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Halloween 2018
The Hermanns showcased their 2018 family Halloween costume, donning their finest Avengers attire. Taking to Instagram, she captioned the photo with, "#FamiliesThatAvengeTogetherStayTogether" and "#InfinityLove."
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2019
During Today With Hoda & Jenna, Hargitay shared the reason behind her emotional reaction after her first date with Hermann. "I welled up with tears because I was experiencing an unfamiliar emotion, yet I somehow recognized it. As people often say, when you're a young girl, your parents, grandparents, and everyone tells you, 'You'll just know when you're in love.' And I did," she revealed. "Before that moment, I had never experienced such a feeling. So when I was sitting in church, it was incredibly amusing because Peter was like, 'Wow, she's really moved.'"
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2020
Amidst the challenging circumstances presented by the coronavirus pandemic, the couple marked their anniversary with heartfelt gratitude. Hargitay expressed her appreciation for the abundant well wishes they received on their 16th wedding anniversary through an Instagram post in August. In these times of immense unpredictability, this heartfelt response truly uplifts spirits. #Sweet16.
Hermann couldn't contain his excitement as the new season of Law & Order: SVU premiered in the fall. He took to Twitter and praised Hargitay, saying, "Congratulations on tonight's premiere of Season 22! You're the foundation, the source of determination, and the beacon of light that makes it all happen. I adore you, I'm incredibly proud of you... and your smile is absolutely captivating. #SVU."
Towards the end of the month, Hargitay shared a heartwarming Instagram photo of them cuddling, expressing her gratitude with a single word: "Grateful."
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2021
Hermann showered his wife with admiration when she achieved a remarkable milestone of 500 episodes on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. In a heartfelt tweet in October 2021, he expressed his awe by stating, "You continuously astound me. Our paths first crossed in episode 54, and since then, every single one of the 447 episodes has been the highlight of my life." Hermann didn't hold back on his congratulations, proclaiming, "Congratulations to you, my captivating life force. I adore you." Accompanying his message, he added the hashtag #SVU to emphasize his support and love for his wife's accomplishment.
One month later, the duo graced the red carpet together at the esteemed Glamour Women of the Year Awards, where Hargitay received recognition alongside Megan Thee Stallion, Amanda Gorman, and other exceptional individuals.
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2022
"He's incredibly funny and unlike anyone I've ever met. Our journey of getting to know each other and truly seeing each other was absolutely beautiful. Our courtship was filled with love and growth. Now, after 17 years of marriage and 19 years together, we continue to learn about each other every day," gushed Hargitay about her husband on The Drew Barrymore Show in January 2022. She also shared that she knew he was the one after their very first date.
Recalling their memorable first date, she revealed, "You won't believe where our first date was. It's almost too perfect. He asked me to go to church with him. I was in the midst of moving and told him, 'Peter, I'd love to, but not today. I'm moving today.' But he insisted, saying it would only take an hour. It was so charming that I couldn't resist, so I went to church with him. That day, while at church, I found myself crying. He thought it was because I was deeply moved by the sermon, but really, I was crying because I knew in my heart that I was going to marry him. I had found my husband, and I loved him."
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