Michele Fazekas Becomes SVU's First Female Showrunner After 26 Years

Q: What untold stories from Hollywood's golden age did these two icons uncover together?

They uncovered deeply personal stories tied to old Hollywood rather than new industry gossip: the hidden realities behind Jayne Mansfield’s public image, Mariska Hargitay’s long-kept family secret about her biological father, and their own forgotten childhood link inside a Hollywood dynasty world. The most significant revelation came through Hargitay’s documentary *My Mom Jayne*. In revisiting Mansfield’s life, Hargitay brought forward the private family truth that her biological father was entertainer Nelson Sardelli, not Mickey Hargitay, who raised her. That disclosure reframed part of Mansfield’s legacy and exposed the emotional cost behind the glamour of a Golden Age star’s life. They also discovered an overlooked piece of Hollywood history in their own lives: as children, they had lived next door to each other on Sunset Boulevard in a pink house once associated with celebrity owners including Sonny and Cher and later connected to Tony Curtis. A childhood photo captured them together in the driveway, but the connection was lost for decades. What emerged from their reunion was a shared understanding of the “raw, human” side of being children of screen legends. Curtis, the daughter of Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, recognized in Hargitay’s film the pain, secrecy and identity struggles that often sat behind Hollywood’s polished mythology. Together, they surfaced not just anecdotes from the Golden Age, but the untold emotional inheritance passed down by famous parents.

3 articles · Updated · Variety · Jun 15

Mariska Hargitay said Michele Fazekas has taken over as “Law & Order: SVU” showrunner, making her the drama’s first woman in the role after 26 years.
Hargitay called the change “everything,” adding that Fazekas is “hilarious and talented” and that female directing producer Brenna Malloy is also pushing her to new heights.
The leadership shift surfaced in Hargitay’s Variety conversation with Jamie Lee Curtis, who framed it as part of a broader moment for women over 60 working on shows led by women.
The appointment adds a milestone to NBC’s long-running franchise as “SVU” enters its 27th year with Hargitay still at the center of the series.