Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni’s Best Friendship Quotes

When it comes to legendary television duos, Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni take the cake. The Law & Order: Special Victims Unit costars met during a screen test before making their debut on the long-running NBC franchise. Their friendship has lasted more than two decades, and they have both become important parts of each other’s lives.

Before landing her breakout role in the crime drama, Mariska snagged minor roles in 1985’s Ghoulies, 1989’s Baywatch and 1990’s Wise Guy. Chris worked odd jobs before making the transition into becoming a full-time actor. He starred in 1996’s Bound, 1993’s The Boys and 1996’s NYPD Blue. Meeting for the first time was life-changing for the Golden Globe winner and the Hollywood hunk.

“I had instantaneous ease, chemistry, trust and comfort with Chris,” Mariska told Closer in April 2020. “It was nonstop chitchat — I couldn’t stop talking. I thought, ‘I want to be with that guy!’ Chris and I both knew we were going to get cast.”

For 12 years, Mariska and Chris shared the screen as Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler before he left the series in 2011. He went on to star in the spinoff, Law & Order: Organized Crime. Even after the Handmaid’s Tale actor left SVU, the pair continued to stay in touch. They reunited during a special crossover episode in 2021, much to the delight of their massive fanbase.

“[SVU] gave birth to Mariska and Meloni, and Benson and Stabler. So, we’re kind of inextricably linked and connected in that way,” Chris told Entertainment Tonight about their bond in July 2020. “Beyond that, we’re very good friends. I think we value each other.”

In November 2021, the 42 actor was tapped to present Mariska with her Glamour Woman of the Year Award. The Oz star said Mariska is “a connector of people because she knows we’re all better when we’re working together.” He went on to say that the mother of three “is a soul in the constant search of the beauty and the truth that she knows that this world holds.” Mariska broke down after accepting the award from her colleague, who has now become one of her closest friends.

Keep scrolling to see Mariska and Chris’ cutest quotes about their friendship.

Mariska on Their Meaningful Bond

On the red carpet at the 2021 Glamour Women of the Year Awards, Mariska got candid about her connection to Chris. She attended the event with her husband, Peter Hermann, whom she met on the set of Law & Order when he guest-starred in 2002.

“You know he, after my husband, he knows me pretty well,” the Joyful Heart Foundation founder told Entertainment Tonight about Chris. “So, it’s very meaningful, especially after the journey we’ve had these 22 years. The creative journey, the trust, the friendship, he’s sort of seen it all.”

Mariska on the Important Men in Her Life

The Emmy winner values all of the men who have helped shape her career and form incredible friendships. Right from the start, Chris became one of the most important people in her life.

“I walked in, saw him, and I went, ‘That guy. That’s the guy.’ It went deep, very fast. We both knew that it was something big,” she told People in February 2021 about meeting him for the first time. “I won’t say that I fully understood it, but I knew that meeting him was important and life-changing. My father, my husband, [Law & Order creator] Dick Wolf and Chris are the four pillar men in my life. And that happened early.”

Chris on His Reunion With Mariska

During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in March 2021, Chris was buzzing about sharing the screen with Mariska again. The pair had a ball filming scenes for the Law & Order crossover event.

“We know each other and mess around socially and all that, but when we got down and cameras were rolling … it was such a seamless, effortless endeavor. It was great,” the father of two gushed.

Mariska on Their Trust

With Chris by her side on television for more than a decade, Mariska told People about how the pair have built a special trust between them.

“There was so much shorthand between us, which all goes back to the trust we have,” the ER alum said. “He’s always made me feel like I could just jump off the ledge, the cliff, the bridge, and he would catch me, in so many ways, whether it was comedy or acting or friendship.”