Mariska Hargitay shares loved-up photo with husband Peter Hermann as he celebrates 59th birthday

It is an extra special, celebratory weekend for Mariska Hargitay and her family.

On Saturday, August 15, the Law & Order: SVU actress’ husband Peter Hermann rang in his 59th trip around the sun.

The actor couple, who met on the set of the long-running Dick Wolf police procedural, have been married since 2004, and are parents to three kids: August, 20, Amaya, 15, and Andrew, 14. 

In honor of Peter’s special day, Mariska took to Instagram and shared one of her favorite photos with her hubby.

The loved-up, black-and-white snap sees her resting on Peter’s chest, seemingly while on a boat, and they are both looking forward into the distance.

“Happy Birthday my love,” Mariska wrote, adding: “This is one of my favorite pictures. Looking in the same direction. Together,” alongside a red heart emoji.

Fans were then quick to take to the comments section under the post and gush over it, with Mariska’s longtime best friend Ali Wentworth writing: “Happy Birthday Gorgusszz Peter!”

Others followed suit with: “Happy birthday to your Hubby!’ and: “Beautiful couple,” as well as: “Aww such a gorgeous picture of you both. Happy birthday Peter.”

Mariska — who first began playing the beloved Olivia Benson, the longest-running primetime live-action character in American television history, in 1999 — and Peter first met in 2001 on the set of Law & Order: SVU, when he began guest starring as defense attorney Trevor Langan. His most recent appearance on the show was in April 2006. 

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Their first date was at church, per Peter’s request, and of the special moment, Mariska once told People: “We went to church together, and it was like getting hit with a lightning bolt,” adding: “I just started sobbing. Peter thought I was crying because I was so moved by the service. No, it was because I was just overwhelmed, realizing he was the one.”

© AFP via Getty Images

They officially tied the knot three years later in Santa Barbara, California, in front of around 200 of their closest friends and family members.

Last year, Mariska premiered her directorial debut, a documentary titled My Mom Jayne, about the life and early death of her mother Jayne Mansfield. Her husband Peter was a supportive figure in the documentary, and among the final scenes is a moment he gifts her her mother’s beloved piano she had spent years hoping to purchase.