Actors Mariska Hargitay and Tiffani Thiessen are celebrating their birthdays today, January 23.
Mariska Hargitay, 51
image courtesy of Walter McBride/INFphoto.com
Actress, producer and director Mariska Hargitay turns 51 today. Hargitay was crowned Miss Beverly Hills USA in 1982 and later placed fourth for Miss California USA the following year. In 1988, she had a recurring role in the soap opera Falcon Crest. She went on to make appearances in the shows Tequila and Bonetti, Seinfeld, Can't Hurry Love, Freddy's Nightmares, Ellen, Baywatch and In the Heat of the Night. Hargitay had a minor role in the 1995 film Leaving Las Vegas.
Hargitay has been playing Detective Olivia Benson on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit since 1999. In 2005 she received a Golden Globe award and in 2006 she won the Emmy for her role. In 2014, she directed the episode Criminal Stories and served as producer for seven episodes.
Hargitay is fluent in five languages; English, Hungarian, French, Spanish and Italian. She is the founder and president of the Joyful Heart Foundation, founded in 2004. The organization provides support for survivors of domestic abuse, sexual assault and child abuse.
Hargitay is married to actor Peter Hermann and they have three children.
Tiffani Thiessen, 41
image courtesy of INFphoto.com
Actress, producer and director Tiffani Thiessen turns 41 today. Thiessenstarted out in beauty pageants. She was crowned Miss Junior America in 1987 and won Teen magazine's "Great Model Search" in 1988. In 1989, she played Kelly Kapowsi on the television series Saved by the Bell.
Thiessen guest starred on other television series including Married...with Children, Charles in Charge and Step by Step. Thiessen also appeared in numerous television films including Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style, A Killer Among Friends and Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas. She made her film debut in the 1993 comedy Son in Law.
Thiessen landed the recurring role of Valerie Malone in Beverly Hills, 90210 from 1994 to 1998. She also guest starred on News Radio, Two Guys and a Girl, Just Shoot Me and Good Morning Miami. She also continued to star in television films including The Stranger Behind Me, Sweet Dreams and Buried Secrets.
In 2002, Thiessen starred as Billie Chambers in the FOX series Fastlane. She started Tit 4 Tat production company and directed Just Pray in 2005. Thiessen currently stars as Elizabeth Burke in the USA series White Collar. She is married to actor Brady Smith. They have a daughter and another child on the way.