Mariska Hargitay Signs on for Another Season of ‘Law & Order: SVU’

Mariska Hargitay will be spending some “special” time with music heartthrob Harry Connick, Jr., who will be joining the cast of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (SVU) in a recurring role as David Laden, the new Executive Assistant District Attorney who could also be the love interest of Detective Olivia Benson.

And speaking of her character, Mariska has already signed on for season 14. The news was first announced Friday by NBC president Robert Greenblatt during the Television Critics Association winter press tour. Mariska has been playing the empathetic sex crimes detective since SVU‘s premiere in 1999.

The role made her into a household name – winning her both an Golden Globe and an Emmy, as well as making her one of the highest-paid actresses on television.

SVU returns with new episodes this Wednesday at 10p; Connick’s role begins January 18.

Trivia: Connick was also the love interest of Debra Messing on NBC’s Will & Grace, where she and Eric McCormack each made guest spots on SVU.

NewsBlaze from Michigan. Contact him by writing to NewsBlaze.

Garrett Godwin is an entertainment journalist, who writes for NewsBlaze about television and people in the entertainment industry, from his home state of Michigan. Contact Garrett by writing to NewsBlaze.