Christopher Meloni Career Retrospective | SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations

Career Q&A with Christopher Meloni. Moderated by Jenelle Riley, Variety.
Washington, D.C. native Christopher Meloni studied acting at the University of Colorado, Boulder, before graduating with a degree in History. He worked in construction and as a bouncer before breaking into acting, studying his craft in New York with legendary teacher Sanford Meisner. His television breakout role was on “NYPD Blue,” opposite Kim Delaney. That led to being cast on HBO’s gritty landmark series “Oz,” playing the psychotic, bisexual serial killer, ‘Chris Keller.’
In 1999, Meloni landed his starring role on the popular and long-running NBC series “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” with the actor working in both series simultaneously until “Oz” ended its 6 year run in 2003. He continued on “Law & Order: SVU” for twelve seasons, earning an Emmy nomination for his performance as Detective Elliot Stabler. Meloni then returned to HBO in a pivotal arc as the head of the Vampire Authority, ‘Roman,’ in Alan Ball’s wildly popular drama, “True Blood;” and as Julie Louis-Dreyfus’ trainer, ‘Ray,’ in “Veep.” Meloni is currently co-starring in the Netflix limited event series, “Wet Hot American Summer” which is the prequel to the cult film in which he also co-starred.
Meloni’s other big screen credits include the August 2015 Sony Classics release, "Diary of a Teenage Girl " with Kristen Wiig; Greg Araki’s "White Bird in a Blizzard"; "Sin City: A Dame to Kill For"; "Man of Steel"; "42"; "They Came Together"; "Small Time"; the Terry Gilliam films "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" and "Twelve Monkeys"; the Wachowskis’ first film "Bound"; the romantic comedy blockbuster "Runaway Bride"; "Nights in Rodanthe"; and such cult favorites as "Wet Hot American Summer","Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle", and its first sequel, "Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay".

[@samwalters9712]

She is SUCH a great interviewer. Seriously. She should be the only human allowed to do celeb interviews.

[@mikekillagreen9432]

Yes!!

[@MaureenVanellison]

Meloni is very insightful....love it!...such an underrated asset!

[@jeffwatkins352]

I've put off watching this for a while. I knew I wouldn't be able to do anything else, eyes glued to the screen. I should have known he'd be as witty as he is stunningly talented. And this will amaze: I've never seen a SINGLE episode of SVU. Not one. But I've re-watched Oz start to finish every year since it came out.

[@anna-graceglover1463]

He’s sooooo handsome I’m very addicted to Chris Meloni I have pictures of him on my phone and he’s my favorite actor I can stare at him 24/7

[@drewb007]

Mad respect for Christopher as an actor. He always gives all to roles he's a part of and yet he seems to be a genuinely good dude.

[@eileen33333]

I LOVE CHRIS AND HIS EXPLANATION FOR THE SHOW AMD THE HUG AND HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH MARISKA WAS SO CUTE

[@kukrae]

Can't thank you enough, SAG-AFTRA, for inviting this fantastic gentleman to participate in these conversations. His fans so appreciate this!!

[@rodneycorwin1160]

I had an opportunity to be on law and order organized crime episode 5. A small part. Chris was stretching out and looked up and nodded his head at me. I was like wow. What a nice guy. I’m definitely a fan.

[@adamdunlaptv]

I worked with him on LOOC as well . He understands story. Was a privilege to work with him.

[@Roxsandee]

I'm going to watch again... Christopher is the whole package. He makes me laugh out loud. Just love this interview...

[@bratboybobbee6938]

One of The Best, interviews I’ve seen in the SAG/AFTRA series thus far. Christopher Meloni is so spontaneously honest, freewheelin’, and funny! Thank You!

[@brandonb3174]

What are your other favorite interviews by SAG? Thanks

[@seriousone8030]

Christopher is smart, funny, and fine AF!

[@sicilyny5375]

All the training in the world doesn't make a great actor. I believe it's a God gift...you either have it or not! It's in there somewhere, deep inside. Experience brings it out...but you're born with it. My first play, I was 6 yrs old and I nailed it, so much that the 3rd grade play wanted me to play their lead. Funny but I chose to direct and write, not act, even though talent was always there. All the actors I worked with, and it plays the same. Talent for acting...you can't learn...it's inborn.

[@debbiedobles40]

Love Chris he's an extremely rare actor in the roles he chooses and always gives110%

[@CarlosHernandez-pi5te]

I never knew I loved Christopher Meloni this much! 🤘🏼😘

[@someothername7886]

Not used to seeing Stabler this happy go lucky

[@BetteDavis19]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS THANK YOU SO SO SO MUCH FOR UPLOADING THIS!!!

[@Roxsandee]

I know... Right...

[@username1235400]

She is the best. Love her interviews. 100% Genuine.

[@lindsaystipancic757]

The way he talks about Mariska Hargitay is just heart stopping. 💗

[@eliashki]

Christoffer is 55 in this interview….. my gosh how a man can be georgious particullarry when he is totally grown up….. just like wine, betters by the time

[@jenniferwaugh4936]

What a great interview. Chris is the best.

[@sicilyny5375]

He aged sooo much in 4 yrs...but I still adore him immensely. Stabler foreva

[@sammymartins]

I adore Christopher Meloni 😻

[@bvnseven]

You see all the episodes of Stabler and Benson with all the seriousness. You look at Elliot Stabler's intensity and it's very believable. Then you watch this segment and realize he's a human being when he says two words just like you do. "Unemployment Sucks".

[@misscrt1]

Awesome interview....so stoked by his energy....

[@SAGAFTRAFoundation]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching.

[@svu63134015]

Xi love @Chris_Meloni he's such a amazing person and so sweet. He's been my favorite actor since 1st & 10.

[@gabriellataylor1354]

I had no i dea he was SO FUNNY. He had me laughing aloud - literally LOL.

[@AladeenMusic]

If I recall correctly he initially started of doing smaller comedic roles, even behind the scenes mariska even says how funny Chris, Richard(who plays Munch and is a comedian) are funny and you’d see the bloopers of the show

[@sicilyny5375]

Watching SVU right now..season 5! I watch it every night before sleep.

[@23browse]

I wanna meet him I think he is the coolest guy ever..

[@suefalk2682]

He said that the last 4 seasons were hard for him like he didn’t want to do it anymore but yet he came back!

[@DRBOOTS-cn2wh]

Love Stabler super duper. Didn’t realize he is a funny guy. Good looking too.

[@AuntieMamies]

He was the best part of Snatched. If it wasn't for him that movie would not have been worth sitting through

[@Hope-ol9cb]

He is hilarious.

[@eileen33333]

Please have Mariska on if you can!

[@Roxsandee]

Funny... Love this man...

[@hildakisser8933]

Q bello q es el dectrtibe Elio lo veo de lunes a viernes x tnt tkm Eli o soi de argentina bsssssss

[@svu63134015]

I love him

[@anna-graceglover1463]

He could be a comedian

[@suefalk2682]

He didn’t talk about 1st and Ten. That was one of his first roles. He had 13 episodes!

[@n04hxm1l4n]

Chris must have his own comedy show or like an stand up comedian xD

[@jaredporikos2197]

so gorgeous

[@kaca3996]

He is still so hot damnnn and he is my dad's age lmao

[@kathycostello6931]

he is so adorable

[@wickedkat5061]

How did they not mention when he was SVEN in Fear and Loathing!!!

[@forstefter35]

loled at the subway-story.

[@bennyvee88]

11:49 Johnny!!! LOL

[@Wadj1]

Keller!!

[@mariadefatimasuga9525]

lindo lindo lindo

[@Wadj1]

Could we please have this lady to interview Tim Hutton again?

[@D_Ella1269]

Not now 😳

[@adycarvalhaesdacostaesilva5743]

Gostaria de que a notícia fosse em português

[@scarrillo232]

33:10 - Mariska

[@TracyLynnCruz]

I swear it looks like he's got sunburn all the time

[@cuteONE22]

White people 😂 but he's still hot.

[@mackiebenson9467]

He probably was during this time because he was down south filming Underground. Nice and crispy. lol

[@whatyouwerethinking998]

@@cuteONE22 😁

[@euzedivieira5898]

Porque não a tradução !

[@stantheman1610]

Dude is NUTZ!! Don't believe me, watch WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER (movie & NewFlix series).

[@diallohawa92]

Kind of remind me of Mel Gibson

[@iusedyourtowel6765]

He looks a lot like Mel Gibson in this video for some reason. I don't mean that as an insult. They just suddenly have similar faces.

[@kellynelson1117]

SUPER Crazy HOT!

[@lynutermark1454]

he is a funny guy

[@danielbrown1724]

Amazing in OZ but sold out and became bland in SVU. Interviewer is has some great chops. Knows how to keep an interesting dialogue going. Good stuff!!

[@sicilyny5375]

Wonder if he still wants to work with a kid with a vision.. I'm no kid...but..I have some great visions.. Call me!!

[@rdmisit]

CLOSE YOUR EYES... HE SOUNDS LIKE TRUMP!!!