Christopher Meloni’s Journey to ‘Law and Order: SVU’ and Back Again: A Look at His Life and Career

He was born Christopher Peter Meloni on April 2, 1961, in Washington, D.C., the youngest of three children. He studied acting at the University of Colorado at Boulder, though he graduated with a degree in history in 1983. Following graduation, he moved to New York to continue his studies at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre and at the Center for the Media Arts. He worked as a bouncer, a bartender, a personal trainer and in construction while he struggled to score some parts. Soon they started to come (a complete guide to them follows a bit below). Although he appeared in several short-lived series and feature films where he had supporting roles, he really came to people’s attention in the graphic HBO prison series Oz, which ran from 1998 to 2003, playing the bisexual murderer Chris Keller. It should be noted that that show overlapped a couple of years with his role as Stabler.

As to his journey to Law & Order, Randee notes that NYPD Blue executive producer David Milch caught one of his performances and cast him in an arc on that show. Apparently executive producer Tom Fontana then saw him there and cast him on the police drama Homicide: Life on the Street. “I don’t think cabal is quite a fair word, but there was a group of tough guy TV writers like Milch and Fontana and, to a certain extent, Dick Wolf who were buddy-buddy with each one another and they would cast some of the same people. Fontana also thought Meloni would be good for Oz. From there he read for Wolf for SVU and it took a long time to hear anything back. Finally he said to Tom, ‘This is driving me nuts. Can you ask your buddy Dick Wolf what’s going on with this job?’ Fontana made a call and, like, 10 minutes later he got a call that Wolf would be calling him.”

Which is what took place. And as often happens, potential actors for a two-series lead are mixed and matched with different performers during auditions, and, says Randee, “He happened to get paired with Mariska and they really clicked right off. The chemistry between them was really strong and it was obvious they were the right team.”

History has shown that to be the case, though in some ways it does seem surprising that a broadcast network in 1999 was willing to take on a performer involved with a show like Oz, the normal thinking being that a villain in the audience’s mind couldn’t have a concurrent part as a hero. Opines Randee, “If we were able to flashback to 1999, premium cable wasn’t quite as dominant as it is now and I don’t know that the streams crossed nearly as much. People who were watching procedural television were not necessarily the same people who are going to be watching a hard-hitting, gritty cable TV Show.”

As to why he left SVU after 12 years, she can only surmise: “He probably felt like the character played out; that it had come to its natural conclusion. He’d done what he could with it and ultimately wanted to move along. And within the framework of how SVU is set up, he’s probably accurate. The fact that he’s coming back to the role I think is fascinating. And the fact that it’s not going to be on SVU is probably the strongest move that he could make if he wants to revisit that role, because now he’ll be able to operate independently of that particular framework. Now he gets to have the spotlight.”

For a trip through Christopher’s career, please continue to scroll down.

‘1st & Ten’ (TV Series, 1989 to 1990)

HBO’s first attempt at a sitcom, this one about a fictional pro football team known as the California Bulls. Delta Burke is team owner Diane Barrow. The cast includes O.J. Simpson (yep, that one) as T.D. Parker, Tony Longo as Mad Dog Smears and Christopher Meloni as Johnny Gunn.

‘The Fanelli Boys’ (TV Series, 1990 to 1991)

Theresa Fanelli, a widow, is getting ready to move from Brooklyn to Florida until her adult sons all need to move back in. Those “kids” are played by Christopher, Joe Pantoliano and Ned Eisenberg.

‘Dinosaurs’ (TV Series, 1991 to 1994)

From Jim Henson Productions, a sitcom about a family of dinosaurs, with Christopher voicing the character of Spike (pictured above). Additional roles during this period include the 1992 TV movie Something to Live for: The Alison Gertz Story, 1993’s Without a Kiss Goodbye and six episodes of that same year’s TV series The Boys (not to be confused with Amazon’s current superhero show).

‘Clean Slate’ (1994)

Christopher has a supporting role in this Dana Carvey film about a private eye who suffers amnesia, resulting in his memory being wiped every 24 hours, and who finds himself in the midst of a murder and theft case.

‘Junior’ (1994)

Arnold Schwarzenegger finds himself pregnant in this Ivan Reitman film, which plays pretty much as bizarrely as it sounds. Small role for Christopher as Mr. Lanzarotta.

’12 Monkeys’ (1995)

Very cool time travel film with Bruce Willis playing a guy sent back from the future to the present to help prevent a pandemic. Christopher plays Lt. Halperin. Also in 1995, he starred in the TV movie A Dangerous Affair, an episode of Hope and Gloria and the TV series Misery Loves Company.

‘Bound’ (1996)

A pair of women (played by Jennifer Tilley and Gina Gershon) plot to steal millions in mob money. Christopher is mobster Johnnie Marzzone.

‘NYPD Blue’ (TV Series, Five Episodes from 1996 to 1997)

A five-episode guest-starring stint for Christopher on the acclaimed cop drama, only a couple of years before he became a part of the Law & Order franchise.

‘Money Talks’ (1997)

Chris Tucker and Charlie Sheen are center stage, respectively, as a small-time huckster and a TV newsman in this action comedy. Christopher has very much a supporting role. In 1997 he also starred in the TV miniseries The Last Don, the TV movie Every 9 Seconds and three episodes of the TV series Brooklyn South.

‘Leaving L.A.’ (TV Series, 1997)

A situation comedy set in the Los Angeles coroner’s office. Christopher is in the lead as Reed Sims, with fellow cast members Melina Kanakaredes, Lorraine Toussaint and Cress Williams (currently starring in the CW’s Black Lightning).

‘Brown’s Requiem’ (1998)

A private detective gets caught up in a conspiracy involving the LAPD. Christopher has an uncredited role as Sgt. Cavanaugh.

‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’ (1998)

Based on Hunter S. Thompson’s book of the same name, Johnny Depp is Raoul Duke, an “eccentric” journalist who travels to Las Vegas with his insane lawyer where they get involved in some drug-induced escapades. Christopher is a clerk at the Flamingo Hotel.

‘The Soular Opposite’ (1998)

In this romantic comedy drama, stand-up comedian Barry Singer (Christopher) is seeking a woman who likes him for who he “pretends to be,” and into his life walks political activist Thea Douglas (Janel Moloney), who turns everything upside down. Also in 1998, he starred in the TV movie Target Earth and two episodes of the police drama Homicide: Life on the Street.

‘Oz’ (TV Series, 1998 to 2003)

This is the role that first brought Christopher major attention, playing inmate Chris Keller in HBO’s prison drama. If you’re a fan of him as Stabler on SVU, you need to see him in this show to get a polar opposite characterization.

‘Carlo’s Wake’ (1999)

Black humor abounds in this look at the life, death and wake of Italian American Carlo Torello (Martin Landau), the latter of which unleashes the combative nature of his adult children. Christopher is Bennetto Torello.

‘Runaway Bride’ (1999)

Richard Gere is a reporter investigating a woman (Julia Roberts) who has left a number of fiances at the altar, one of which was Christopher’s Coach Bob Kelly. Directed by the late, great Garry Marshall.

‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’ (TV Series, 1999 to 2011)

Easily Christopher’s most popular role, he plays SVU’s Detective Elliot Stabler. He and Mariska Hargitay made a great team for 12 seasons. He also played the role on the Law & Order episodes “Entitled” and ‘Fools for Love,” as well as Law & Order: Trial by Jury‘s “Day.”

‘Wet Hot American Summer’ (2001)

A group of counselors attempt to achieve their personal goals on the last day of camp in the summer of 1981. Christopher (as Gene) is joined by the likes of Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce and Paul Rudd. In 2017, Netflix streamed a TV series sequel, Wet Hot Summer: Ten Years Later.

‘Scrubs’ (TV Guest Star, 2003)

Just a fun guest star role for Christopher on an episode of the NBC medical comedy series, Scrubs, proving he has just as much fun with comedy as he does drama.

‘Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle’ (2004)

A couple of stoners (John Cho‘s Harold Lee and Kal Penn‘s Kumar Patel) embark on their first high adventure, hoping to become their generation’s Cheech & Chong. Christopher is (appropriately, based on the photo above) “Freakshow.” Three years later the duo was back in Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, with Christopher returning only this time as Reverend Clyde Stanky, aka Grand Wizard.

‘Nights in Rodanthe’ (2008)

Christopher as Jack is in a supporting role in this drama starring Richard Gere as a doctor traveling to see his son and encountering an unhappily married woman (Diane Lane), who he becomes romantically entangled with.

‘Gym Teacher: The Movie’ (2008 TV Movie)

David “Dave” Stewie (Christopher) is a middle school gym teacher still trying to redeem himself for a massive (and embarrassing) screw-up at the 1988 Olympics, who finds himself trying to help a geeky and non-athletic new student (Nathan Kress).

‘Brief Interviews with Hideous Men’ (2009)

Julianne Nicholson plays a graduate student who attempts to deal with a breakup by conducting interviews with a wide variety of men. Christopher is Interview Subject 3.

‘Carriers’ (2009)

Four friends seek a plague-free area in the aftermath of a global pandemic, but, in their efforts to avoid infection, begin turning on each other. Joining Christopher are Chris Pine, Piper Perabo, Lou Taylor Pucci  and Emily VanCamp. 

‘Green Lantern: First Flight’ (2010)

The DC Comics superhero Green Lantern is brought to life in this origin story. Christopher voices test pilot Hal Jordan who finds himself transformed into the title character.

‘National Lampoon’s Dirty Movie’ (2011)

Two college students, for no other reason than to meet hot women, decide to make a movie. Christopher is producer Charlie LaRue.

‘True Blood’ (TV Series, Five Episodes in 2012)

After leaving the Law & Order franchise, Christopher found himself a part of HBO’s True Blood (based on the novels by Charlaine Harris), playing Roman, a 500-year-old vampire who sits in control of the Vampire Authority.

‘Awful Nice’ (2013)

In this comedy, a pair of brothers must reconcile their relationship en route to their late father’s funeral (funnier than it sounds). Christopher has a supporting role as Joe Charboneau.

‘Man of Steel’ (2013)

Henry Cavill is the most recent big screen Superman, and in this 2013 adventure, Christopher plays Colonel Nathan Hardy, who initially is against the idea of the Man of Steel but comes around once he’s seen him in action.

’42’ (2013)

The story of Jackie Robinson, the first African-American baseball player, is brought to life with Chadwick Boseman playing him. Christopher is Leo Durocher.

‘Beef’ (2014)

Take Judge Judy or The People’s Court out of the courtroom and transfer them to a New York deli, and you get the idea behind this film. Christopher is Lou and the story revolves around him, his family and, according to the studio, “the cases he settles. People march in with a ‘beef’ for Lou to solve with old-school advice, simple justice or a fine cut of meat.”

‘White Bird in a Blizzard’ (2014)

Brock Connors (Christopher) attempts to help his daughter, Kat (Shailene Woodley) when her life is sent into a tailspin following the disappearance of her mother (Eva Green).

‘Small Time’ (2014)

Al Klein (Christopher) has to deal with the fact that his son has decided to skip college to work in his used car business.

‘They Came Together’ (2014)

It’s a romantic comedy starring Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler and, again, Christopher is in a supporting role as a character named Roland.

‘Sin City: A Dame to Die For’ (2014)

An assortment of characters from writer/codirector Frank Miller‘s Sin City come together for a new adventure taken from the graphic novels of the same name. Christopher is Mort.

‘Veep’ (2014 TV Series, Guest Star Two Episodes)

He made two guest appearances on the HBO sitcom starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus as the Vice President of the United States.

‘Surviving Jack’ (2014 TV Series)

Here’s how 20th Television describes this single-season series: “A boy becomes a man and a man becomes a father in a time before coming of age was something you could Google.” The “boy,” Frankie Dunlevy, is played by Connor Buckley and the “man” is Christopher’s Jack Dunlevy.

‘Diary of a Teenage Girl’ (2015)

The setting is San Francisco in the 1970s, where a teen artist gets romantically involved with her mother’s boyfriend (not Christopher, who plays Pascal).

‘I Am Wrath’ (2016)

When a group of corrupt cops fail to bring the murderers of a woman to justice, her husband (John Travolta) seeks revenge. Christopher Nolan plays a character named Dennis.

‘Marauders’ (2016)

A series of bank heists leads to a conspiracy uncovered by the FBI. Christopher costars with Bruce Willis.

‘Almost Friends’ (2016)

Freddie Highmore (Bates Motel, The Good Doctor) plays an unmotivated man still living at home who sets his romantic sights on a woman who has a boyfriend she’s deeply involved with. Christopher plays his stepfather, Howard.

‘Underground’ (TV Series, 2016 to 2017)

With America on the verge of Civil War, this series goes back in time to explore the struggle for freedom of slaves. Christopher is August Pullman, a bounty hunter walking the line between morality and survival.

‘Snatched’ (2017)

Amy Schumer is Emily Middleton, a woman who convinces her mother, Linda (Goldie Hawn), to go away on vacation and then they’re kidnapped. They manage to escape and enlist the aid of American Roger Simmons (Christopher), who says he’ll help them find the American consulate. Needless to say, nothing is easy.

‘Happy!’ (TV Series, 2017 to 2019)

Injured and suicidal hitman Nick Sax (Christopher) begins to encounter his kidnapped daughter’ s imaginary friend, a cheerful flying blue unicorn voiced by Patton Oswalt. Dark and twisted fun that plays like Mister Ed on a lot of drugs.

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ TV Show Season 3 – 2019

In Hulu’s dystopian tale set in the future where fertility is a rarity Christopher plays George Winslow, who is a powerful force within the autocratic theocracy of Gilead.

‘Harley Quinn’ (TV Series, 2019-)

On the DC Universe streaming service is this animated series of the Joker’s ex-girlfriend, Harley Quinn (Kaley Cuoco). Christopher voices a unique take on Gotham City’s Commissioner James Gordon.

‘Law & Order: SVU Spin-Off’ (TV Series, 2020)

We know nothing about what this new Law & Order series is going to be, except that it’s going to deal with the organized crime unit. What we suspect is that it’s going to be great seeing Christopher step back into the role of Elliot Stabler.