Christopher Meloni, known for his role in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, reminisces about a standout scene from the series. He recalls a memorable moment when Lou Diamond Phillips’ character aimed a gun at him, and Stabler urged Benson to take the shot. Meloni values this scene as it brought depth to their characters and personal connection. Interestingly, during this time, Hargitay, who plays Benson, was eight months pregnant, adding an extra layer of significance to the moment.
Hargitay, currently a mother of three, was expecting her eldest child, August, during the filming of the episode mentioned. In addition to August, she and her husband, Peter Hermann, adopted Amaya and Andrew in 2011.
Meloni also shared a personal detail about his character, Elliot Stabler, mentioning their shared complex relationship with God.
In other news, all seasons of Law & Order: Organized Crime are now available for streaming on Peacock. For more personal insights from Meloni, including his unexpected favorite item in his wardrobe, continue reading:
- Meloni recounts selling his first car, a Jeep Renegade, to fund his move to New York to pursue an acting career. A decade later, he bought another Jeep as a homage to his earlier days, evoking nostalgic memories.
- Recalling a starstruck moment, Meloni shares an encounter during the filming of 12 Monkeys when he met Terry Gilliam, the renowned director of Brazil and a member of Monty Python. Overwhelmed by emotion, Meloni expressed to Gilliam the profound impact Brazil had on him, almost bringing him to tears.
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During my childhood, I absolutely adored playing sandlot football with the other kids in the neighborhood. Riding my bike was another favorite pastime of mine, as it made me feel incredibly free.
One movie that really stood out to me in the past year was Maestro. I found everything about it— the writing, directing, and acting— to be absolutely brilliant. Witnessing Bradley Cooper’s incredible work left me completely gobsmacked and inspired.
I can relate to Elliot Stabler in having a complex relationship with God.
Books have always been a passion of mine, whether they’re fiction or nonfiction. I find them to be a great source of insight into human behavior and our species as a whole. Recently, I’ve delved into Herzog by Saul Bellow, Rabbit, Run by John Updike, and Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari.
Growing up, I looked up to actors like Robert De Niro, Marlon Brando, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Christian Slater for their complete immersion into their characters. It’s truly an amazing feat.
One of my most cherished wardrobe items is a rather ridiculous sweater that my daughter, Sophia, bought for me. It reminds me of a tattoo I once wanted, featuring an insane clown making a wild face, which her mother disapproved of. But Sophia found a similar crazy clown sweater in a vintage shop and bought it for me, which meant a lot.
History has always been my strongest subject in school. Understanding our ancestors and their way of life has always fascinated me.
The song “Time of the Season” by Zombies takes me back to my youthful days, when life felt like a grand adventure.
At the age of 18, I began working as a surgical orderly in a hospital. I vividly remember my first autopsy, having seen the person alive the previous night. The next morning, I was tasked with pulling him out of the fridge.
If I weren’t an actor, I’d love to pursue sculpting. It’s a completely new creative outlet for me, and the idea of going to art school and getting my hands dirty with clay excites me.
My proudest career moment was when I started earning a living as an actor and was able to leave my side job as a bartender behind.
I’ve had the opportunity to work in various places, from lively honky-tonks to the last days of Studio 54.
My top vacation spot is the Caribbean and my cozy lake house retreat. Recently, I got hooked on binge-watching “Homicide: New York,” a captivating documentary series about the north and south homicide squads in Manhattan, executive produced by Dick Wolf. The dedication of the detectives to their job and pursuit of justice for the victims and their families was truly inspiring. It made me proud of what I do, and I aim to embody their strength through my character.
When it comes to home-cooked meals, nothing beats a medium rare steak with caramelized onions, mushrooms, and a delicious Caesar salad, with a side of asparagus.
I’m looking forward to exploring new places like South America, Greece, and the Nordic countries. After a long day, I love to unwind by dining out, and I’m lucky to have 20 great restaurants within a five-block radius in Manhattan.
Venmo is the app I use the most, and I prefer getting around on my bicycle. My workout routine involves a mix of cardio, mobility work, and strength training, tailored to my body’s needs.
One of my favorite scenes from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit features myself and Mariska Hargitay. It was a powerful moment when Lou Diamond Phillips had a gun to my head, and Stabler told Benson to take the shot. We were truly connected as people and characters in that moment, and it’s something I hold dear.
I’m deeply passionate about the Global Lyme Alliance. As an ambassador for GLA, I’ve led a group of Lyme disease advocates on a trip to Capitol Hill to advocate for increased funding for Lyme disease treatments and diagnostics. Lyme disease has impacted my family in ways I never imagined, and I’m committed to raising awareness about its insidious nature and the lack of understanding surrounding it.
On weekends, you’ll find me waterskiing, a hobby I’ve enjoyed for over 23 years. Sometimes my son or daughter will join me, and it’s always a great time with friends.