- Christopher Meloni
-
Christopher Meloni 
Meloni near the Civic Center in New York City, March 2011Born Christopher Peter Meloni
April 2, 1961
Washington, D.C., U.S.Occupation Actor Years active 1989–present Spouse Sherman Williams Children Sophia Meloni
Dante MeloniChristopher Peter Meloni (born April 2, 1961) is an American actor. He is best known for his television roles as NYPD Detective Elliot Stabler on the NBC police drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and as inmate Chris Keller on the HBO prison drama Oz.
Contents
Early life
Meloni was born the youngest of three children in Washington, D.C., the son of Cecile, a homemaker, and Robert Meloni, an endocrinologist.[1] His maternal ancestry is French Canadian and his paternal ancestry is Sardinian. Meloni is a typical and widely diffused Sardinian surname.[2] He attended St. Stephen's School (now St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School) and the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he first studied acting, graduating with a degree in history in 1983. After graduation, Meloni went to New York where he continued his studies with Sanford Meisner at the famed Neighborhood Playhouse.
Acting career
Meloni worked as a construction worker prior to getting his acting break. He has also worked as a bouncer, bartender, and personal trainer. Meloni worked his way up the acting ladder with commercials,[3] short-lived TV series', and bit parts in a number of films. His first noticeable role was as the hotheaded son of a Mafia Don in the 1996 thriller Bound. He also appeared as Robbie Sinclair's friend Spike in Dinosaurs and Julia Roberts' fiance in Runaway Bride.
Oz, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
From 1998-2003, Meloni portrayed the bisexual criminal Chris Keller on the HBO series Oz.
Law & Order producer Dick Wolf signed Meloni to play Elliot Stabler on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in 1999; until Oz went off the air in 2003, Meloni appeared on both Oz and Law & Order: SVU simultaneously. In 2006 Meloni was nominated for an Emmy Award, in the category of Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, for his role as Stabler.
In May 2011, Meloni announced that he would not be returning to SVU in fall 2011 for its 13th season.[4]
Other work
Meloni in New York City, 2006
He returned to his comedic roots when he portrayed the character "Gene" in Wet Hot American Summer in 2001, the puppet-loving pediatrician Dr. Norris in a 2003 episode of Scrubs, and the character of "Freakshow" (albeit in heavy make-up) in the 2004 comedy Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle. He would make another cameo in its sequel, Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, as "The Grand Wizard". In 2005, he appeared on episode 107 of MTV2's adult puppet show Wonder Showzen in a series of parody PSAs warning of the threat of cooties. He also played the gay hotel desk clerk getting yelled at by an infuriated cop, in "Fear and loathing in Las Vegas" (Uncredited.)
In July 2009, Meloni portrayed renowned DC Comics character Hal Jordan/Green Lantern in the DC Universe Animated Original Movie Green Lantern: First Flight. He briefly appeared in the first episode of the Comedy Central series Michael & Michael Have Issues portraying himself for a fake movie starring Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter.
On June 24, 2011, it was announced that Meloni is in negotiations to play a "major role" in the Superman reboot Man of Steel.[5]
He also voiced Frost in Modern Warfare 3.
Public appearances
Meloni has appeared in many public service announcements in support of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) issues.[6] In 1999, Meloni jokingly kissed Lee Tergesen (who played Tobias Beecher, Meloni's on-screen boyfriend on Oz) at an awards dinner for GLAAD. In 2006 Meloni was given the Human Rights Campaign’s Equality Award, along with actor Jake Gyllenhaal and director Ang Lee, for his work on behalf of GLBT issues.[6]
In 2004 and 2006 respectively, Meloni competed in both the fourth and the eighth series of Bravo's Celebrity Poker Showdown; in the eighth series he finished in second place, behind Robin Tunney, and ahead of Macy Gray, Joy Behar, and Andy Dick. He played for Feed the Children.
He also appeared on Celebrity Jeopardy! on November 10, 2006, defeating fellow Law & Order stars Sam Waterston and Kathryn Erbe. Meloni split his $50,000 charity prize between the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Program and the Montefiore Advocacy Center.
Meloni was included in the 2006 edition of People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive.
Personal life
Meloni is married to production designer (Doris)Sherman Meloni (née Williams) and they have two children, daughter Sophia Eva Meloni (b. March 23, 2000), and son Dante Meloni (b. January 2, 2004).[citation needed]
He has a tattoo of a cubist representation of the crucifixion of Christ tattooed on his upper left arm. He also has two other tattoos, a butterfly on his left upper thigh and a Chinese astrological chart of his family on his right lower leg.[7]
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1994 Clean Slate Bodyguard 1994 Junior Mr. Lanzarotta 1995 12 Monkeys Lt. Halperin 1996 Bound Johnnie Marzzone 1997 Money Talks SPY 1998 Apt Pupil Unnamed Homeless Man Uncredited Role 1998 Brown's Requiem Sgt. Cavanah Uncredited Role 1998 Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Sven, Clerk at Flamingo Hotel 1998 The Souler Opposite Barry Singer 1999 Carlo's Wake Bennetto Torello 1999 Runaway Bride Bob Kelly 2001 Wet Hot American Summer Gene 2002 That Brief Moment Ken Short film 2004 Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle Freakshow 2008 Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay Grand Wizard credited as "Reverend Clyde Stanky" 2008 Nights in Rodanthe Jack Willis 2009 Brief Interviews with Hideous Men R / Subject #3 2009 Carriers Frank 2010 Green Lantern: First Flight Hal Jordan/Green Lantern Voice Actor 2011 National Lampoon's Dirty Movie Producer Charlie LaRue Direct to video 2012 The Lords of Salem Whitey 2013 The Man of Steel Colonel Hardy Television Year Title Role Notes 1989
-19901st & Ten Vito Del Greco/Johnny Gunn 11 episodes 1990 When Will I Be Loved? Ron Weston TV film on NBC 1990
-1991The Fanelli Boys Frankie Fanelli 17 episodes 1991 In a Child's Name Jerry Cimarelli TV film on CBS 1991
-1994Dinosaurs Spike 11 episodes 1992 Something to Live for: The Alison Gertz Story David ABC television film 1993 Without a Kiss Goodbye Ray Samuels also known as Falsely Accused
CBS television film1993 The Boys Doug Kirkfield 1993 Golden Gate Douglas 'BW' Carlino Unsold pilot 1995 A Dangerous Affair Tommy Moretti ABC television film 1995 Hope and Gloria Billy Episode: "Love with an Improper Stranger" 1995 Misery Loves Company Mitch 8 episodes 1996
-1997NYPD Blue Jimmy Liery 5 episodes 1997 The Last Don Boz Skannet Miniseries 1997 Leaving L.A. Reed Sims 6 episodes 1997 Every 9 Seconds Richard Sutherland NBC television film 1997 Brooklyn South Joe Episode: "Wild Irish Woes"
Episode: "McMurder One"
Episode: "Dublin or Nothin'1998 Target Earth Det. Samuel 'Sam' Adams ABC television film 1998 Homicide: Life on the Street Bounty Hunter Dennis Knoll Episode: "Wanted Dead or Alive 1"
Episode: "Wanted Dead or Alive 2"1998
-2003Oz Chris Keller 38 episodes 1999 Shift Louis Television film 1999
-2011Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Det. Elliot Stabler Lead character 2000 Law & Order Det. Elliot Stabler Episode: "Entitled"
Episode: "Fools For Love"2002 Murder in Greenwich Mark Fuhrman Television film 2003 Scrubs Dr. Dave Norris Episode: "My White Whale" 2005 Wonder Showzen Cooties Spokesman Episode: "Health" 2005 Law & Order: Trial by Jury Det. Elliot Stabler Episode: "Day" 2008 Gym Teacher: The Movie Dave Stewie Nickelodeon television film 2009 Michael & Michael Have Issues Episode: "Greg the Intern" Awards and nominations
Emmy Awards
- 2006: Nominated, "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series" - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
- 2004: Nominated, "Performance in a TV Drama Series Episode" - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
- 2008: Nominated, "Performance in a TV Drama Series Episode" - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
References
- ^ http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20129128,00.html
- ^ Cognomi Sardi
- ^ McDonald's Commercial
- ^ "Christopher Meloni Exits Law & Order: SVU". TV Guide. May 24, 2011. http://www.tvguide.com/News/Christopher-Meloni-Exits-SVU-1033486.aspx. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (June 24, 2011). "Christopher Meloni To Co-Star In 'Man Of Steel'". Deadline.com (Mail.com). http://www.deadline.com/2011/06/christopher-meloni-to-co-star-in-man-of-steel/. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
- ^ a b "Jake Gyllenhaal, Ang Lee and Christopher Meloni to Accept Award at Human Rights Campaign New York Gala Dinner". HRC. January 17, 2006. http://www.hrc.org/1643.htm. Retrieved August 3, 2011.
- ^ Jeffrey Podolsky (November 3, 2009). ""Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?" Sir Ian McKellan Will Have None of That.". The Wall Street Journal. http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2009/11/03/sir-ian-mckellan-emcees-the-%e2%80%9conly-make-believe%e2%80%9d-benefit.
External links
Categories:- 1961 births
- Actors from Washington, D.C.
- American film actors
- American television actors
- American voice actors
- American people of French-Canadian descent
- American people of Italian descent
- Living people
- Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre alumni
- University of Colorado alumni
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
