Mariska Hargitay Celebrates 'Law & Order: SVU' Costar Peter Scanavino's 40th Birthday with Sweet Tribute

Actress, Mariska Hargitay recently took to Instagram to honor "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" co-star, Peter Scanavino, on his birthday with a heartfelt tribute to the actor and his family.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" actress Mariska Hargitay recently celebrated her co-star on the NBC series, Peter Scanavino, with a heartfelt tribute.

The 56-year-old actress took to Instagram to post a picture of Scanavino and herself and captioned it with sweet words wishing him a happy birthday. The image showed the duo in a close embrace with huge smiles on their faces.

Hargitay wrote, "I celebrate your first-rate mind, your journeying soul, your RIDICULOUS talent, and most of all, your beautiful heart." The Emmy-award-winning actress then went on to celebrate Scanavino's family and described them as "spectacular."

Peter, who turned 40 on the leap day, took to Twitter to express his gratitude for the many birthday wishes sent his way. The "Banshee" actor wrote,

"I am humbled and grateful to have so many amazing people in my corner!!!"

"Law and Order: SVU" covers the day-to-day struggle of a fictionalized version of the New York City Police Department and stars Mariska Hargitay as Captian Olivia Benson.

The team is assigned the delicate task of investigating and prosecuting sexually oriented crimes. The series also follows the happenings in the lives of the team members, especially those in connection to a case.

...he played the role of a petty criminal called "Johnny Fiest" in the show's fifth season.

The show, which premiered in 1999, has kicked off its 21st season already and is set to go for three more seasons in the coming future.

The actor made his entrance into the popular NBC series, "Law & Order: SVU" in the 16th season of the drama series. Scananvino plays the role of Detective Dominick Carisi, Jr., who is the protege of Captian Olivia.

Before his debut as Detective Carisi in the show's 16th season, Peter appeared on the series as Jhonny Dubcek in the "Monster's Legacy" episode in season 14.

In another NBC crime series, "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," he played the role of a petty criminal called "Johnny Fiest" in the show's fifth season.

The actor stars in the 21st season of "Law & Order: SVU" as the new Assistant District Attorney after making it to the show's main cast six seasons ago.

Peter Scanavino shares two kids with his wife, Lish Bai to whom he's been married to for 9 years now.