Nelson Sardelli

Nelson Sardelli (born September 20, 1934) is a Brazilian-born singer-comedian of Italian descent who was best known as an entertainer in Las Vegas.^[1] On June 28, 2008, he was awarded the Golden Pillow Award from the International Entertainer School of Las Vegas.^{[citation needed]} He also acted in films including Myra Breckinridge and The Professionals. His fund-raiser event for mentally disabled children "Starshine" became an annual spectacle in Atlantic City.^[2]

Early life

Sardelli was born in São Paulo, Brazil to parents who had immigrated from Italy.^[3] As a young man, in 1956, Sardelli was working as an analyst for General Motors. He decided to emigrate to Pontiac, Michigan, but found out there had been widespead layoffs there.^[3][4] He enlisted in the US Army, serving into 1958. At one point he taught soldiers how to dance at a USO at Fort Gordon, Georgia.

After his service in the Army, Sardelli returned to Pontiac to work.^[3] Not liking his job, he returned to Arthur Murray's dance school before finding a short career performing at the Old Mill Tavern in Waterford, Michigan.^[3] He returned to Brazil after his uncle got him a well-paying construction job there.^[3]

Career

While back in Brazil, Sardelli met a sportscaster who wrote for a prominent sport publication.^[3] This publication ran a two page story about Sardelli's burgeoning career in the United States.^[3] This story was a pivotal moment in boosting Sardelli's entertainment career, as it gave him more attention, and he soon returned to the country.^[3] Despite initial struggles, Sardelli found success performing at the Thunderbird in Las Vegas, which also led to him serving as an opening act for Judy Garland.^[3] His career would ultimately center on performances in Las Vegas, with one of his most notable routines being that of a "gay cowboy."^[3] He became a regular at the Flamingo, and has also done various performances throughout the world.^[3][4]

Personal life

Sardelli has been a full-time resident of Las Vegas since 1965.^[3]

In 1963, Sardelli was involved with actress Jayne Mansfield. Mansfield had been married to Mickey Hargitay. His daughter Mariska was born on January 23, 1964 and grew up knowing Mickey as her father.

Raymond Strait, a one-time press agent for Mansfield, published a biography of her in 1992. In it he alleged that Sardelli was the biological father of Mansfield's daughter Mariska Hargitay. Her father was publicly assumed to be Mansfield's estranged husband Mickey Hargitay.^[5]

Mariska, who was born in 1964, began to suspect that Sardelli was her biological father when she was 25. She has said she always felt she looked different from her brothers and father Mickey.^[6] She finally met Sardelli when she was 30, after seeing him perform in Atlantic City. She ultimately developed a close relationship with him and his other daughters, her half-sisters.^[7]

Hargitay has gained fame as an actress for her role as Detective Olivia Benson in the long-running series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. In May 2025, Hargitay confirmed in her HBO documentary My Mom Jayne that Sardelli is her biological father.^[7] He had three other daughters with his late wife, Fledia Fay Sardelli, who died in July 2012. Their eldest, Venetia, died in 2001. Hargitay's two other half-sisters, Giovanna and Pietra, participated in her documentary.^[6]

As of September 20, 2024 (his 90th birthday), Nelson Sardelli was living in Las Vegas with his wife Lorraine.^[3]

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1963	Homesick for St. Pauli	Chorus Boy	Uncredited
1970	Myra Breckinridge	Mario
1982	Fake-Out	Danny Parelli	(final film role)
2025	My Mom Jayne	Himself