Mariska Hargitay’s career took off thanks to her role in Law & Order: SVU, but her path could have been very different if she had taken advice from a former Law & Order actor.
Chris Noth’s Misguided Career Advice
Law & Order: SVU was a game-changer for Hargitay, who struggled to find steady work as an actor before joining the show. Her determination and perseverance, instilled by her father, played a crucial role in her eventual success.
“I could have quit a million times, but my dad drilled into me that our family doesn’t quit,” she shared with Parade. “So if you don’t get it, it means you’re not ready and you have to get up and try again. There’s really something to be said for perseverance and not throwing in the towel.”
Things started looking up for Hargitay in her 30s when she was offered a spot in Dick Wolf’s expanding Law & Order franchise.
“I was like, ‘This is it,’” she recalled. “My manager was worried because it was very dark and not up my alley, because I liked comedy. And I was like, ‘This is right up my alley.’ Never in my life had something been more known to me.”
However, Law & Order veteran Chris Noth advised Hargitay against joining the series. Noth, who had been part of the original Law & Order series, met Hargitay during a celebratory event organized by Wolf.
“He had us go to a baseball game, and he invited Mariska and was gonna offer her this part on Special Victims,” Noth told Good Morning America. “I remember being on the subway going in and she goes, ‘I don’t know whether to do this. What’s Law & Order?’ And I was like, ‘Don’t do it.’”
Noth suggested that Hargitay pursue regional theater instead. Fortunately, Hargitay didn’t take his advice, a decision even Noth later acknowledged was for the best.
“I shouldn’t give advice,” Noth admitted. “Ever.”
Chris Noth’s Departure from Law & Order
Noth originally starred in Law & Order as detective Mike Logan from the show’s inception until 1995. He left the series to seek new challenges as an actor.
“I don’t think that’s good for an actor, that’s the way I was feeling,” Noth explained. “I mean, most actors, myself included, you feel lucky to have a job and have some security. But actually, too much security and too much of one job may not be good for you.”
Noth was also disappointed with how his departure was handled. He had hoped to announce his exit alongside Wolf, but Wolf released a statement on his own, which Noth found frustrating. Despite this, the two eventually reconciled.
Wolf later claimed that Noth left the show due to a pay dispute. Noth’s management team informed Wolf that the actor would be leaving because they couldn’t agree on a salary.
“He’s [Noth] really sorry that they couldn’t get it together, but he’s had five great years, and his feeling is that it’s time to move on,” Noth’s team conveyed to Wolf, according to Express.
Noth reprised his role for the Law & Order movie Exiled and later appeared in the spin-off Criminal Intent for a brief period before leaving the franchise for good.
Mariska Hargitay’s Perseverance Pays Off
Despite the challenges and advice to the contrary, Hargitay’s decision to join Law & Order: SVU paid off immensely. Her perseverance and belief in the role led to a stable and successful career that continues to thrive decades later.
