Christopher Meloni Known predominantly for his television tough guy detective role in Dick Wolf’s ‘Law and Order’ this Emmy nominated actor has also showed his screen skills when he took on the role of a much less rugged character in his controversial appearance as the bisexual sociopath Chris Keller in the HBO prison drama ‘Oz’. Christopher Meloni was born in Washington D.C. on April 2nd 1961 to Robert and Cecile Meloni. His father was an endocrinologist and his mother was a homemaker of French-Canadian heritage.Chris attended St. Stephen’s School in Alexandria, Virginia before heading off to the University of Colorado in Boulder. While at university Chris took an interest in acting but finally graduated in 1983 with a degree in history. After graduating he continued to follow his chosen career in acting and relocated to New York where he continued to study with Sanford Meisner at the Neighbourhood Playhouse. To support himself while pursuing his dream of becoming an actor, Meloni worked as a construction worker, bouncer, bartender and a personal trainer. During this period he slowly worked his way into the business with small roles in television series and bit parts in films.Chris’s first big role was to come when he was cast as, Johnnie Marzzone, the son of a Maffia Don in the 1996 thriller, ‘Bound’ which also starred Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly. Following on from his role in a thriller, Chris made his next big appearance in the romantic comedy, ‘Runaway Bride’ when he played the role of one of Julia Roberts dumped fiancés and which saw him starring alongside Richard Gere and Joan Cusack.
The first recognized moment of success came for Chris in the form of bisexual sociopath, Chris Keller in HBO’s ‘Oz’. His normally masculine character was put to the test in playing this role as it demanded Chris’s character to kiss, touch and appear naked with other male actors such as Lee Tergesen. However, this turned out to be just the turning point he needed in his career as it met with press attention and earned him a legion of new fans, especially within the gay community.It was at this point that Meloni’s acting abilities were noticed by Dick Wolf, producer of ‘Law and Order’ and he was instantly signed for the role of Detective Elliot Stabler in ‘Law and Order: SUV’ along with his detective partner, Mariska Hargitay, daughter of the late Jayne Mansfield. Since 1999 Chris has appeared in both ‘Law and Order:CSI’ and ‘Law and Order: SVU’ which has seen him starring with Sam Waterston, Fred Thompson, Chris Noth and Vincent DOnofrio. But he has always made time to go back to his comedy days with his character ‘Gene’ in 2001 in ‘Wet Hot American Summer’ with David Hyde Pierce, Molly Shannon and Janeane Garoflo.2004 had Chris appearing as ‘Freakshow’ in the comedy ‘Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle’ with Neil Patrick Harris and Jamie Kennedy. Chris has also given his time to charity when he took part in the Bravo Celebrity Poker Showdown when he competed against Joy Behar and Andy Dick and again when he beat fellow ‘Law and Order’ actor, Sam Waterston in Celebrity Jeopardy.
In 2006 Chris was voted in People Magazine as one of the Sexiest Men Alive and in the same year he was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Elliot Stabler.Chris Meloni is married to Doris Williams who is a production designer and together they have two children from a surrogate mother, Sophia born in 2001 and Dante born in 2004. The family have homes in New York, Los Angeles and Connecticut. ABB | 
