Melissa McCarthy Surprises Mariska Hargitay With Mullet Hair Makeover

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Melissa McCarthy’s new hairdo is the life of the party. 

Melissa McCarthy, known for her role in Tammy, got a dramatically new, shaggy mullet hairstyle to secretly surprise her friend Mariska Hargitay while visiting the set of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Melissa, featured on the April 23rd episode of the NBC show with a retro ‘80s hairstyle, took a selfie with Mariska. Mariska playfully pointed at Melissa, who previously starred in The Heat.

Though her hairstyle was temporary, viewers of Law & Order: SVU definitely noticed it during her recent guest role as a professional fighter named Jasmyn Jewell, according to Variety.

Mariska shared an excited Instagram post on April 24th, writing “SURPRISTopMob!!!” and adding, “#MELISKA mind blown and still doing the happy dance!”

The actress, known from Gilmore Girls, took her commitment to the show even further. She secretly arrived on set disguised as an elderly woman to keep her guest role a surprise.

A behind-the-scenes video posted on Instagram on April 24th shows Melissa, 55, wearing a realistic old-age mask and a gray curly wig as she headed to the show’s set.

In a video, Melissa explained they were heading to the SVU set at 6 a.m. to surprise Mariska Hargitay. She said Mariska didn’t know they were coming to film a small part, and everyone had been secretly planning it as a loving gesture.

I didn’t want to spoil the surprise by letting her see me arrive,” she said. “I’m really excited to find out if it goes as planned.

Later in the video, Melissa revealed the moment she pulled off her epic surprise.

Mariska, 62, exclaimed in surprise when Melissa entered the room, saying, “You’ve got to be kidding me!”

They quickly hugged, with Melissa playfully admitting that Mariska was difficult to fool.

Okay, so I was completely blown away! Melissa just shared the sweetest message, calling me ‘the real deal.’ Apparently, a lot of people kept a huge surprise under wraps for six years – six years! – and she’s playfully calling them out for it. It’s just so incredibly touching to know people went to such lengths to do something special. Honestly, it makes you realize what truly matters – the people who love you and are willing to put in the effort, even for years, to bring a smile to your face!

The Mike & Molly alum added, “PS LOOK MA I FINALLY MADE IT ON LAW & ORDER!!!!!” 

For more stars who debuted wow-worthy hair transformations, read on… 

Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards’ daughter documented her attempt to dye her hair at home on TikTok, showing all the mistakes she made along the way, and she was thrilled with how it turned out.

She shared that she’d been dreaming about this hairstyle for years and was thrilled to finally get it.

The country music star revealed on Instagram in August 2025 that she was changing her hair color. After decades of blonde, she decided to return to her natural shade, which she hadn’t seen since she was around twelve years old.

Actress Janeane Garofalo, known for her role in Help, showed off her new, short haircut – which she playfully called a “choppity chop” – at the Breakthrough Prize Ceremony in April 2026.

To prepare for his return as Duncan Idaho in Dune: Part Three, the actor shaved off his beard in July 2025 – something he hadn’t done in six years.

The winner of American Idol showed off a new, shorter haircut in a promotional video for The Voice in July 2025. She swapped her long, blonde wavy hair for a shorter, darker bob.

The actor debuted a bearded look, which he sports on season two of The Terminal List, in June 2025.

In May 2025, the actor known for his role in Stranger Things surprised fans with a new look: a buzzcut. He first showed off the hairstyle at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards in Tokyo, Japan.

In April 2025, the Marvel actor who plays Bucky Barnes debuted a shaved head at the Thunderbolts* premiere in Los Angeles, marking a departure from his character’s long hair.

In March 2025, the “Karma” singer debuted her rainbow mohawk at the GLAAD Media Awards. 

In a TikTok video from March 2025, the model said this hairstyle with shaggy bangs was the “worst haircut of my life.”

In March 2025, Gypsy Rose Blanchard showed off a new, shorter hairstyle. This came over two months after she and her fiancé, Ken Urker, welcomed their daughter, Aurora Urker.

In January 2025, the reality TV star from The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, who used to be known for her blond hair, showed off a new red bob hairstyle on Watch What Happens Live.

In September 2024, the model showed off a lighter hair color, just a month after welcoming her and Justin Bieber’s first child, a son named Jack Blues Bieber.

Lily Collins, known for her role in Emily in Paris, showed off a striking new look at the premiere of her horror film, MAXXXINE, in June 2024.

Oh my gosh, Lily just gets it, you know? She was talking to Vogue and she said changing her hair lets her show off different parts of herself, which, same! But this new cut and color? She said it feels both bolder and lighter, and honestly, that’s exactly how I feel when she changes things up. She totally nailed it when she said it’s just…more her right now. It’s like she’s finally showing everyone the real her, and it’s amazing!

At the Chanel Artists dinner during the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2024, Katie showed off a new look featuring soft, caramel-colored highlights woven into her brown hair.

The Kardashian star recently switched up her hairstyle, trading her long hair for a shorter, platinum blonde bob.

Kylie Jenner playfully asked if anyone was missing her on June 8th in an Instagram post. Her sister, Khloé Kardashian, enthusiastically responded, “I did! I did!!!!!!”

The former Bravo star debuted a platinum blonde look during 2024 Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture.

In May 2024, actress Alexandra Daddario, known for her role in May December, showed off a new, shorter haircut – a bob that hits around her shoulders – at a Bulgari event in Rome.

In May 2024, the actress debuted a bob haircut that many social media users said looked similar to a style she wore while playing Mary Camden on the ’90s TV show 7th Heaven.

In May 2024, the actress known for her role in Transformers switched back to her natural dark brown hair and showed off a stylish bob haircut. This came just a month after she’d dyed her hair blue, playfully calling it the start of her “Jedi era.”

Seventeen-year-old Dannielynn Birkhead, the daughter of the late Anna Nicole Smith, showed off a new shoulder-length haircut while attending the 2024 Kentucky Derby with her father, Larry Birkhead.

The singer debuted a lighter, shorter ‘do in April 2024.

The Fashion Police alum debuted a blonde bombshell hair transformation May 8.

Back to blonde: Kim debuted a new platinum ‘do in April 2024.

Rihanna, who created Fenty Beauty, showed off a new bright blonde hairstyle on April 17th while celebrating her latest collaboration between Fenty and Puma in London.

The model debuted a bleach blonde pixie cut at the FRAME event April 4.

Okay, so Megan Fox just had a major hair moment! She’s ditched her signature pink hair and is now rocking a gorgeous, soft baby blue bob. She first showed it off on April 2nd, and honestly, I’m obsessed! It’s such a fun, fresh look for her.

Just weeks after getting a long bob haircut, Zendaya showed off a new honey blonde color at the premiere of her movie, Challengers, on March 26th.

The Great star ushered in spring with a fresh cut, as she debuted a long bob March 25.

On March 18th, the actress known for her role in Mean Girls changed her hair from blonde to a dark brown color.

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2026-04-25 20:18