Fans Praise Mariska Hargitay’s Husband for Being a True Gentleman in New Pic: ‘Whatta Man’

• Mariska Hargitay met her husband on set, and it was love at first sight for her, although she denied liking him at first.
• She knew that he was the man for her, and he too knew that she was the woman for him, and the couple revealed when they realized that.
• Hargitay and her spouse have been married for almost two decades and share three kids. Hermann is the perfect "gentleman," according to fans.

Mariska Hargitay recently stepped out with her beloved spouse, Peter Hermann, and the couple posed for a picture that has fans talking online. Social media users are in awe of Hermann's thoughtful gesture toward his wife that was evident in the snap.

Hargitay first met Hermann in 2002 when he bagged a guest-starring role on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," in which she plays Detective Olivia Benson.

In a February 2021 interview, their fellow co-star Christopher Meloni, who played Detective Elliot Stabler for the first 12 seasons of the police procedural, dished on how Hargitay fell for Hermann.

"He's on the show as a guest actor, and I'm looking at her, looking at him, and I'm seeing how she's acting, right? I know her, and I'm like, 'Oh boy. Here we go.' And she's just, 'Tee-hee, tee-hee, I don't even care about him or anything like that,'" recalled Meloni.

Although Hargitay initially said she was not romantically interested in Hermann, she ended up dating him. However, one day, she arrived on set "sobbing" over her relationship with her boyfriend – whom she had been seeing for a while, said Meloni.

"She goes, 'Peter and I had a really deep, long conversation. We cried, and I just don't think it's going to work,'" the Emmy Award nominee recounted during the interview.

Meloni revealed that at that moment, all he could think of was that Hargitay and Hermann would be married in "five months," despite their stumbling block, adding:

"That's all I was thinking. I knew. I knew."

Hargitay & Hermann Have Been Happily Married for Nearly Two Decades

As the "Law & Order: Organized Crime" star predicted, his co-stars Hargitay and Hermann eventually wed on August 28, 2004, in Santa Barbara after dating for three years.

In a June 2019 interview, Hargitay recalled how she also knew that Hermann "was the one." After "SUV" filming wrapped, Hermann asked the brunette beauty out on a date – to attend church with him.

She gushed about their connection: "We went to church together, and it was like getting hit with a lightning bolt." She became so "overwhelmed" with emotions of love that she started crying during the date.

The Emmy Award winner revealed her then-love believed she was crying because the sermon moved her, but that was not the case. She explained:

“[..] It was because I was just overwhelmed, realizing he was the one."

Following the date, Hargitay told her closest friend about the encounter, saying, "I told her, 'This is it. This is the man I'm going to marry."

When she met Hermann, she was 35 years old and single, and her friends mentioned that she should go out more as no one would show up in "SUV" and ask for her hand in marriage.

Hargitay shared her reaction to her friends' comment during an appearance on "The Drew Barrymore Show," in January 2022, saying, "I was like, 'Oh yeah!'"

Hermann also once shared the moment he knew that the California native was the woman for him. In a June 2019 interview, the actor revealed it was on Hargitay's "40th birthday" that he saw her being surrounded by people she loved, and she stood out for him,

He further explained that he wanted to be a part of "the abundance of love" in her life, adding they got hitched, and they were both aware that it would be satisfactory and that they knew what they had found in each other.

When asked to share the secret to a long-lasting marriage in a March 2018 interview, Hermann said there is none, adding, "We're all just working through it." The New York native also stated:

"It's fundamentals -- kindness, listen well, and fight fair."

The Hollywood couple has been married for almost twenty years and celebrated their wedding anniversary in August 2023. Hargitay marked the milestone on her Instagram alongside a throwback picture of the lovebirds on their wedding day.

The then-newlyweds seemed to be having their first dance as the bride wore a strapless gown while the groom sported a black suit with a pink tie.

Hargitay captioned her post, "19 years. Best dance of my life. Only dance of my life." The director and producer share three children: sons August and Andrew, and an only daughter whom they named Amaya.

Hargitay & Hermann Made Fans Swoon on Their Recent Outing

Hargitay and Hermann were recently photographed out on the streets, beaming while posing arm in arm. The pic posted by Hargitay and captioned, "@thejhf" earned raves from fans who praised the good-looking couple. But one important detail stood out in the pic —the fact that Hermann was carrying his wife's bag for her.

Fans commented on the Instagram post, many impressed by Hermann't thoughtful gesture. "M always having her men carry her purse," said one fan.

Someone else asked, "Is Peter carrying your bag? Whatta man," alongside heart eyes emoji. Another Instagram user echoed the same sentiments, writing, "Wait, is he holding your bag too?!?! Such a gentleman!! Go, Peter!"

One person gushed, "I love that Peter holds her bag," alongside a heart-eye emoji. Meanwhile, another fan penned, "Peter brings her bag." Someone else exclaimed, "Ohhh lookie! It's the reason I believe in true love still," alongside a heart emoji. One individual commented, "Everything about this picture is perfect," alongside a heart-eye emoji.

Another social media user complimented Hargitay and Hermann, saying, "BEST COUPLE AWARD," alongside a medal and black heart emojis. Someone else agreed, writing, "The most beautiful and happy couple I have ever seen." In addition, one fan penned, "Marriage goals," alongside a heart emoji. Hargitay and Hermann married 19 years ago.