Real-Life Couples of ‘Law & Order: SVU’—Mariska Hargitay, Christopher Meloni: These Are Their Stories

The cases that unfold on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit pull at audiences’ heartstrings — and so do the on-screen romances.

Now in its 26th season (with new episodes airing every Thursday), Law & Order: SVU fans are still desperate to see Detective Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Detective Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) finally become a couple.

However, this would require Meloni to return to the show after exiting in 2023 (for a second time). He now stars in Law & Order: Organized Crime, where the Benson and Stabler relationship has continued in a limited capacity with Hargitay’s occasional guest appearances.

Benson and Stabler’s future is ultimately in creator Dick Wolf‘s hands, but Hargitay has a feeling it will all end the way it’s supposed to.

“We want to hold the tension and do what’s right and truthful for both characters,” she told Variety in May 2024.

In real life, Law & Order: SVU brought Hargitay her husband, Peter Hermann. The couple, who have now been married for 20 years, met on set in 2002. Meloni and his wife, Sherman Williams, had a similar meet-cute when they first crossed paths on the set of an HBO series in 1989.

Here’s everything to know about the real-life partners of the Law & Order: SVU cast.

Mariska Hargitay and Peter Hermann

Mariska Hargitay has played Olivia Benson — the longest-running primetime drama character in television history — on Law & Order: SVU since 1999.

The Dick Wolf series brought her mainstream success, but it’s also where she met her husband, fellow actor Peter Hermann, in 2002 when he played defense attorney Trevor Langan in season 3. He’s since reprised his role in 14 additional seasons.

Hargitay and Hermann wed in 2004 and are parents to three children: August, Amaya and Andrew.

“We got married and we knew that it was going to be good, and I think we both knew what we found,” the Younger star told PEOPLE in 2019. “We sort of knew that we found the right one. I never thought it could be this good.”

Ice-T and Coco Austin

Ice-T joined SVU in 2000 as Sergeant Odafin “Fin” Tutuola — the second-longest-running character in the show’s tenure behind Olivia Benson.

The rapper-turned-actor met his wife, Coco Austin, a year later on a music video set, and they got legally married in 2006.

Ice-T and Austin are doting parents to their daughter, Chanel Nicole, whom they welcomed in 2015. The actor is also a dad to two adult children from previous relationships: daughter LeTesha and son Tracy Jr.

Austin has appeared on three episodes of Law & Order: SVU over the years, always to play a different character.

“Whenever Coco is on the set, every single crew member somehow makes it to the set,” Ice-T told HuffPost in 2012. “Every light man, every prop person, every electrical, every cook somehow makes it to that set when Coco is going to shoot.”

Peter Scanavino and Lisha Bai

Fans have watched as ADA Dominick “Sonny” Carisi and Detective Amanda Rollins take their relationship to the next level but in his real life, Peter Scanavino has been happily married to his wife, artist Lisha Bai, since 2011.

In July 2021, he celebrated the decade milestone on X with a sweet tribute to his wife.

“Meeting Lisha is the best thing that ever happened to me,” Scanavino captioned an old photo of them together.

While there are not many photos on social media of the couple’s children, they are proud parents of three.

Kelli Giddish and Beau Richards

Kelli Giddish, who portrays Sargeant Amanda Rollins, married Beau Richards in November 2021.

When the cast of SVU stepped out to celebrate the show’s 25th season, the actress was supported by her husband, whom she shares son Oldie Richards with.

Giddish is also a mom to sons Charlie and Ludo, whom she welcomed with ex-husband Lawrence Faulborn.

In February 2022, Giddish paid tribute to her husband on Instagram writing, “Happy beyond words to have met and married my love, my man, my sweet beau.”

She continued, “@botorious you are my light, and the most supreme step-father Ludo and Charlie could ask for.”

Kevin Kane and Francis Benhamou

Kevin Kane, who plays Detective Terry Bruno, is married to actress Francis Benhamou.

In October 2024, Kane celebrated his wife’s birthday with a sweet post on Instagram. “Happy Birthday, bad ass. You brought all the good in my life,” he wrote.

The actors share one daughter, whose name they have kept private.

Juliana Aidén Martinez

Juliana Aidén Martinez, who portrays Detective Kate Silva, is single but has quipped about being “in love” with her fellow costar Mariska Hargitay, whom she gushed about to PEOPLE in October 2024.

“She is this joyful heart,” Martinez said. “She’s incredibly perceptive and an incredible Number One. I’m a big Mariska Hargitay stan right now. I think [I will be] forever.”

Chris Meloni and Sherman Williams

Christopher Meloni, who played Detective Elliot Stabler, filmed 283 episodes of Law & Order: SVU before saying goodbye to the show in 2023.

While his tenure on the procedural drama was impressive, Meloni has put even more time and attention into his marriage to Sherman Williams. The couple wed in 1995 and share two kids: Sophia and Dante.

Meloni told PEOPLE in 2022 that the secret to their long-lasting marriage is Williams’ “patience“

He added, “I really mean that. She’s allowed me to grow at my speed because she’s always been more mature and more levelheaded in many ways.”

Dann Florek and Karen Florek

Dann Florek, who portrayed Captain Donald Cragen for 15 seasons of SVU, has been married to his wife, Karen Florek, since 1983, per IMDb.

The couple went viral in 2022 when food blogger Carissa Stanton moved into their former Venice, Calif., home and found old photographs of Dann and Karen hidden in the fireplace.

Stanton shared the “sweet hidden treasure” on social media, only to learn that Dann was famous. The trio eventually connected and formed an unlikely friendship.

“Everything happens for a reason, and I have so much to learn from both Dann and Karen,” Stanton told E! News. “Our paths definitely crossed for a reason.”

Richard Belzer and Harlee McBride

Richard Belzer, who died at age 78 in 2023, played detective-turned-sergeant John Munch from 1999 to 2013.

The actor is survived by his wife of 38 years, retired actress Harlee McBride, and her two children, Jessica and Shannon, from a previous relationship.

“He was family,” Mariska Hargitay said on the Today show shortly after Belzer’s death. “He was just such a beautiful and complex [person], and it was such a privilege to know him.”

BD Wong and Richert Schnorr

BD Wong, who portrayed FBI psychiatrist Dr. George Huang for 230 episodes, married his longtime partner, Richert Schnorr, in 2018.

“I say the same thing to @richertschnorr today that I have periodically said throughout the 16 years we’ve known each other: ‘You know what? This is still really working for me.’ That’s pretty much all there is to it, isn’t there?” Wong wrote on Instagram in honor of the couple’s 6th wedding anniversary in October 2024.

The SVU alum shares a son, Jackson Foo, with talent agent Richie Jackson, whom he split from in 2004 after 16 years together.

Danny Pino and Lilly Pino

Danny Pino, who played Olivia Benson’s partner, Detective Nick Amaro, for four seasons, has been married to his wife, Lilly Pino, since 2002.

“Happy 23rd Anniversary to the brightest light. The North Star. You shine bright, radiant and true,” Danny wrote on Instagram in February 2025. “Blessed with your love, wisdom and laughter.”

The pair share two sons: Luca and Julian.