Jamie Lee Curtis and Mariska Hargitay Reconnect Over Shared Hollywood Roots and a Los Angeles Pronunciation Debate

Jamie Lee Curtis and Mariska Hargitay grew up as neighbors on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. Curtis’s parents, actors Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, purchased a pink house at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Carolwood, while the adjacent property had been owned by Sonny Bono and Cher before Tony Curtis moved in with his second wife. Hargitay’s parents were actors Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay. Both children recall a brief childhood encounter—Curtis described a photograph of the two families standing in the driveway after an accident—but they did not retain a clear memory of the meeting.

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On June 15, 2024, the two actresses appeared together on Variety’s *Actors on Actors* series, reintroduced by mutual friend Amy Landecker. The conversation centered on their long-standing, though geographically distant, friendship and on Hargitay’s 2025 documentary *My Mom Jayne*, which explores Mansfield’s life and Hargitay’s family history. Both noted that coast-to-coast schedules limit in-person time, prompting them to “take advantage of it in a very intimate, quick way” and maintain a fast-paced friendship.

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During the interview, a light-hearted dispute arose over the pronunciation of the city’s name. Hargitay interrupted Curtis, saying, “I’m trying not to laugh, because you just said Los Angeles,” and later joked, “If I had a jury here, everyone would vote for me.” Curtis responded, “But what do you call it, Los Feliz?” before acknowledging the disagreement with, “You don’t say ‘Los Angeles’.” The exchange highlighted a playful contrast in regional speech habits.

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The dialogue underscores the continuity of Hollywood dynasties, illustrating how second-generation actors navigate personal histories that intersect with public perception. Their shared background and the pronunciation debate also reflect broader cultural conversations about regional identity and linguistic norms in a globally recognized city.

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• “Nobody knows this. You grew up in a house that was pink on the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Carolwood. And the house next door, which was owned by Sonny [Bono] and Cher was purchased by Tony Curtis, and Tony Curtis moved into that house with his second wife,” — Jamie Lee Curtis, actress

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• “It was like a missing piece of my life, and that first phone call was so emotional because when we have histories like ours, we are in such a unique and singular position that people just can't understand it unless they've lived it,” — Mariska Hargitay, actress

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• “I'm trying not to laugh, because you just said Los Angeles,” — Mariska Hargitay

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• “If I had a jury here, everyone would vote for me.” — Mariska Hargitay (joking)

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• “But what do you call it, Los Feliz?” — Jamie Lee Curtis

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• “She says Los Angeles!” — Mariska Hargitay

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Hargitay recently debuted on Broadway in the six-week run of *Every Brilliant Thing*, describing the experience as “going out without a net.” Curtis continues to act in film and television projects, while Hargitay’s documentary *My Mom Jayne* remains a focal point of her current public discussion.

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