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Hargitay's 'Downtown' Role: An Ex-Con's Last Chance
9 Jul
Summary
- Hargitay played a parolee assisting with criminal investigations.
- The role marked her first foray into crime dramas in 1986.
- She starred in the short-lived series 'Downtown' at age 22.
In 1986, Mariska Hargitay starred as Jesse Smith in the crime drama "Downtown." This marked her initial venture into the crime genre.
The series followed LAPD detective John Forney's experimental parole program. Hargitay's character, a street-smart parolee with martial arts skills and multiple arrests, was recruited to aid in criminal investigations, presenting her final opportunity to avoid incarceration.
"Downtown" ran for only one season. Despite critical reviews calling the pilot "far-fetched, dopey, and downright sad," Hargitay has since expressed pride in her role and the look she adopted for the show, including a pixie cut.
At 22, Hargitay starred opposite actors like Blair Underwood. Although she had previously auditioned for other roles, including a sitcom, her lasting success eventually came in crime dramas.
