Mariska Hargitay Praises Her ‘Wise’ And ‘Inspiring’ Onscreen Son On ‘Law & Order’ In Sweet Birthday Post

Feb 06, 2023 by apost team

Mariska Hargitay has been in the spotlight since she was a child due to her celebrity parents. As the daughter of bombshell Jayne Mansfield and bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay, it is no wonder that Mariska went into show business. Tragically, Mansfield was killed in a car accident when Mariska was 3 years old. The actress was in the car when the accident occurred and has a scar on the side of her head shaped like a zig-zag from the incident. 

Hargitay has had an incredible career, having starred in the popular television drama "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" since 1999. Hargitay is the winner of a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for her performance on the show.

Before she was Olivia Benson on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," Hargitay appeared in a number of films and TV series. Her debut came in 1984 when she was featured in a music video for "She Loves My Car" by Ronnie Milsap. After that, the actress had a small role in a horror film called "Ghoulies." 

Some of the other TV shows Hargitay has been involved in include "Freddy's Nightmares – A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Series," "Baywatch" and "In the Heat of the Night." The star also made guest appearances on "Falcon Crest" and "Seinfeld."

Even though she appeared on a handful of shows, perhaps the most prominent character she played was Olivia Benson on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” 

In an Instagram post in January 2023, Hargitay proved that she’s more than her character as she shared a sweet and thoughtful message to her own on-screen son from the show, Ryan Buggle. 

Read on to learn more about Hargitay and Buggle’s tight relationship on and off-screen. 

In 2017, Buggle joined “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” and took over the role of Noah Benson, the adopted son of Captain Olivia Benson, played by Hargitay. 

Buggle joining the 19th season of the show was a delight to the cast, especially for Hargitay, whom he clicked with instantaneously as his on-screen mother. He has also appeared on the show’s spinoff series, “Law & Order: Organized Crime.” As a mother of three children, Hargitay’s maternal instincts kicked in while filming the show with her on-screen son, Buggle. 

In January 2022, Buggle posted a lengthy Instagram post reflecting his experiences and thoughts he had while filming the 11th episode of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” Season 22. 

“Filming this episode was such an important, incredible and exciting experience for me. @therealmariskahargitay personally called me to talk about the script before it was finished and I felt so involved and respected,” he said in a post. “It is incredible to see Noah beginning to discover who he is. My feelings are the same, there is no shame in being true to yourself and no one deserves to be left out or bullied because of it. I wanted to take the time to connect you with an incredible organization that I've learned about that is creating safe and inclusive K-12 environments for all students.”

In the series, Buggle’s character Noah candidly opened up to his adoptive mother, Olivia, about being bisexual. As fans of the show reacted to the surprising turn of events, some pointed out that the material was too mature for Buggle, who was 11 years old at the time. 

Thankfully, many have commended Hargitay for providing Buggle with the wisdom that an experienced actor has while shooting the episode. Evidently, their relationship as co-actors translated into something of a mother-son relationship. 

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“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” is already in its 24th season, and Hargitay and Buggle’s characters are still pushing through and growing together as mother and son. 

In a January 2023 Instagram post, Hargitay shared photos of her and Buggle to celebrate her on-screen son’s 13th Birthday, along with a thoughtful message. 

“Happy birthday to this newly minted-teenager! @ryanbuggle, you’ve always been wise—and magnificent and inspired and inspiring—beyond your years. I cannot wait to see what your thirteenth year has in store. It’s been such a joy working with you and getting to know your beautiful heart. I love your spirit, and I love you. Happy happy birthday,” Hargitay said in a post, followed by the hashtags: #13 #Teenager #BestKidEver #Benoah #MyNoah

Buggle responded to Hargitay’s message, thanking her for the greeting and returning the love to her. 

Meanwhile, fans were surprised to see little Noah growing up in the pictures that Hargitay posted, and recalled their fondness for the child actor.

“He grew up so quickly. Wasn’t he 5 like yesterday? What a joy it’s been to watch him grow on screen and what a sweet young man he seems to be,” a fan commented. 

“Mama Mariska is the sweetest! Such lovely emotion pouring in your words. It’s a privilege when two souls get to walk a path together and learn from each other. Ryan, Happy Birthday,” another shared.

“Happy birthday to Ryan!  You are the sweetest TV mama and son duo ever! I love seeing the two of you on screen together, and I hope we get more again soon!” someone posted. 

Happy Birthday, Ryan! Do you watch “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”? What can you say about Mariska Hargitay and Ryan Buggle’s relationship? Aren’t they adorable? Let us know, and pass this on to your family, friends and other loved ones!