She Expected Her Famous Dad to Live to 150-Then a Shocking Diagnosis Hit

Mariska Hargitay opens up about the painful loss of her father after he was diagnosed with an incurable cancer.

TheLaw & Order: Special Victims star reflected on her experience in a recent interview with People.

"The biggest gift is how it made our family even closer and how we got to say goodbye to him, which is something I still carry because I do feel that he's always with me," Hargitay said.

Her father, bodybuilder and actor MickeyHargitay, died in 2006 from multiple myeloma. This type of blood cancer targets bone marrow, causing kidney issues, damaged bones, and a weakened immune system.

"We were devastated because he was - and I think my siblings feel the same way as I do - he was our hero and our north star. He was our everything, such a model for us about how to be," the actress said.

Hargitay added that 36,000 new cases of multiple myeloma are anticipated this year, according to the American Cancer Society.

"It was truly shocking to our family, especially because my dad was so healthy and obviously a leader in physical health and wellness," she said, referencing his NABBA Mr. Universe title in 1955.

"There was just nothing he couldn't do. So when this happened, none of us could really download it because he'd always said that he was gonna live to be 150. And he was such an extraordinary person that we actually bought it," Hargitay said.

In recognition of her late father, the actress is partnering with Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) for their "Investigating Myeloma" campaign. It aims to raise awareness and advocate for further scientific research on multiple myeloma.

"This disease is really hard and it's really scary and it's painful because as of right now, it is still incurable. But it's treatable and that is the difference," she said. "There is so much hope now that wasn't there before, 20 years ago, when my father was diagnosed," Hargitay adds.

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This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 3:12 PM.