Sun Jul 06 06:30:00 UTC 2025: **”Law & Order: SVU” Returns for Record-Breaking 27th Season with Untold Secrets**
New York, NY – “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” is gearing up for its 27th season on NBC this fall, continuing its reign as the longest-running primetime TV drama. The series, which premiered in 1999, follows the dedicated detectives of the NYPD’s Special Victims Unit, led by Captain Olivia Benson, played by Mariska Hargitay.
The show has reached impressive milestones, with Hargitay becoming the longest-running drama character on U.S. television and Ice-T holding the title of the longest-running Black character in primetime. But behind the gritty cases and compelling characters, there are surprising facts even devoted fans may not know.
For instance, the names Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) are homages to creator Dick Wolf’s children. Wolf has hinted that this may be the reason their on-screen romance never fully materialized.
Hargitay met her husband, actor Peter Hermann, when he guest-starred on the show in 2002. They married in 2004 and now have three children.
In 2009, SVU became the first TV show to film at the United Nations in New York City, and in its 100th episode, Hargitay’s father, actor Mickey Hargitay, made a guest appearance.
The show has received 23 Emmy nominations, winning six, including one for Hargitay in 2006.
Richard Belzer’s character, John Munch, first appeared on “Homicide: Life on the Street” in 1993. Taylor Swift is a huge fan of the show and even named one of her cats Olivia Benson after Hargitay’s character.
The series was inspired by the real-life “Preppy Murder” case from 1986. Originally titled “Law & Order: Sex Crimes,” the show’s iconic opening voiceover is provided by former politician Steve Zirnkilton.
While Meloni was not Hargitay’s first choice as a partner, Ice-T was initially only supposed to appear in four episodes. Peter Scanavino, who plays ADA Dominick Carisi, was a janitor in a season 14 episode.
In 2004, Hargitay founded the Joyful Heart Foundation, dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse, inspired by her role as Olivia Benson.
As the series heads into its 27th season, “Law & Order: SVU” continues to captivate audiences with its gripping storylines and complex characters, leaving fans eagerly anticipating what’s in store.
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