Mariska Suffered A Collapsed Lung After Performing A Stunt

In 2009, Mariska Hargitay suffered an alarming injury on set. While in character, she was chasing an episode’s antagonist and felt a sudden chest pain. She ignored the injury, only to eventually find out her right lung was 50% collapsed.

Thankfully, she got the surgery she needed, but the experience dredged up some personal emotional trauma. She lost her mother at a very young age in a car crash, so the accident helped her begin to truly appreciate her life and its success:

“[After my lung collapsed] all those old fears about my mom and my grandfather [both of whom died relatively young] came shooting up.

Having a child changes everything. All of a sudden you have so much to lose, so much to live for. Sometimes things in life happen that allow us to understand our priorities very clearly. Ultimately you can see those as gifts.”

Christopher Meloni Didn’t Want Stabler And Benson To Hook Up

Cop partners Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler always had explosive chemistry. Given that inter-office romances were pretty common on SVU, why didn’t the pair ever hook up? Christopher Meloni argued that it was important the two never crossed the line. He said in 2015 that a hookup “would be the death knell of that relationship. I think they needed to keep that line taut and very clear … Keep the tension, never cross it.”

Richard Belzer Is A Big Weed Smoker

Who knew Detective John Munch was such a fan of controversial substances? Richard Belzer, the actor who plays Munch, blazes up regularly. Fellow comedian Bill Maher once said of Belzer, “I never once saw him do a set sober.” Belzer first became interested in pot when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1984. Since then, he has been an advocate for the use of medical marijuana.

Various SVU Stars’ Spouses Have Popped Up As Guest Stars

You might recognize some of SVU’s guest stars from the red carpet. After all, a few are married to the TV hit’s cast members. Mariska Hargitay’s husband, Peter Hermann, plays recurring character Trevor Langan, an attorney who helped Benson adopt her son, Noah. The two actually met on the set of the show in 2001. Ice-T’s wife, Coco, has appeared in three episodes.

Christopher Meloni Left The Show After Contract Negotiations Fell Through

Meloni left the show in 2011 after 12 seasons due to contract negotiations. When Andy Cohen asked Meloni when he knew it was time to leave, the actor responded, “When the negotiations broke down.” Reports said that Meloni wanted a pay increase at the time, and the network didn’t oblige. Hargitay, however, remained on the series.

The Show Was Inspired By A Real-Life Murder In 1986

SVU creator Dick Wolf drew his inspiration for the show from an infamous 1986 case. Robert Chambers Jr., known in the press as the “Preppy Killer,” strangled Jennifer Levin in Central Park. Despite much evidence to the contrary, Charmbers claimed they were just having “rough sex,” effectively blaming Levin for her own death with a defense many regarded as transparently ludicrous and implicitly misogynistic. This led Wolf to write a similarly-themed episode of Law & Order.

The case haunted Wolf, so he created a show focused on such incidents. As a result, the show, originally called Sex Crimes, took on “issues against women, against children and adults,” according to Wolf.

Hargitay Is One Of TV’s Highest-Paid Actresses

Mariska not only brings in the ratings, but the money as well. She made $12.5 million in 2017 alone, much of which came from SVU. Sources report she makes about $450,000 per episode, not to mention that the show is in syndication worldwide, which could add to these numbers substantially.

Detective Munch And Captain Cragen Previously Appeared On Connected Franchises

Captain Don Cragen (played by Dann Florek) helmed the SVU for many seasons as its beloved commander. Cragen also appeared on the original Law & Order franchise between 1990 and 1993.

Richard Belzer’s John Munch was also featured on L&O, as well as a few other connected TV shows. He popped up on Law & Order: Trial by Jury and Homicide: Life on the Street, as well. Homicide ended its run in 1999, and Munch joined the SVU squad shortly after.

Creator Dick Wolf Named Benson And Stabler After His Kids

Dick Wolf named his two leading characters after his kids, Elliot and Olivia. Unfortunately, Wolf divorced from the kids’ mother in 2005. Once they signed the divorce papers, Christine Wolf learned Dick was renegotiating his deal for more than a billion dollars. She sued for more cash – since she is a full-time stay-at-home mom – to care for their daughter, Olivia, who suffers from immune system issues.

Hargitay Has Worked To Solve The Rape Kit Backlog And Is An Advocate For Survivors

Inspired by her character’s experiences on SVU, Hargitay has become an advocate for victims of sexual assault. Shocked by the stats she uncovered, she became a trained crisis counselor and founded the Joyful Heart Foundation in 2004, which aims to support victims, prevent future violence, and end the backlog of rape kits that have yet to be tested.

An advocate for the #MeToo movement, Hargitay is proud of the work SVU has done in promoting understanding of assault and of survivors’ battles.