Eddie Hargitay is an American actor famous for his role as Officer Montero on Law & Order SVU, where he starred opposite his cousin, Mariska Hargitay.
He was born in Hollywood, California, to first-generation immigrants. Let’s explore more about his parents.
Highlights
- Eddie Hargitay’s parents met in an “English as a Second Language” class.
- His mother is Thai-Chinese and was raised in Vietnam, while his father is Hungarian.
- His godfather and great-uncle, Mickey Hargitay, passed away at 80.
36 years-old Eddie Hargitay was born in Los Angeles on October 8, 1978. He has a nickname, Pepe.
He was awarded multiple scholarships at The Lee Strasberg Film & Theatre Institute, monitored by Howard Deutch, David Lee Strasberg, and Martin Landau.
Eddie also joined an LA-based band called The Last Cold Dollar as their bass guitarist.
He is a lifetime member of The Actors Studio and has performed in several theatres, films, and television series.
Eddie debuted as a director with a dark comedy titled Black Eyed Paper Cowboys in July 2009.
Furthermore, he is an experienced and avid motorcycle rider who has shot two campaigns for Harley-Davidson. He loves working on new and restoring vintage motorcycles.
Eddie Hargitay’s Parents Were First-Generation Immigrants
Eddie Hargitay’s parents met in an “English as a Second Language” class. However, the American actor hasn’t disclosed their identity yet.
His mother is Thai-Chinese and was raised in Vietnam, while his father is Hungarian.
Thus, Eddie has a diverse ethnic background from both of his parent’s sides.
Moreover, Hargitay is a Hungarian surname, also known as Hargitai in alternative form.
His parents were always supportive of Eddie and shared a close bond.
Eddie often shares his parents and work-related posts on his social media, including Instagram and X.
Eddie Hargitay Considered Great-Uncle Mickey Hargitay His Godfather
Miklós Karoly Hargitay, also known as Mickey Hargitay, was a Hungarian-American actor and the 1955 Mr. Universe. He was also a bodybuilder.
He moved to the United States in 1947 and became a U.S. citizen.
Mickey married actress Jayne Mansfield on January 13, 1958, and they have three children, Miklós, Zoltán, and Mariska.
Sadly, Eddie’s godfather passed away at 80 on September 14, 2006, in Los Angeles, California, as he suffered from multiple myeloma.
Moreover, Eddie shares the screen with his cousin, Mariska Hargitay, in the crime drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
For her role in Law & Order SVU, Mariska won the People’s Choice Award, the Gracie Allen Award, the Primetime Emmy Award, and the Golden Globe Award.
Additional Information
- Eddie Hargitay made his directorial debut in his dark humor comedy called Black Eyed Paper Cowboys in July 2009.
- 1.75m tall, Eddie is in a romantic relationship with Stephanie Bear.
- He is an excellent fan of playwrights Sam Shepard, John Patrick Shanley, James McLure, and David Mamet.
