Mariska Hargitay's Forgotten Western Bride Role

Mariska Hargitay, renowned for her quarter-century portrayal of Olivia Benson on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," previously starred in a lesser-known Western series. Before becoming a household name, Hargitay took on the role of a mail-order bride with a dark secret in the 1996 TNT series "The Lazarus Man."

The short-lived series featured Robert Urich as the main character, an amnesiac Civil War-era Texas wanderer. Hargitay appeared in an episode titled "The Angel Maker" as Sara, a woman who had murdered several husbands to steal their wealth.

Lazarus, initially intrigued by Sara due to memories of his own wife, eventually uncovered her murderous past and managed to capture her. Despite his efforts to stop her, a final scene suggested Sara had escaped, leaving her continued menace uncertain.